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

Bob Usher’s baseball career stretched over a decade, but honestly, it was his last season in 1957 that really put a bow on a journey that took him from the minor leagues up to the major leagues and back again.

The outfielder from San Diego played parts of six seasons in Major League Baseball between 1946 and 1957. He suited up for four teams: the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, and Washington Senators.

Usher wrapped up his career in 1957, turning in his best major league season. He hit .261 in 96 games for the Washington Senators after Cleveland traded him early that year.

His path into pro baseball got interrupted by military service during World War II. He served in the Navy out in the Pacific, still managing to play baseball at different military bases.

Bob Usher’s story shows the challenges players from his era faced. He had to navigate the switch from military life back to pro sports, and spent a lot of time grinding it out in the minors while chasing big league opportunities.

His stat line tells the story of a guy who stuck with it through several organizations and leagues. In the end, he put together a .235 batting average with 18 home runs in 428 major league games before heading back to the minors for his last pro season in 1958.

Early Life and Path to Professional Baseball

Bob Usher’s road to the majors started in San Diego, California, where he made a name for himself as a standout athlete in high school.

The Cincinnati Reds saw something special and signed him in 1943, before he really got a chance to break out in pro ball.

Childhood and High School Achievements

Robert Royce Usher was born March 1, 1925, in San Diego. He grew up in a city that loved baseball and showed early on that he had talent to spare.

At San Diego High School, Usher became a star. He pitched and was one of the top hurlers on the team.

He didn’t stop at high school ball. Usher also played for the San Diego Post 6 American Legion team, which won the national championship in 1941.

His play with the Legion team got him noticed by pro scouts.

Key High School Achievements:

• Top pitcher at San Diego High School
• Part of 1941 national champion San Diego Post 6 American Legion team
• Showed off speed and hitting that caught scouts’ eyes

Signing with Cincinnati Reds Organization

The Cincinnati Reds signed Usher in 1943 when he was just 17. Even though he found success as a pitcher in high school, the Reds saw him differently.

They decided to move him from pitcher to outfielder, thinking his speed and hitting would work better in the outfield. That switch ended up shaping his whole pro career.

At Cincinnati’s spring training, Usher really showed off his athleticism. He finished second in a 60-yard dash at Purdue University’s annual relay meet on March 27. Jim Russell of the Pittsburgh Pirates just barely beat him.

The Reds’ decision to make Usher an outfielder turned out to be a smart move. His mix of speed and hitting made him a natural fit.

Minor League Beginnings

Usher kicked off his pro career in 1943 with Birmingham of the Southern Association. He was only 18 and had to adjust to pro pitching and a new position.

Even with the learning curve, his first season looked promising. He hit .273 for the Birmingham Barons, not bad at all for a rookie.

Between games, Usher ran in sprint contests against other players in the league. Those races put his speed front and center, and that speed stayed one of his best tools his whole career.

In 1944, his minor league run got put on hold when he joined the US Navy. That break came just as he was starting to make a name for himself.

Military Service During World War II

Bob Usher served two years in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1945 during World War II. The Navy stationed him in the Pacific theater, and he kept playing baseball at different naval bases in Hawaii.

Navy Enlistment and Assignments

Usher joined the military in 1944 at age 19. His first assignment put him at Aiea Barracks in Hawaii, where he played a lot of baseball.

In 1945, he moved to Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station on Oahu. That kept him in the Pacific for the war’s final year.

The Navy took advantage of Usher’s athleticism. His baseball skills helped boost morale at the bases where he served.

Baseball Activities During War

Usher played right field for the NAS Kaneohe Klippers in 1945. The team competed in military leagues that aimed to keep spirits up among the troops.

Key Details:

• Position: Right field
• Team: NAS Kaneohe Klippers
• Coach: Joe Gonzales (Red Sox pitcher)

The military saw how important baseball was for troop morale. Usher stayed sharp by playing ball while serving his country.

Impact of Military Service on Baseball Career

Military service pulled Usher out of pro baseball from 1944 to 1945. He missed two key seasons in the minors during his early twenties.

Usher came back from the Navy in early 1946. The Cincinnati Reds put him on their roster for the start of the season.

He made his big league debut on April 16, 1946. Usher played 92 games but hit just .204, probably feeling the effects of two years away from organized ball.

The time away definitely showed. Even with his natural speed and hitting, Usher needed more time in the minors after the war.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Bob Usher’s MLB career covered six seasons between 1946 and 1957 with four teams. He started with the Cincinnati Reds, then played for the Chicago Cubs, and wrapped things up with the Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators.

MLB Debut and Initial Seasons with Cincinnati Reds

Bob Usher debuted in Major League Baseball on April 16, 1946, with the Cincinnati Reds at age 21. He played 92 games as an outfielder that rookie year, hitting .204.

His second season with Cincinnati in 1947 was short. Usher only got into nine big league games before spending most of the year in the minors.

After two years down in the minors, Usher came back to the Reds in 1950. That year, he had his best season with Cincinnati, batting .259 with regular playing time.

The 1951 season turned out to be rough. Usher played in 114 games but struggled badly, hitting just .208. That slump led to his exit from Cincinnati.

On October 4, 1951, the Reds traded Usher and Johnny Pramesa to the Chicago Cubs. In return, Cincinnati got Bob Borkowski and Smoky Burgess.

Time with Chicago Cubs

Usher’s time with the Chicago Cubs barely registered. He had just one plate appearance for the Cubs in 1952.

That short stint was about as quick as it gets in the big leagues. The Cubs sent him back to the minors soon after for more development.

With Chicago stacked in the outfield, Usher just didn’t get a chance. He spent almost all of 1952 in the minors.

Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators Stints

After five years mostly in the minors, Usher returned to the majors in 1957. He played for both the Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators that season.

1957 Season Performance:

• Combined batting average: .257
• Teams: Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators
• Final game: September 19, 1957

He showed some improvement that year. That .257 average was the second-best of his big league career.

Usher played his final MLB game on September 19, 1957, against the Chicago White Sox. He went 0-for-2 in that last appearance.

Career Totals:

• Batting average: .235
• Home runs: 18
• RBIs: 102
• Games played: 428

After 1957, Usher’s MLB days were done, but he played one more year in the minors with the Miami Marlins in 1958.

Key Statistics and Notable Achievements

Bob Usher’s six seasons in the big leagues produced modest stats: a .235 batting average, 18 home runs, and 102 RBIs in 428 games. Some advanced metrics pointed to defensive struggles, like his -4.1 career WAR and 26 double play groundouts.

Home Runs, RBI, and Batting Performance

Usher’s offensive production never really took off during his MLB years. He ended up with 259 total hits across six seasons, averaging about 43 hits a year when he played.

His best power year came in 1950 with the Cincinnati Reds. That season, he hit 6 home runs and drove in 35 RBIs while batting .259. That was about as good as it got for him in the majors.

Consistency at the plate was a problem. His career .235 batting average was well below the league average for his time. His on-base percentage (.295) and slugging percentage (.329) didn’t do him any favors either.

Usher’s 18 career home runs were spread out, with a third coming in 1950 alone. His 102 career RBIs reflected his role as more of a bench guy than a regular starter.

Wins Above Replacement (WAR) and Advanced Metrics

Baseball Reference lists Usher’s career WAR at -4.1, meaning he played below replacement level overall. That metric suggests he didn’t help his teams much statistically.

His roughest season was 1951. That year, he posted a -1.7 WAR and hit only .208 with 5 home runs in 114 games. His OPS+ of 51 was way below average.

Usher’s best WAR came in 1950 at 0.0—basically, he was a replacement-level player even in his best year. The advanced stats just never gave him much credit.

His career OPS+ of 69 means he hit 31% below league average, factoring in the era and parks. That’s a tough number to see, honestly.

GIDP and Defensive Records

Usher grounded into 26 double plays in his career, which is pretty modest considering his limited at-bats. His GIDP rate was reasonable for a guy who hit a lot of grounders.

Defensively, his numbers varied. As an outfielder, he posted a .982 fielding percentage in 1946, a tick above the league’s .977 average that year.

Still, his range factor numbers pointed to below-average mobility in the field.

Usher played all over the outfield—left, right, and center—but didn’t really stand out defensively at any one spot.

His 362 total bases and defensive stats paint the picture of a player who filled in as needed but never locked down a starting job. He was more of a backup outfielder than an everyday guy.

Minor League Career and Final Years in Baseball

Bob Usher spent a lot of time in the minors during his career, and he actually put up better offensive numbers there than he ever managed in the majors.

His pro baseball journey wrapped up in 1957 after a short return to the big leagues. He played one last minor league season before calling it quits.

Performance in Minor Leagues

Usher’s minor league career painted a very different picture from his struggles in the majors. He hit for a .284 batting average with 94 home runs and 591 RBI over 1,338 games in the minors.

Those numbers really highlight the offensive potential he brought to the field. His minor league batting average sat a full 49 points higher than the .235 he managed in the majors.

Usher didn’t stick to just one spot in the minors. He played multiple positions, showing up at first base, second base, center field, and even took the mound as a pitcher.

His power numbers in the minors were nothing to sneeze at. Smacking 94 home runs at those levels really showed why teams kept giving him a look.

The minor leagues gave Usher consistent playing time. That chance to play regularly let him refine his skills and keep his career alive when the majors weren’t calling.

Return to Majors and Retirement in 1957

Usher returned for his last major league game on September 19, 1957, with the Washington Senators. That year, he put together his best stretch in the big leagues.

He played 96 games for the Senators, batting .261—his highest single-season average in the majors. That late-career push? It really proved how much persistence can matter.

After that, Usher headed back to the minors in 1958. He wrapped up his professional career with Miami of the International League.

His 1958 season in Miami closed out a 15-year run in pro baseball. Since signing with the Cincinnati Reds in 1943, he’d bounced between the majors and minors.

Usher finished his baseball journey at age 33. He played through the post-World War II era, spending time in several different organizations.

Legacy, Recognition, and Post-Retirement Life

After six seasons in Major League Baseball, Bob Usher moved on to a distinguished role as a US Naval Intelligence Officer. Life after baseball brought dedicated service to his country and a quiet dignity that seemed to define him both on and off the field.

Bob Usher’s Reputation in Baseball

Usher built a reputation as a reliable outfielder during his MLB run from 1946 to 1957. He played six seasons, though his career had its share of interruptions—still, he kept coming back.

Players who shared the field with Usher remembered his steady approach. He might not have been a superstar, but coaches respected his work ethic and professionalism.

His style fit the values of baseball in the 1940s and 1950s. Usher really embodied the journeyman player role, contributing with consistency rather than flash.

Baseball historians often point out that guys like Usher formed the backbone of mid-century rosters. These players provided the depth and reliability that stars leaned on, even if they didn’t always get the spotlight.

Personal Life and Passing

After baseball, Usher started a new chapter in naval intelligence. That move showed just how committed he was to serving his country, even after leaving the game behind.

Usher lived from 1925 to 2014, which is almost nine decades—a pretty impressive run. He got to see huge changes in both baseball and the country itself.

He brought the discipline and strategic thinking from his playing days into his work as a US Naval Intelligence Officer. While a lot of former athletes struggled with life after sports, Usher found real purpose in government service.

The teamwork and attention to detail he developed in baseball helped him succeed in intelligence work. Folks who worked with him in the Navy respected his analytical skills.

Lasting Impact and Remembrance

Bob Usher really captures that era in baseball when players usually had to find second careers after hanging up their cleats. He made a successful jump to naval intelligence, and honestly, that’s inspired plenty of other athletes facing the same crossroads.

His military service says a lot about his character. The United States Navy Memorial actually recognizes what he did for national security.

Most modern baseball fans probably don’t know his name, which is kind of a shame. Usher’s story feels like it mirrors what a lot of players from his generation went through. Back then, they played for the love of the game, not for huge paychecks.

His life proves that professional athletes can give back to society in ways that go way beyond sports. Usher’s legacy, both in baseball and military service, really shows how former players can find all sorts of new paths.