Bob Scheffing

Bob Scheffing
Catcher/Manager
Born: August 11, 1913(1913-08-11) Overland, Missouri
Died: October 26, 1985(1985-10-26) (aged 72) Phoenix, Arizona
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 27, 1941 for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
September 11, 1951 for the St. Louis Cardinals
Career statistics
Batting average	.263
Home runs	20
Runs batted in	187
Teams
As player Chicago Cubs (1941–1942; 1946–1950) Cincinnati Reds (1950–1951) St. Louis Cardinals (1951) As manager Chicago Cubs (1957–1959) Detroit Tigers (1961–1963)

Robert Boden Scheffing (August 11, 1913 — October 26, 1985) was an American baseball player, coach, manager and front-office executive. Nicknamed "Grumpy," the native of Overland, Missouri is most often identified with the Chicago Cubs, for whom he played as a catcher (1941–42, 1946–50), coached (1954–55), and managed (1957–59).

Scheffing also spent 2½ years (1961 through June 1963) as manager of the Detroit Tigers, leading them to 101 victories and a second-place finish in the American League in 1961. Victimized by the Tigers' slow start in 1963, he was replaced as Detroit's skipper on June 19 by Chuck Dressen.

After serving as a Detroit scout and radio broadcaster, Scheffing joined the front office of the New York Mets and became general manager early in 1970 following the sudden passing of Johnny Murphy. The Mets won the 1973 National League pennant during his tenure, then fell in a seven-game World Series to the Oakland Athletics. But Scheffing is most remembered by many Met fans for his trade of young pitcher Nolan Ryan to the California Angels following the 1971 season. Ryan went on to set the all-time career strikeout record and earn a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame, while third baseman Jim Fregosi, the Angels' star whom the Mets received in the deal, struggled in New York. Scheffing was replaced by Joe McDonald as Mets' GM in 1975, although he continued in the organization as a scout.

A right-handed hitter, Scheffing batted .263 in 517 games with the Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. His career major league managerial record with the Cubs and Tigers was 418-427 (.495). He also managed the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League to the 1956 PCL championship, and coached for the St. Louis Browns (1952–53) and Milwaukee Braves (1960).

He died in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 72.

External links

• Baseball Reference
• Bob Scheffing at Find a Grave
• The Deadball Era

Sporting positions
Preceded by Stan Hack	Chicago Cubs Manager 1957-1959	Succeeded by Charlie Grimm
Preceded by Joe Gordon	Detroit Tigers Manager 1961-1963	Succeeded by Chuck Dressen
Preceded by Johnny Murphy	New York Mets General Manager 1970–1975	Succeeded by Joe McDonald