Robert Douglas Flynn Jr. (born April 18, 1951 in Albany, New York) is a former Major League Baseball infielder from 1975-1985. He is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."
[edit] Cincinnati Reds
Flynn grew up in Lexington, Kentucky and graduated from Bryan Station High School. He signed as an amateur free agent with the Cincinnati Reds in 1971, and was part of the "Big Red Machine" team that won the 1975 and 1976 World Series. However, his only post season appearance came as a defensive replacement in the 1976 National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.[1]
[edit] New York Mets
Tom Seaver was in a contract dispute with New York Mets chairman M. Donald Grant when on Wednesday, June 15, 1977 Grant traded Seaver to the Cincinnati Reds for Pat Zachry, Steve Henderson, Dan Norman and Flynn.[2] Dave Kingman was also traded to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Paul Siebert and Bobby Valentine. Somewhat more quietly that day, they also acquired Joel Youngblood from the St. Louis Cardinals for Mike Phillips.
His role with the Mets became more defined when Felix Millan retired following the 1977 season, and Flynn assumed the job of their everyday second baseman for the 1978 season. He won the National League Gold Glove Award at second base for the Mets in 1980.
On August 5, 1980, Flynn tied a Mets record by hitting three triples in one game in a 11-5 loss to the Expos in Montreal.[3]
Following the 1981 season, he was traded to the Texas Rangers with Dan Boitano for Jim Kern (who was then packaged with Greg Harris and Alex Trevino for George Foster from the Cincinnati Reds).
[edit] Rangers, Expos & Tigers
With the Rangers, Flynn reassumed the back-up middle infielder role he had in his early career. Midway through the 1982 season, the Montreal Expos purchased Flynn's contract from Texas, and used him in this role through June 11, 1985, when he was released. He signed with the Detroit Tigers for the remainder of that season, and retired from baseball when the Tigers released him in Spring training the following season.
| Games |
AB |
Runs |
Hits |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
SB |
CS |
BB |
SO |
Avg. |
Slg. |
Fld% |
| 1308 |
3853 |
288 |
918 |
115 |
39 |
7 |
284 |
20 |
20 |
151 |
320 |
.238 |
.294 |
.982 |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Flynn, Doug |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
|
| Date of birth |
April 18, 1951 |
| Place of birth |
Albany, New York |
| Date of death |
|
| Place of death |
|
