Bob Saverine

Robert Paul Saverine
(Rabbit)

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 165 lb.
• High School Darien High School
• Debut September 12, 1959
• Final Game October 1, 1967
• Born June 2, 1941 in Norwalk, CT USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Bob Saverine, who was the youngest player in the American League in 1959, played six seasons in the big leagues.

Saverine was signed as an amateur free agent by the Baltimore Orioles in 1959 and was in the majors by September of that same year. He scored a run in his major league debut, which came as a pinch-runner on September 12th; it was his sole appearance in a game that season. He also played 70 games with the Bluefield Orioles in 1959, hitting .353 with 11 home runs.

He then spent 1960 and 1961 in the minors, along with almost all of 1962, when he made it back to the Orioles for 8 games.

He was in the majors for 1963 and 1964, appearing in 117 games in 1963. In 1965 he was with the Rochester Red Wings, and in 1966 and 1967, he played for the Washington Senators. He had his most major league at-bats in 1966, getting 406. His .251 batting average in 1966 was much higher than the Senators' team average of .234. Similary, his .236 batting average in 1967, the heart of the second dead-ball era was better than the team average of .223.

In the majors Saverine, whose nickname was "Rabbit", was the consumate utility player, being sometimes used as a pinch-runner, and in the field appearing in 144 games at second base, 65 in center field, 49 at shortstop, 34 at third base, and 7 in left field.

He spent 1968 with the Buffalo Bisons then retired at the end of the season.

Saverine stole over 30 bases several times in the minors, while in the majors he was 23-for-32.

Related Sites

• Bob Saverine at the SABR Bio Project