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

Bob Ramazzotti wrapped up his baseball career in 1953. He decided to retire while playing for the Havana Sugar Kings, ending a seven-year Major League Baseball run that honestly seemed filled with both grit and some tough luck. The Pennsylvania-born infielder appeared in 346 games between 1946 and 1953 for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. He posted a .230 batting average, hit 4 home runs, and drove in 53 runs, all while surviving a skull fracture that nearly cost him everything. His story? It’s really one of those lesser-known baseball tales where perseverance stands out more than the stat sheet.

Ramazzotti grew up in Eleanora, Pennsylvania, the son of Italian immigrants. His route to the majors? Definitely not the usual one. He didn’t sign his first pro contract until he was 22, lost key years to World War II, and then took a fastball to the head in 1947 that led to several brain surgeries.

That late start and those injuries only make his time in the majors feel more impressive.

Let’s dig into Ramazzotti’s background—his early days in Pennsylvania’s industrial towns, his stats and roles in the big leagues, and what led him to call it quits in 1953. After baseball, he moved into business. People who knew him remember his courage more than his numbers.

Early Life and Background

Ramazzotti’s baseball journey started in the industrial hills of central Pennsylvania. He was born to Italian immigrants in 1917. Growing up, he played on Altoona’s sandlots, not exactly a hotbed for scouts, but his drive and talent eventually got him noticed.

Family Origins

Robert Louis Ramazzotti entered the world on January 16, 1917, in Eleanora, Pennsylvania. His parents, Paolo and Madalena Ramazzotti, had come from Italy.

The family settled in Altoona, a gritty industrial city tucked in the central Pennsylvania mountains, about 100 miles from Pittsburgh.

There were six kids in the Ramazzotti family—three boys, three girls. Paolo worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, which at its peak employed about 15,000 people in Altoona.

Like a lot of immigrant families back then, the Ramazzottis had to deal with the Great Depression’s economic struggles. Still, they put a big emphasis on education and working hard.

High School and Amateur Baseball

Ramazzotti graduated from Altoona High School in 1936. That was a pretty big deal at the time since many kids left school early to help their families.

The school didn’t even have a varsity baseball team. That meant he didn’t get much formal baseball training.

He still found ways to stay active in sports. As a senior, he won the 135-pound boxing title at his school. That kind of athleticism would come in handy later.

After high school, Ramazzotti played shortstop on Altoona and Midland, Maryland sandlots. He stood out right away, dominating local competition and building a reputation that eventually reached the ears of big league scouts.

Path to the Major Leagues

By 1939, major league teams started to notice Ramazzotti’s play on the sandlots. But he wasn’t quick to jump at just any offer.

The Altoona Mirror reported that Ramazzotti “won’t move out of the city unless he is sure to get enough to pay for board and room and some cash left over.”

The Pittsburgh Pirates gave him a workout in early 1939 and even offered a contract. Ramazzotti turned them down because the money wasn’t right.

He also said no to the Johnstown Johnnies that summer.

The Brooklyn Dodgers finally got his attention. On August 2, 1939, Dodgers coach Bill Killefer came to Altoona to watch him play. The New York Times had already hyped Ramazzotti as “an embryonic Honus Wagner,” which is quite the comparison.

With Killefer in the stands, Ramazzotti went 1-for-2 and scored a run for his Columbia Park team in the Altoona City League. Killefer liked what he saw and called Ramazzotti “well worth observation.”

He finished that season batting .381, leading Columbia Park to a regular season title. His team ended up forfeiting the championship series after a dispute, but Ramazzotti signed with the Dodgers and landed with Johnstown.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Bob Ramazzotti played seven seasons in the majors, from 1946 to 1953, getting into 346 games with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. He bounced around the infield, filling whatever role his teams needed.

Debut Season and Teams Played For

Ramazzotti made his MLB debut on April 20, 1946, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was 29 years old, which is late for a rookie. He came in as a pinch runner during a 9-8 win over the New York Giants.

He’d lost a chunk of his prime years to the Army, serving as a staff sergeant in the 71st infantry division from 1942 to 1945.

The Dodgers brought him up from Montreal when Cookie Lavagetto hurt his elbow. Ramazzotti played for Brooklyn in 1946 and 1947, then got traded to the Chicago Cubs.

He spent most of his career with the Cubs, from 1948 to 1953. His best year was 1952, when he hit .284 in 50 games for Chicago.

The Cubs mostly used him as a utility infielder and pinch hitter.

Position Versatility and Role

Ramazzotti brought a lot of versatility to the infield. He played second base, third base, and shortstop during his career.

The Dodgers started him at third when Lavagetto went down, but manager Leo Durocher moved him to second base during a hot streak in July 1946.

His ability to play all over the infield made him a valuable utility player. In a standout series in St. Louis in 1946, he handled 26 chances at second base without making an error.

The Cubs also used him at different infield spots.

Most of the time, Ramazzotti served as a pinch hitter or backup infielder. He filled in when starters needed a break or dealt with injuries. That kind of role was pretty common for players with his skill set back then.

Career Timeline

1946: Debuted with the Dodgers, batting .208 in 120 at-bats as a rookie.

1947: Saw limited playing time for Brooklyn, with Arky Vaughan back and Spider Jorgensen taking over third.

1948-1953: Played six seasons for the Cubs as a utility infielder and pinch hitter.

1952: Had his best year, batting .284 in 50 games for Chicago.

1953: Played his last MLB game on September 17 against Philadelphia at age 36.

Transaction History

The Dodgers bought Ramazzotti’s contract from Montreal just before the 1946 season started. They needed some infield insurance.

Brooklyn had sent his contract to Montreal in the International League for 1946.

Details about his trade to Chicago aren’t clear, but it happened between 1947 and 1948. He stayed with the Cubs for the rest of his major league days.

After leaving the majors in 1953, Ramazzotti briefly played for the Havana Sugar Kings in 1954. He soon retired in June that year to work for his father-in-law’s investment business in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Career Stats: .230 average, 4 homers, 53 RBIs, .271 OBP in 346 games.

Statistical Analysis and Performance Metrics

Ramazzotti’s seven-year career saw him hit .230—not exactly lighting up the stat sheet. He didn’t hit for much power, but his ability to play all over the infield gave him some value, even if his offensive numbers lagged behind.

Career Batting Statistics

Looking at his offense, Ramazzotti really fit the mold of a utility guy who never quite found his groove at the plate.

Over 346 games, he picked up 196 hits in 851 at-bats, good for a .230 average.

He wasn’t a power hitter, finishing with just 4 home runs. Most of his extra-base hits came from 22 doubles and 9 triples. His slugging percentage was .291, which sat well below league average.

Key Offensive Numbers:

• On-base percentage: .271
• OPS: .562
• OPS+: 52 (so, 48% below league average)
• Total bases: 248

His best offensive year was 1952. In 50 games for Chicago, he batted .284 and posted a .699 OPS. That was the only season he came close to league-average production.

He struggled with plate discipline, walking just 45 times while striking out 107 times. That didn’t help his on-base numbers.

Fielding and Defensive Ratings

Ramazzotti’s glove gave him more value than his bat. He played all over the infield, with mixed results.

At third base, his main position, he handled 180 chances in 1946 and posted a .939 fielding percentage, a bit below the league average of .952. His range factor was 2.07 per game, which also trailed the norm.

Defensive Positions:

• Third base: 71 games, .939-.972 fielding percentage
• Second base: 21 games, .897-1.000 fielding percentage
• Shortstop: 12 games, 1.000 fielding percentage

His best year in the field came in 1949, when he played 36 games at third for the Cubs and posted a .972 fielding percentage. That was actually better than average.

Overall, the numbers show Ramazzotti was solid enough defensively, though he never turned into a standout at any single spot.

Wins Above Replacement (WAR)

Ramazzotti’s WAR numbers tell the story of a player who, honestly, didn’t provide a ton of value compared to a replacement-level guy. His career WAR came in at -1.7.

His lowest point was 1949, when he put up -1.4 WAR over 70 games split between Brooklyn and Chicago. Weak offense and some defensive issues dragged him down.

His only positive WAR season was 1952, with a 0.8 WAR. Not coincidentally, that was his best year at the plate.

WAR by Season:

• 1946: -0.4 WAR (Brooklyn)
• 1948: -0.1 WAR (Brooklyn)
• 1949: -1.4 WAR (Brooklyn/Chicago)
• 1950-1953: ranged from -0.1 to 0.8 WAR (Chicago)

If you averaged out his WAR over 162 games, you’d get -0.8, which really cements his role as a fringe big leaguer who filled a gap but didn’t move the needle much.

Advanced Analytics: Win Expectancy and Leverage Index

It’s tough to get a full picture of Ramazzotti’s performance in big moments because the advanced stats from his era are spotty at best.

Still, what we know suggests he played about as well in high-leverage situations as he did overall. His .230 average and lack of power didn’t exactly make him a threat late in close games.

Players with similar numbers in his era usually hurt their team’s chances in clutch spots. His 52 OPS+ puts him in that group.

Modern analytics—think Tom Tango or Pete Palmer—came along long after Ramazzotti retired. These tools help put his career in context, but we just don’t have complete leverage index data for players from back then.

Bob Ramazzotti’s 1953 Retirement and Final Season

Ramazzotti’s final season in the majors ended in 1953. It was a tough year, with injuries and his numbers slipping. He played just 26 games for the Cubs before deciding to walk away for good.

Performance During the 1953 Season

Ramazzotti barely got on the field in 1953. Both limited playing time and nagging injuries kept him sidelined for most of the year.

He played just 26 games for the Chicago Cubs, which was a huge drop compared to his earlier seasons. His bat just couldn’t keep up anymore.

Ramazzotti hit only .154 that year, a sharp fall from his career average of .230. Injuries, age—everything seemed to catch up with him.

A broken finger ended his season early, making an already tough year nearly impossible. This injury just piled onto the long list of physical issues he’d been fighting for years.

On September 17, 1953, he played his final game. He pinch-hit against the Philadelphia Phillies and went 0-for-1, closing out his Major League career.

Decision to Retire

Ramazzotti decided to call it quits after seven seasons in the majors. At 36, he just couldn’t shake the injuries that had worn him down.

He probably saw the writing on the wall with the Cubs. His playing time had vanished, and his performance wasn’t up to big-league standards anymore.

Ramazzotti lost some of his best years to World War II service from 1942 to 1945. He served as a staff sergeant in the Army’s 71st infantry division, missing out on what might have been his prime.

Legacy in Baseball

Ramazzotti wrapped up his Major League career with a .230 batting average over 346 games. He hit 4 home runs, 22 doubles, and had 53 RBIs while playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.

He acted as a utility player, giving his teams some much-needed depth and flexibility. Managers liked that he could play all over the infield.

Even though his stats weren’t flashy, Ramazzotti earned respect by fighting through injuries and tough breaks. In 1952, he put up his best numbers, batting .284 in 50 games for the Cubs.

Growing up in Altoona, Pennsylvania, he went from sandlot games to the Major Leagues. That kind of determination was what it took to make it in pro baseball during the 1940s and 1950s.

Post-Baseball Life and Legacy

After he left baseball in 1953, Bob Ramazzotti went back to Pennsylvania. He built a quiet life for himself, working steadily and staying involved in his community. You can read more about that here. His post-career years showed the same grit that helped him get through war and injuries.

Later Years and Personal Life

Ramazzotti settled in Altoona, Pennsylvania, where his family had put down roots. He found steady work at a ball bearing factory and stuck with it for twenty years. That job gave him the stability that baseball never quite did.

He and his wife Jean, whom he married in 1947, decided to open a sandwich shop together. Jean had always been in his corner, and the business kept them connected to their neighbors.

Even after baseball, Ramazzotti just couldn’t walk away from the game. He moved back to Altoona and tried to land a scouting job with a major league team. According to his son, Bob Ramazzotti Jr., that effort showed just how much he still loved baseball, even if his body couldn’t keep up anymore.

Ramazzotti passed away on February 15, 2000, at the age of 83 in Pennsylvania.

Influence on the Sport

Ramazzotti’s impact on baseball went way beyond his 196 hits in 346 games. His career stood for the resilience of players who overcame serious obstacles just to reach the majors. His story ended up woven into baseball lore, especially among those who served in World War II and came back to play.

Back in 1947, while playing for St. Paul, he almost died from a beanball. The poor lighting and lack of safety gear back then made things dangerous. He suffered a triple skull fracture and needed several surgeries, which left him with a metal plate in his head for life.

Ramazzotti’s determination to get back on the field after that injury inspired a lot of people. Sports writers often pointed out his quiet leadership in the clubhouse, showing that a player could make a difference even when the box score didn’t show it.

His seven years with the Dodgers and Cubs put him among the players who helped bridge baseball’s pre-war and post-war eras.

Sources, Databases, and Further Reading

These days, baseball research leans heavily on digital databases and stat tools. That’s how the careers of players like Bob Ramazzotti stay alive. Researchers mix old-school records with new analytics to build full player profiles and give historical context.

Notable Baseball Databases

Baseball-Reference.com is the go-to for Ramazzotti’s career stats and bio details. Sports Reference LLC runs it, and you’ll find game logs, career totals, and context for his 346 MLB games.

Retrosheet offers play-by-play data and box scores from his days with the Dodgers and Cubs. Volunteers keep this one going, making sure researchers can dig into individual performances.

The Baseball Cube tracks minor league stats and career timelines. For Ramazzotti, it covers his pre-MLB years and sometimes even lists salary info.

StatsCrew.com compiles career summaries and lets you compare players. Their numbers confirm Ramazzotti’s .230 average over seven MLB seasons.

Visual Resources and Logos

SportsLogos.net collects historical team logos and uniform designs from Ramazzotti’s era. You can see Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs visuals from 1946 to 1953.

Logo evolution charts show how team identities changed while Ramazzotti played. The Dodgers’ “B” and the Cubs’ round emblem both became iconic.

Uniform databases document the exact designs Ramazzotti wore during his career. These resources help fans and researchers picture what baseball looked like back in the 1940s and 1950s.

Key Contributors to Baseball Analytics

Pete Palmer came up with many of the statistical methods people now use to evaluate players from Ramazzotti’s era.

He worked on linear weights and adjusted stats, which really puts 1940s performance into a modern light.

Gary Gillette helped start several baseball research groups and built up databases that keep player records alive.

Because of his efforts, utility players like Ramazzotti actually get the historical recognition they deserve.

Tom Tango over at InsideTheBook.com has designed analytical frameworks that make it easier to see what role players and pinch hitters bring to the table.

His methods shed light on Ramazzotti’s value as a utility infielder, which isn’t always obvious just from basic stats.

Sean Smith introduced advanced metrics that adjust for different eras and changes in playing time.

With these tools, researchers can get a clearer sense of how much impact players with fewer appearances really had.