Bob Shirley – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Bob Shirley pitched in Major League Baseball for 11 seasons before he walked away from the game in 1987.

This left-handed pitcher from Oklahoma threw his final pitch on June 21, 1987, wearing a Kansas City Royals uniform, closing out a career that stretched from 1977 to 1987.

Shirley retired from professional baseball in 1987 after playing for five different teams, including the San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, and Kansas City Royals. He started out as a first-round draft pick for the Padres and became a reliable pitcher, working as both a starter and reliever throughout his major league years.

From his debut against the Cincinnati Reds in April 1977 to his final appearance a decade later, Shirley showed how a pitcher could adapt to new roles and teams.

He enjoyed memorable moments in New York, put up solid seasons in San Diego, and eventually made his way back to Oklahoma after hanging up his cleats.

Early Life and Baseball Journey

Bob Shirley was born on June 25, 1954, in Cushing, Oklahoma.

He became only the second major leaguer from this small town, which is a neat bit of trivia if you ask me.

Background and Upbringing

Robert Charles Shirley grew up in Cushing, Oklahoma, a place that’s produced just two major league players.

He followed Paul Blair as the second player from Cushing to reach the majors.

Born in 1954, Shirley started developing his baseball skills as a kid in Oklahoma.

He showed promise early on, but there aren’t many detailed records of his amateur days.

Growing up in a small Oklahoma town gave him a solid work ethic.

That foundation really helped him during his pro career.

Path to Professional Baseball

Shirley’s road to professional baseball led to him being drafted and working his way up through the minor leagues.

His development as a southpaw pitcher caught scouts’ attention.

The San Diego Padres organization brought him in as their draft pick.

Shirley moved through their farm system, sharpening his skills as both a starter and reliever.

He pitched well enough in the minors to get called up to the majors in 1977.

At 23, Shirley debuted with the Padres and started what would turn into an 11-season major league career.

Making the leap from small-town Oklahoma to professional baseball was a big deal.

Shirley’s determination and pitching talent opened doors that kept him around the majors for more than a decade.

Major League Career Overview

Bob Shirley pitched for 11 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1977 to 1987.

He racked up 67 wins and 94 losses across five different teams.

He posted a career ERA of 3.82 and struck out 790 batters.

His best season came in 1985 with the Yankees, when he put up a 2.64 ERA.

Debut and Teams Played For

Bob Shirley made his Major League debut on April 10, 1977, with the San Diego Padres at age 22.

He’d been the 8th overall pick in the 1976 draft after playing college ball at Oklahoma.

His first game against Cincinnati was something special.

Shirley pitched 8.2 innings, gave up just 4 hits, struck out 11 batters, and got the win.

Shirley played for five teams during his career:

• San Diego Padres (1977-1980)
• St. Louis Cardinals (1981)
• Cincinnati Reds (1982)
• New York Yankees (1983-1987)
• Kansas City Royals (1987)

He went to the Cardinals in a big trade involving Rollie Fingers and Gene Tenace for seven players in December 1981.

A year later, he got traded to Cincinnati before signing with the Yankees as a free agent in 1983.

Performance in the National League

Shirley spent his first six seasons in the National League, where he went 73-87 with a 3.66 ERA.

He had his most productive years in San Diego, making 92 starts over four seasons.

In 1979, Shirley put up his best National League season with a 3.38 ERA in 205 innings.

He finished four games and threw one shutout that year, also racking up 117 strikeouts.

His rookie season in 1977 showed flashes of his strikeout ability, even though he lost 18 games.

Shirley struck out 146 batters in 214 innings that year, which is pretty impressive for a rookie.

With Cincinnati in 1982, he went 8-13 with a 3.60 ERA.

His win-loss record didn’t look great, but his ERA stayed solid during his National League run.

Notable Games and Seasons

Shirley’s best season came in 1985 with the Yankees.

He posted a 2.64 ERA in 109 innings as a left-handed setup man, got 2 saves, and finished 2 games.

That debut game with 11 strikeouts in 8.2 innings against Cincinnati really set the tone for his career.

The 1979 season with San Diego was his peak as a starter.

Shirley threw 205 innings with a 3.38 ERA and recorded his only complete-game shutout.

His last season in 1987 didn’t go well.

He struggled with Kansas City, posting a 14.73 ERA in limited action before calling it a career.

Time with the New York Yankees

Bob Shirley signed with the New York Yankees as a free agent in 1982.

He spent five years there, which really defined his career in a lot of ways.

His time in New York included some tough moments with manager Billy Martin and his career-best 1985 season as a versatile left-hander.

Joining the Yankees

The Yankees brought Shirley in on a three-year, $2.05 million deal during the winter of 1982.

He joined as a free agent after stints with the Cardinals and Reds.

His first season in pinstripes wasn’t easy.

Shirley struggled in 1983 under Billy Martin, going 5-8 with a 5.08 ERA in 108 innings over 25 games and 17 starts.

That rough start created some tension between him and Martin.

This relationship affected how Martin used Shirley, especially when Martin came back as manager in 1985.

Key Contributions

Shirley’s best Yankees season came in 1984 under manager Yogi Berra.

He put up a 3.38 ERA in 114.1 innings, appearing in 41 games and starting seven times.

1985 Career Season Statistics:

• ERA: 2.64 (career best)
• Innings: 109
• Games: 48 (8 starts)
• Complete Games: 2
• WHIP: 1.183

His 1985 season almost didn’t happen because Billy Martin didn’t trust him.

After Martin replaced Berra just 16 games into the season, Shirley sat on the bench for almost a month, even though he was healthy.

Martin finally put him back on the mound when injuries hit the pitching staff.

Between June 10 and June 30, Shirley made four starts and two relief appearances, and even earned MLB Player of the Week.

He became the Yankees’ most dependable pitcher in the second half of 1985.

Shirley appeared in 29 games and threw 60 innings after that long bench stint.

Interactions with Teammates

Shirley talked about his rocky relationship with Billy Martin in a June 1985 interview.

He admitted he wasn’t one of Martin’s favorites, pointing to his poor 1983 season.

When Shirley won Player of the Week, Martin didn’t exactly gush with praise.

Martin joked, “Player of the week and now he’s giving interviews,” which kind of sums up their dynamic.

His ability to switch between starting and relieving made him valuable to teammates and coaches.

Shirley could handle both roles without burning out, which helped the Yankees during seasons full of injuries.

The 1985 Yankees had stars like Don Mattingly, Dave Winfield, and Rickey Henderson.

Shirley’s steady work as a middle reliever and spot starter supported a roster that won 97 games—though they missed the playoffs by just two.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Bob Shirley’s 11-year Major League Baseball career had its share of standout moments and stats that defined his time as a pro pitcher.

He finished with 790 strikeouts and a bunch of solid pitching performances that put him among the notable players from his era.

Career Strikeouts and RBIs

Shirley racked up 790 strikeouts over his 11-season career from 1977 to 1987.

His best strikeout year was his rookie season in 1977, when he struck out 146 batters in 214 innings.

He showed off his strikeout ability right out of the gate.

On April 10, 1977, in his first Major League start, Shirley struck out 11 Cincinnati Reds batters, announcing himself to the league.

His most impressive single-game performance came on April 23, 1977.

That day, he retired the first 25 Houston Astros batters he faced, coming close to perfection in a 4-2 win for the Padres.

Shirley didn’t hit much, like most pitchers of his time.

He focused on pitching, and his RBIs were minimal, which was pretty normal for National League pitchers back then.

Comparisons with Contemporaries

Shirley played during the same years as legends like Joe Morgan and Andre Dawson.

While those Hall of Famers shined offensively, Shirley made his name as a steady pitcher.

His 3.82 career ERA put him among the solid middle-tier pitchers of the late ’70s and ’80s.

His best year was 1985 with the Yankees, when he posted a 2.64 ERA and a 5-5 record.

Unlike hitters like Dawson, who put up big batting numbers, Shirley’s value came from his pitching consistency.

His 67 wins and 94 losses reflected more on the teams he played for than on his own performance.

Shirley logged 1,432 career innings, showing durability that a lot of his peers couldn’t match due to injuries or shorter careers.

Retirement in 1987 and Legacy

Bob Shirley wrapped up his 11-season Major League Baseball career in 1987 after his performance slipped and competition for roster spots got tougher.

His exit marked the end of a steady career across multiple teams and roles.

He left behind a reputation for professionalism and work ethic that teammates respected.

Events Leading to Retirement

Shirley’s last MLB season in 1987 followed a productive 1985 campaign with the New York Yankees, where he put up a 2.64 ERA and proved he could contribute as both a starter and reliever.

But his performance dropped off in the next seasons.

He found himself fighting for fewer roster spots as teams leaned toward younger players.

At 33, Shirley knew his skills just weren’t what they used to be.

His best Yankees season in 1985 showed he still had something left, with a 5-5 record, 2 complete games, and 2 saves.

By 1987, it got harder and harder for Shirley to land a spot.

Baseball’s competitive nature meant teams wanted players with more years ahead of them, and that signaled it was time for Shirley to step away.

Impact on Teams and Teammates

When Shirley played for the Yankees, he shared the field with stars like Don Mattingly and other big names from the mid-1980s. He brought a veteran presence that helped keep clubhouses steady across five different organizations.

Shirley always said his proudest moment was “my first day in the Major Leagues.” That genuine appreciation for the game stuck with him, and teammates respected him for it.

Managers liked his versatility, since he could pitch as a starter or come out of the bullpen. Teams relied on Shirley to handle whatever role they needed at the time.

After he retired, Shirley wanted to stay in touch with old teammates. He even tossed out the idea that teams should organize reunions, saying, “it would be nice to know where ex-teammates were, or to even have a Padres Day.”

He took a professional approach to the game, and people remembered him as reliable, even if his stats didn’t put him in the same category as the stars.

Life After Baseball

Bob Shirley settled into a quiet retirement in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He spent his days golfing and keeping up with former teammates.

After more than a decade in the majors, he seemed to just want a bit of normalcy.

Post-Retirement Activities

When Shirley retired in 1987, he made Tulsa his home and leaned into a slower pace, with golf front and center. In interviews, he talked about how much he enjoyed retirement and loved spending time on the course.

He never lost interest in his baseball past. He said he wished he knew what his former teammates were up to and suggested a Padres Day to bring everyone back together.

Shirley’s retirement looked a lot like what you’d expect from many ex-major leaguers. He didn’t go into coaching or broadcasting. Instead, he just focused on enjoying life, leaving the professional side of baseball behind.

Recognition and Influence

Shirley always pointed to his first day in the Major Leagues as his proudest career moment. He made his debut on April 10, 1977 and nearly shut out the Cincinnati Reds.

He racked up 67 wins and 94 losses over 434 games, playing for five different teams. He didn’t make it to All-Star status, but his 11 seasons showed he could handle both starting and relieving roles.

Shirley’s impact reached beyond the field, especially in the way he connected with teammates. He often talked about his admiration for Randy Jones, calling him his favorite Padres teammate.

That friendship really stuck with him, showing how those personal bonds from his playing days lasted long after retirement.