Bobby Slaybaugh

Robert Leroy Slaybaugh

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 5' 9", Weight 165 lb.

• Born 1931
• Died May 2007

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Bobby Slaybaugh was confined to a wheelchair for a time as a child after being stricken by rheumatic fever but overcame this to play pro baseball.

Slaybaugh debuted professionally in 1950 with the Goldsboro Cardinals, going 6-17 with a 4.85 ERA. He led the Coastal Plain League in losses despite striking out 176 batters, 4th in the league. The problem was control - he walked 135 in 195 innings to finish second in the circuit in bases on balls.

He won 17 games as a 19 year old with the Goldsboro Cardinals in 1951 and led the Coastal Plain League with 223 strikeouts. He lost 10 and had a 2.33 ERA. On March 24th, 1952, while throwing Spring Training batting practice to Jim Dickey, he was struck in the skull by a line drive. As a result, he lost an eye but incredibly returned to the mound later that summer. On June 22, he returned to action with the Omaha Cardinals, allowing 2 hits and one run in 6 1/3 IP. On June 29th, he threw a four-hit shutout in his first start since the injury, topping the Des Moines Bruins 1-0. He pitched 31 innings in 1952, going 2-2 in 16 outings.

In 1953, Slaybaugh was only 2-9 between the Winston-Salem Cardinals and Columbus Cardinals. The next year was his last as he was 0-2 at a couple stops to finish his career at 27-40.

Sources include 1951 Baseball Guide, 1953 Baseball Guide and Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database

External Link

MiLB.com article about Slaybaugh