Bob Tufts

Robert Malcolm Tufts

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 5", Weight 215 lb.
• School Princeton University, Columbia University
• High School Lynnfield High School
• Debut August 10, 1981
• Final Game May 6, 1983
• Born November 2, 1955 in Medford, MA USA
• Died October 4, 2019 in New York, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Ivy Leaguer Bob Tufts pitched three years in the majors, posting a record of 2-0 with 2 saves in 27 games.

Tufts was born in Medford, MA, and attended Princeton University from 1975-1977. He was the first Princetonian to reach the majors since Dave Sisler 25 years earlier. Bob was picked in the 12th round of the 1977 amateur draft by the San Francisco Giants and pitched seven seasons in the minors, going 61-40. In 1981, he went 9-2 with the Phoenix Giants, with 8 saves, and was called up to the majors in August.

Bob was traded on March 30, 1982 to the Kansas City Royals in a trade that involved Vida Blue, Atlee Hammaker and others. He pitched for the Omaha Royals in the minors and the Royals in the majors in 1982 and 1983. In June 1983 he was traded again, to the Cincinnati Reds, and pitched for their Indianapolis Indians farm club during part of 1983. In both 1981 and 1982, his minor league ERA was well under 2.00.

An article in 2007 chronicled his conversion to Judaism, and stated that he had earned an MBA from Columbia University. He worked at a brokerage firm in Manhattan, then became a professor at the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University. He passed away from multiple myeloma cancer at the age of 63 in 2019.

Tufts' brother, William Tufts, pitched in the Chicago Cubs chain in 1975.

Related Sites

• Bob Tufts at the SABR Bio Project