Bob Stoddard

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#bcbcbc
bgcolor2=#bcbcbc
textcolor1=black
textcolor2=black
name=Bob Stoddard
position=Pitcher
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1957|3|8|
debutdate=September 4
debutyear=by|1981
debutteam=Seattle Mariners
finaldate=September 19
finalyear=by|1987
finalteam=Kansas City Royals
stat1label=ERA
stat1value=4.03
stat2label=Record
stat2value=18-27
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=223
teams=
*Seattle Mariners (1981-1984)
*Detroit Tigers (1985)
*San Diego Padres (1986)
*Kansas City Royals (1987)
highlights=
*none

Robert Lyle Stoddard is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals. He was born on Friday, March 8,1957 in San Jose, California. Stoddard attended Fresno State University and he threw and batted right-handed.

Stoddard, who was 6'1" and 200 (some sources say he was 190 or 210) pounds, was drafted four times. He was drafted in the 19th round of the 1975 draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, in the 3rd round of the 1976 draft by the Oakland Athletics. In 1976, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the third round too, this time in a different draft (there are multiple drafts held each year). He wasn't drafted at all in 1977, and in 1978-when he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 10th round-he finally decided to sign.

Stoddard had spent less than four seasons in the minor leagues when he made his Major League debut on September 4, 1981, at the age of 24. He experienced two successful seasons in 1981 and 1982, posting ERAs of 2.60 and 2.41 in each of those two seasons, respectively. In 1983, his statistics went "downhill"-his win-loss record was a mediocre 9-17. After that season, his ERA reached under 3.00 only once more. His final game was September 19, 1987.After retiring Stoddard opend up a batting cage facility in Bellevue, Washington called STODS [http://www.stods.com] He currently resides in Kirkland, Washington.

Major Transaction

On April 18, 1986, Stoddard was traded to the San Diego Padres with a minor leaguer named Kevin Russ for outfielder Rusty Tillman.

Hitting

Stoddard didn't get much of a chance to hit, but in one career at-bat, he struck out.

Fielding

Stoddard was a fairly steady fielder, committing only two errors in his career, both in 1983.

Other information

*In 1987, Stoddard earned $65,000.
*An excerpt from Baseball Library:

"Stoddard was a failed starting pitcher who was unsuccessfully converted to relief by the Mariners. He had short tours of duty with three teams in his last three seasons."
*Stoddard started a baseball league after he retired based in Bellevue and Mukilteo, Washington, called Stod's Baseball League.
*He also owns two batting cages in Bellevue and Mukilteo, Washington called "Stods" or "Stods Batting and Pitching Cages"

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/stoddbo01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.stods.com Stods Batting and Pitching Cages & Lessons]