Bobby Byrne (baseball)

Infobox MLB retired
name=Bobby Byrne
position=Third Baseman


bgcolor1=#e1b81e
bgcolor2=black
textcolor1=black
textcolor2=white
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=December 31, 1884
city-state|St. Louis|Missouri
deathdate=death date and age|1964|12|31|1884|12|31
city-state|Wayne|Pennsylvania
debutdate= April 11
debutyear= 1907
debutteam= St. Louis Cardinals
finaldate=September 4
finalyear=1917
finalteam=Chicago White Sox
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.254
stat2label=Hits
stat2value=1225
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=329
teams=
* St. Louis Cardinals (1907-1909)
* Pittsburgh Pirates (1909-1913)
* Philadelphia Phillies (1913-1917)
* Chicago White Sox (1917)
highlights=
* World Series champion: 1909
* National League pennant: 1915

Robert Matthew Byrne (December 31 1884 - December 31 1964) was a third baseman in Major League Baseball. From by|1907 through by|1917, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1907-1909), Pittsburgh Pirates (1909-1913), Philadelphia Phillies (1913-1917) and Chicago White Sox (1917). Byrne batted and threw right-handed. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri. The speedy Byrne was a defensive stalwart with excellent range. He started his major league career with the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1907 season. Acquired by the Pittsburgh Pirates in late August 1909, he contributed for his new club down the stretch, including allowing Tommy Leach to stay in center field. Used mainly in the leadoff spot, Byrne made just two errors while hitting .256 with eight stolen bases. Byrne enjoyed his most productive season in by|1910, when he posted career-numbers in batting average (.296), RBI (52), runs (101), stolen bases (36), slugging percentage (.417), and led the National League with 178 hits and in doubles with 43 (also career highs).

Despite a low .259 average in 1911, Byrne scored 96 runs with 23 stolen bases and set career highs in triples (17) and games played (153). He raised to .288 in 1912, adding 31 doubles, 11 triples, and 20 steals.

In the 1913 midseason Byrne was traded by Pittsburgh along with pitcher Howie Camnitz to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for utility Cozy Dolan and cash considerations. In 1917 he was selected off waivers by the Chicago White Sox from the Phillies, making his last major league appearance in the 1917 World Series. In an 11-season career, Byrne was a .254 hitter with 10 home runs and 329 RBI in 1283 games. He also collected 176 stolen bases and posted an above average walk-to-strikeout ratio of 2.07 (456-to-220). Following his baseball career, Byrne was owner of a bowling alley in St. Louis.

Bobby Byrne died in Wayne, Pennsylvania on his 80th birthday.

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball doubles champions
* Chicago White Sox all-time roster

ources

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/features/topteams/1909pirates.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/byrnebo01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Byrne.Bobby.Obit.html The Deadball Era]

External links

* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=5886066 Robert Byrne] at Find-A-Grave