Bob Dillinger

Robert Bernard Dillinger
(Duke)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11½", Weight 170 lb.
• School University of Idaho
• HIgh School Glendale (CA) High School
• Debut April 16, 1946
• Final Game September 28, 1951
• Born September 17, 1918 in Glendale, CA USA
• Died November 7, 2009 in Santa Clarita, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

"Dillinger wore glasses on the field. When he was in the minors in 1939 an umpire called a strike on him. strike two. Dillinger took off his glasses and held them out to the umpire. The umpire calmly took off his mask, put on the glasses, and resettled the mask. The pitcher threw the next pitch, the umpire yelled "Strike three," and ceremoniously handed the glasses back to Dillinger." -Bill James

Bob Dillinger was the Lance Johnson of his day, hitting for a good average, stealing bases, and hitting triples. However, his career lasted only six years. Although he broke into professional baseball in the 1930s, World War II interfered. In 1939, he hit .314 with 67 stolen bases for the Lincoln Links of the Western League.

During the war, in 1945, he played on a service team for the 73rd Wing USAAF in the Pacific. Ferris Fain was also on the team.

Notable Achievements

• AL All-Star (1949)
• AL Hits Leader (1948)
• 3-time AL Stolen Bases Leader (1947-1949)
• 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 1 (1948)
• 200 Hits Seasons: 1 (1948)

Related Sites

• Bob Dillinger at the SABR Bio Project
• Baseball In Wartime
• Bob Dillinger, 91, Former St. Louis Brown