Robert Somerville Alexander (August 7, 1922 – April 7, 1993) was a Canadian professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

. He attended Bethany College in West Virginia. Alexander was signed by the

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...

in . However, he did not make his Major League debut until 1955 with the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...

. He also played for the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...

and the

Toei Flyers The are a Japanese professional baseball team based in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaidō. They compete in the Pacific League of Nippon Professional Baseball, playing the majority of their home games at ES CON Field Hokkaido. The Fighters also host a ...

of the

Nippon Professional Baseball or NPB is the highest level of baseball in Japan. Locally, it is often called , meaning ''Professional Baseball''. Outside Japan, it is often just referred to as "Japanese baseball". The roots of the league can be traced back to the formation ...

(NPB). He is the first Canadian player in NPB history. On top of playing baseball, he was also an

Aviation Cadet A flight cadet is a military or civilian occupational title that is held by someone who is in training to perform aircrew duties in an airplane. The trainee does not need to become a pilot, as flight cadets may also learn to serve as a bombardie ...

in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

during World War II.

Professional career

New York Yankees

Before entering military service in 1944 Bob pitched for the

Butler Yankees A butler is a person who works in a house serving and is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantries, pantry ...

of the Class D Pennsylvania State Association and the

Amsterdam Rugmakers The Amsterdam Rugmakers were a Canadian–American League baseball team based in Amsterdam, New York, USA, that played from 1938 to 1942 and from 1946 to 1951. They played their home games at Mohawk Mills Park (now Shuttleworth Park) and were affi ...

in the Class C

Canadian–American League The Canadian–American League, nicknamed the Can-Am League, was a class C level minor league baseball circuit which ran from 1936 through 1951, with a three-year break during World War II. Teams *Amsterdam Rugmakers, 1938–1942, 1946–19 ...

. In Bob pitched for the

Wellsville Yankees Wellsville is the name of several locations in the United States: *Wellsville, Kansas *Wellsville, Missouri *Wellsville (town), New York *Wellsville (village), New York *Wellsville, Ohio *Wellsville, Pennsylvania *Wellsville, Utah Wellsvil ...

in the Class D Pony League and was 4–3 with a 3.60 ERA. In Bob split the season with Wellsville, the

Hagerstown Owls The Hagerstown Owls were a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. The team played in the Inter-State League (1941–1952) and the Piedmont League (1953–1955). Their home games were played in Municipal Sta ...

of the Interstate League and the Norfolk Tars of the Piedmont League for a combined 6–9 record. After his service Bob returned to the Norfolk Tars where Bob was 6–5 with a 2.64 ERA and also spent time with the Binghamton Triplets of the Class A Eastern League in . Robert Alexander continued to pitch in the minor leagues with the Denver Bears in the Western League, where Bob was 10–12 with a 4.15 ERA in , and the Beaumont Exporters in the

Texas League The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...

where Bob was 11–16 with a 3.70 ERA in . In Bob compiled a record of 8–8 with the

Louisville Colonels The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that also played in the American Association (AA) throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891. They were known as the Louisville Eclipse from 1882 to 1884, and as ...

in the

American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891 * American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997 * American Association of Profe ...

and a record of 12–10 with the Colonels in . Bob threw a

no-hitter In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...

on July 29, against the

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division. The Brewers are named for t ...

Brooklyn Dodgers

In Bob was acquired by the

Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...

and pitched for the

Montreal Royals The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team in Montreal, Quebec, during 1897–1917 and 1928–1960. A member of the International League, the Royals were the top farm club (Class AAA) of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1939; pi ...

in the

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...

, where Bob compiled a 15–9 record with a 3.58 ERA. Bob performed well enough to earn a spot on the

spring training Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...

roster with the Dodgers in . Bob didn't make the club in '52, instead he was back with Montreal for the regular season and was 8–7 with a 4.34 ERA. Robert Alexander remained with Montreal in 1953 and after the season, Bob underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow.

Portland Beavers

In Bob was acquired by the Portland Beavers of the

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

where Bob finished with a 10–12 record and 3.22 ERA. At the end of the season, Robert Alexander, who was 32 years old at the time, was purchased by the

Baltimore Orioles

Robert Alexander made his Major League debut in a relief appearance for the Orioles on April 11, against the Washington Senators.Baltimore Orioles vs Washington Senators April 11, 1955 Box Score
/ref> Bob would make a further three relief outings before returning to Portland in July to record a 10–10 record and excellent 2.66 ERA.

Cleveland Indians

Robert Alexander continued to be a stellar pitcher in the Pacific Coast League and got his final shot at the Major Leagues in , when the 35-year-old right-hander joined the

pitching staff. Robert Alexander made five relief appearances for the Indians to end his Major League career.

References

External links

Retrosheet
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Bob 1922 births 1993 deaths United States Navy personnel of World War II Amsterdam Rugmakers players Baltimore Orioles players Baseball people from Vancouver Beaumont Exporters players Binghamton Triplets players Bethany Bison baseball players Butler Yankees players Canadian expatriate baseball players in Japan Canadian expatriate baseball players in the United States Cleveland Indians players Dallas Rangers players Denver Bears players Hagerstown Owls players Licoreros de Pampero players Louisville Colonels (minor league) players Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from Canada Montreal Royals players Nippon Professional Baseball pitchers Norfolk Tars players Portland Beavers players Sabios de Vargas players Salem Senators players San Diego Padres (minor league) players Toei Flyers players Wellsville Yankees players