Bob McNamara

Robert Maxey McNamara

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 170 lb.
• School University of California
• Debut May 27, 1939
• Final Game September 20, 1939
• Born September 19, 1916 in Denver, CO USA
• Died March 9, 2011 in Rancho Bernardo, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Infielder Bob McNamara spent three seasons in professional baseball between 1939 and 1945 and played part of the 1939 season in the majors with the Philadelphia Athletics.

Born in Colorado, McNamara moved to California and attended Compton High School and the University of California. After graduation, he signed with Philadelphia and made his big league debut on May 27th. Facing the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium that day, he recorded his first major league hit off future Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez. Overall, in nine appearances for the Athletics that year, he hit a single and double and drove in three runs, ending with a .222 average. He played all four infield positions, with five appearances coming at third base. He also spent portions of that season with the minor league Williamsport Grays of the class A Eastern League and the Baltimore Orioles of the class AA (then the highest minor league classification) International League. He hit at a .231 clip with one home run in 41 games between the two clubs.

McNamara appeared with four teams in the 1940 season - the Greenville Buckshots and the Clarksdale Red Sox, both of the class C Cotton States League, the Anniston Rams of the class B Southeastern League, and the Memphis Chickasaws of the class A1 Southern Association. During World War II, he was out of baseball from 1941 through 1944 but apparently not serving in the military. He returned for the 1945 season with the San Diego Padres of the AA Pacific Coast League. In 14 games, he picked up 9 hits in 42 at-bats for a .214 average and at the age of 28 called it a career.

After baseball, McNamara worked in finance and accounting. He died in 2011 at the age of 94.