Bobby Young – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

You might not hear Bobby Young’s name much these days, but his story really captures the hopes of all those kids who just wanted to see their hometown team make it to the majors. This second baseman from Granite, Maryland lived through one of baseball’s biggest shakeups when the St. Louis Browns packed up and moved to Baltimore in 1954.

Young spent eight years in the big leagues, from 1948 to 1958, and those years were anything but quiet in the world of baseball.

Young became the first player to sign a contract with the modern Baltimore Orioles, making him a crucial piece of the franchise’s return to the American League after a 52-year break. His grandfather had seen the original Orioles win pennants in the 1890s, and Young always dreamed of playing pro ball in his own city.

When the chance finally came, he was right there, ready to grab it.

From his early days in the St. Louis Cardinals organization to his last season with the Philadelphia Phillies, Young’s career shows what it meant to be a dedicated player during some of baseball’s wildest years. He moved through five teams, played a sharp second base, and helped bring baseball back to Baltimore.

His impact went way beyond his .249 career batting average.

Early Life and Path to Major League Baseball

Bobby Young was born January 22, 1925, in Granite, Maryland. He grew up surrounded by Baltimore’s baseball scene.

He made a name for himself in several high school sports and served in the Marines during World War II.

Family Background and Childhood in Maryland

Robert George Young came into the world in Granite, Maryland, about 20 miles west of Baltimore. He was Joseph and Beatrice (Hamilton) Young’s only child.

The 1930 census shows his dad worked as a foreman for Baltimore County. The family lived with Bobby’s grandparents on Old Court Road when he was little.

Louis Hamilton, Bobby’s grandfather, played a big role in shaping his baseball dreams. Hamilton had been a teenager when the Orioles won three straight pennants in the 1890s.

He inspired Bobby to dream about playing for the Orioles if the majors ever came back to Baltimore.

By 1940, Bobby’s parents had moved into their own place on Florida Road. His mom worked as a beautician, helping keep the family steady through the Great Depression.

High School Athletics and Sports Achievements

Young went to Catonsville High School and stood out in a bunch of sports. In the fall of 1941, he scored six goals in a single soccer game—pretty wild—and the Baltimore Sun took notice.

He also came through in basketball, scoring 18 points in a 41-39 win over McDonogh, including the go-ahead basket with just three seconds left.

Baseball, though, was where he really shined. Coach Howard “Buck” Griffin remembered Young’s first tryout with a grin. “Never forget the first time I saw Bobby,” Griffin said. “He was the last to show up, last to hit. He did everything wrong, just like he would through his whole career, and hit nothing but line drives.”

Griffin, who’d pitched in the minors a bit, turned Young into a middle infielder. “He was one of the best infielders I ever coached,” Griffin said. “Always the first on the field. Real team guy.”

Young later said Griffin did more for his baseball career than anyone else. Even with his high school stats, he tried out for the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park but they told him, “Come back when you’ve grown a bit.”

Military Service and College Years

After finishing high school in 1942, Young started at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. He didn’t stick around long—just one semester—before joining the Marines for World War II.

His draft card listed him at 5’11”, 158 pounds, with a ruddy complexion and a scar on his chin.

Young spent part of his three-year Marine stint playing for service teams at Marine Corps Air Station Eagle Mountain Lake in Texas. That kept his baseball skills sharp during the war.

After the war, someone recommended Young to Benny Borgmann, a St. Louis Cardinals scout. Borgmann, a former minor-league infielder and future Basketball Hall of Famer, was coaching the Paterson Crescents in the American Basketball League.

When the Crescents played the Baltimore Bullets, Borgmann tracked Young down. “I saw Young right before the basketball game and asked him to come to our dressing room at halftime,” Borgmann said. “He did, and that’s where I signed him to his first contract in Organized Baseball.”

Professional Baseball Career Highlights

Bobby Young played eight seasons from 1948 to 1958, building a reputation as a steady second baseman with five big league teams. His best years were with the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles, where he became a defensive standout and made history as the first player signed by the modern Orioles.

Major League Debut and Early Years

Young debuted in the majors on August 30, 1948, with the St. Louis Cardinals at Sportsman’s Park. He came in as a pinch-runner for Babe Young in the eighth inning against the Dodgers.

He got his first plate appearance on September 21, 1948, pinch-hitting against Boston Braves pitcher Johnny Sain. Young struck out looking—his only at-bat that year.

After two more seasons in the minors, Young returned to the majors in 1951 with the St. Louis Browns. He picked up his first three big league hits on Opening Day, all singles off Billy Pierce of the White Sox.

Young started 147 games that year, more than anyone else on the Browns. He hit .260 and led AL second basemen by turning 118 double plays, showing off the defense that would become his calling card.

Key Seasons and Team Contributions

Young put up his best numbers with the Browns from 1951 to 1953. In 1952, he led AL second basemen in double plays again and hit .247 with a career-high 39 RBIs in 149 games.

He had a couple of big moments against Hall of Famer Bob Feller that year. On April 23, Young tripled to start the game and scored the only run in a 1-0 win. Later, he hit a three-run homer off Feller to help the Browns win another one.

When the Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954, Young made history as the first player to sign with the new Baltimore Orioles. It was a dream come true—playing for his hometown team.

Young led off for the Orioles on Opening Day in 1954, marking Baltimore’s return to the American League after more than five decades. He stayed at second base through the 1955 season.

Career Achievements and Awards

Young’s most impressive stat came in 1950 with the Baltimore Orioles in the minors. He handled 329 straight chances without an error over 60 games, breaking Jackie Robinson’s International League record.

He played 687 games in the majors over eight seasons, hitting .249 with 15 homers and 137 RBIs for the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, and Philadelphia Phillies.

Young built his reputation on defense. He regularly ranked among the league’s best in double plays, leading AL second basemen in that stat two years in a row.

His big league career wrapped up in 1958 with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he played 32 games. Young finished with a .980 fielding percentage—just what you’d expect from a dependable glove man.

Bobby Young with the St. Louis Cardinals

Bobby Young got his pro start with the St. Louis Cardinals organization in 1946, working his way up as a second baseman in their minor league system. He only had a short run with the Cardinals in the majors, but it happened during a tight pennant race in 1948.

Signing and Minor League Development

The Cardinals picked up Young as an amateur free agent before the 1946 season, when he was 21. Scout Benny Borgmann, who found Young, signed him in a basketball locker room during halftime—definitely not your everyday signing.

Young began his pro journey with the Allentown Cardinals in the Class B Interstate League. He hit .347 in 128 games, scored 115 runs, and led the league with 16 triples, earning a spot on the All-Star team.

In 1947, Young moved up to Triple-A with the Rochester Red Wings. He batted .315 in 118 games, playing both second and third base. The next season, he focused on second base full-time with Rochester.

His 1948 season at Rochester showed off his glove. Young led International League second basemen with a .988 fielding percentage, though his average dipped to .268 in 126 games.

Memorable Moments with the Cardinals

Young made his major league debut on August 30, 1948, at Sportsman’s Park during the Cardinals’ playoff push. He pinch-ran for Babe Young in the eighth and made it to second on a two-run single but didn’t score.

In the ninth, he stayed in at third base and tagged out George Shuba for the final out, stopping a Dodgers rally.

Young’s only at-bat for the Cardinals came on September 21 against the Braves. He pinch-hit against Johnny Sain in the seventh inning of an 11-3 loss. “I was real nervous,” Young admitted later. Sain struck him out looking for his 22nd win that season.

Young played just three games for St. Louis in 1948. With Red Schoendienst locked in as the team’s second baseman, Young didn’t have a clear path to more playing time.

Baltimore Orioles and the Return of Big-League Baseball

Bobby Young played a big part in Baltimore’s baseball history when he became the first player to sign with the modern Baltimore Orioles after the team moved from St. Louis. He also led off on Opening Day 1954, when Baltimore finally got a major league team again after more than 50 years.

Becoming the First Modern-Day Orioles Signee

Young carved out a special spot in baseball history by signing first with the new-day Orioles. This happened right after the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore following the 1953 season.

For Young, it was a childhood dream come true. He’d grown up just outside Baltimore when the city didn’t have a big league team. His grandfather used to tell him stories about the original Orioles and their championship runs in the 1800s.

Young’s ties to Baltimore ran deep. He played for the minor league Baltimore Orioles in 1949 and 1950 and even set a league record with 329 errorless chances over 60 games.

When the team moved, Baltimore finally got major league baseball back after 52 years. Young was so pumped about the move that he even volunteered to sell tickets in the offseason. His excitement matched the city’s buzz about having baseball return to Memorial Stadium.

Role as Opening Day Leadoff Hitter

Young earned the job as Baltimore’s Opening Day leadoff hitter on April 15, 1954. That game marked the Orioles’ first in Baltimore since 1902.

A crowd of 46,354 packed Memorial Stadium to watch the Orioles beat the White Sox 3-1. The win kicked off a new era for the franchise.

Young’s speed and knack for getting on base made him a good choice at the top of the lineup. During his time with the Browns and Orioles, he showed the skills needed for the leadoff spot. He’d even led the Browns in runs scored in 1951 with 75.

That opening game was about more than baseball. Around 350,000 fans lined the streets to welcome the team home. Young, as the first batter, really symbolized Baltimore’s fresh start with big league baseball.

Other Major League Tenures: Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies

Young wrapped up his professional baseball career with a mid-season trade to Cleveland in 1955, then made a short return to the majors with Philadelphia in 1958. These moves signaled the end of his eight years in the big leagues.

Short Stint with the Cleveland Indians

In 1955, the Baltimore Orioles traded Young to the Cleveland Indians. That was a pretty big shift for him, considering he’d spent the last four years with the Browns and Orioles.

Young played parts of two seasons with Cleveland, from 1955 to 1956. The Indians gave him another shot to show off his defensive skills at second base.

He kept his major league career alive, even though he was getting up there in age for a ballplayer. People still saw Young as a reliable defensive guy when Cleveland brought him in.

His experience and fielding made him a solid piece for the Indians’ roster. For Young, the move meant joining a team that had a little more going for it than the Browns or the early Orioles.

Final Season with the Philadelphia Phillies

Young finished up his major league days with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1958. That last season closed out his eight-year run, which started way back with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 1958 season in Philadelphia gave Young one last shot at the majors. By then, he was 33 and had built a reputation as a steady defensive player over the years.

His time with the Phillies was short, but it rounded out his time with several different teams. Young ended his career with a .249 batting average over 687 games.

His final stats included 15 home runs and 137 RBIs. He’d gone from the Cardinals to the Browns, Orioles, Indians, and finally the Phillies.

Retirement, Legacy, and Memorial

Bobby Young wrapped up his baseball career after the 1958 season with the Phillies, closing out eight years in the majors. He’ll always have a spot in Baltimore’s baseball story, especially since he was the first player the modern Orioles ever signed.

Retirement in 1958 and Life After Baseball

Young’s last season happened in 1958 with the Phillies. He played in just 32 games that year and batted .229.

His final game came on September 28, 1958. That marked the end of a career spanning parts of eight seasons.

Young finished with a .249 batting average, 609 hits, 15 home runs, and 137 RBIs in 687 games. He spent his career as a steady defensive second baseman, actually leading American League second basemen in double plays twice with the Browns.

His stats pretty much tell the story of a reliable fielder and contact hitter. Young didn’t strike out much and managed to draw a fair number of walks, especially in his minor league days in Baltimore, where he walked 62 times in 1950.

After he retired, Young stayed close to home in the Baltimore area where he’d grown up. He kept living in Maryland after his playing days were over.

Legacy in Baltimore and Memorial

Young holds a special spot in Baltimore Orioles history. He was actually the first player to sign with the modern franchise.

When the St. Louis Browns packed up and moved to Baltimore in 1954, Young stepped in as the team’s Opening Day leadoff hitter.

His Maryland roots made him a natural fit for the Orioles’ return. Young grew up just outside Baltimore, back when the city didn’t have a major league team.

He listened to his grandfather’s stories about the old Orioles championship teams from the 1890s. Those stories clearly inspired him.

Young’s connection to Baltimore baseball ran deeper than stats ever could. He really became the link between the city’s baseball past and its future when major league baseball came back in 1954.

Young died in Baltimore on January 28, 1985, just six days after turning 60. You can actually find more about that here.

He’s buried in Maryland, the place he called home for most of his life, both before and after his baseball career. Young’s legacy still hangs around as part of the Orioles’ early days after their return to the American League.