Bob Chipman

Robert Howard Chipman
(Mr. Chips)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.

• Debut September 28, 1941
• Final Game September 28, 1952
• Born October 11, 1918 in Brooklyn, NY USA
• Died November 8, 1973 in Huntington, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

They called him "Mr. Chips". Bob Chipman was a wartime pitcher who managed to stick around after World War II, pitching 12 years in the majors from 1941 to 1952.

Brooklyn-born Bob made his debut with a one game cameo with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941. He made two appearances in 1942 and one more in 1943 with an ERA of 0.00 in 8 innings. The next year, 1944, he started slow, with an ERA of 4.21 in 36 innings, and was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where his ERA went down to 3.49. Between the two teams he had a record of 12-10, an ERA of 3.65 and his first career shutout, blanking the Pittsburgh Pirates in in a five-hitter in his first Cub appearance on June 11.

Chipman stuck around with the Cubs from 1944 to 1949. He started more than half of his appearances in 1944 and 1947, while relieving more than starting in the other years. He appeared in the 1945 World Series, pitching 1/3 of an inning without giving up a run. In 1946 he had an ERA of 3.13, and while he only started 10 games, pitched 3 shutouts. He finished his career with the Boston Braves from 1950 to 1952. In 1950, he started almost half of his appearances, while in 1951 and 1952 he was used exclusively as a reliever. In his last year, 1952, his ERA was 2.81 in 29 appearances. Goodbye, "Mr. Chips", occurred on September 28, with two scoreless innings mowing down the minimum Brooklyn Dodgers.

Throughout his career, Bob was used as both a starter and a reliever. He started 87 games in his career and relieved in 206, with a record of 51-46, an ERA of 3.72, 7 shutouts and 14 saves. As a minor leaguer, Bob had played in Greenwood in 1939, in Savannah in 1940, and in Atlanta in 1941. He played for Montreal in 1942 and 1943. After his playing days, he scouted for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1958.