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

Bob Bailor put together an impressive 11-year Major League Baseball career as a versatile utility player who covered nearly every position on the field. Born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, in 1951, Bailor made his name in baseball not just for his gritty style, but for being the first player ever picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in their 1976 expansion draft.

Bailor retired from professional baseball in 1985 after he spent his final two seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That capped off a career where he played for four teams and built a reputation as one of the most reliable utility men of his era.

His stats show a .264 batting average, 9 home runs, and 222 RBIs over 955 games. But honestly, those numbers don’t really tell the full story. Managers loved him for his work ethic and his knack for stepping up wherever the team needed him.

Bailor broke out as a rookie in Toronto, hitting .310, and later became a trusted veteran with the Mets and Dodgers. His journey says a lot about determination and squeezing every ounce out of your talent.

He grew up in small-town Pennsylvania, worked his way up through the Orioles system, and eventually moved into coaching roles that led him to World Series championships. Not a bad run.

Early Life and Background

Bob Bailor’s path to professional baseball started in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, a small industrial town. He was born into a working-class Polish-American family.

Even though he never played high school baseball, Bailor sharpened his skills in American Legion competition. He managed to catch the eye of major league scouts anyway.

Family and Hometown Roots

Robert Michael Bailor was born July 10, 1951, in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The town sits about 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

Bob’s dad, Robert Joseph Bailor, worked as an engineer for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. He hauled coal, iron ore, and limestone through the hills.

The Bailors were third-generation railroad workers, and their roots traced back to Poland.

Original Family Details:

• Original surname: Bialkowski (changed to Bailor)
• Father’s occupation: Railroad engineer
• Mother: Agnes Bailor
• Siblings: Brothers James and David, sister Mary Beth

Connellsville once boomed during the early 20th-century coal and coke era. After the boom faded, families like the Bailors worked hard to get by.

Bob was the oldest of four kids in this close-knit, blue-collar family.

Early Sports Experiences

Bailor never played high school baseball—neither Connellsville High nor Geibel Catholic High School had teams. The spring weather in the area made it tough to keep baseball programs going.

That didn’t stop him from excelling in other sports. He played halfback on a local football team and starred in basketball at Geibel Catholic High School.

His basketball skills were something else. He still holds the school record for most points in a single game: 47.

Early Athletic Achievements:

• Basketball scoring record at Geibel Catholic High School
• Football experience as halfback
• 1963 Pennsylvania state Little League championship with Connellsville

American Legion baseball became Bailor’s main training ground. The competition was tough, and Connellsville nearly won state championships a few times.

He played alongside future major leaguer Bob Galasso and NFL player Jim Braxton.

Pathway to Professional Baseball

Bailor took an unusual route to pro baseball. After high school, he thought about playing basketball at Gannon College in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Instead, he enrolled at California State College near Pittsburgh—partly to dodge the Vietnam War draft.

In August 1969, Baltimore Orioles scout Jocko Collins offered Bailor a contract. At just 140 pounds and never drafted, Bailor still impressed Collins.

Herman Welsh, Bailor’s American Legion coach, helped connect him with the scout.

Professional Signing Details:

• Date: August 1969
• Team: Baltimore Orioles
• Bonus: $1,500
• Scout: Jocko Collins
• First purchase: 1964 Plymouth Valiant

The signing bonus wasn’t huge, but it gave Bailor his shot. His first assignment came in 1970 with Bluefield, West Virginia, in the Appalachian Rookie League.

That was about 250 miles from home, but it was the start of something big.

Major League Debut and Career Overview

Bob Bailor debuted in the big leagues on September 6, 1975, with the Baltimore Orioles at age 24. He played until 1985.

He made his mark with defensive skills across multiple positions and as the first player ever picked by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Entry into the Big Leagues

Bailor broke into the majors on September 6, 1975, with the Orioles. He was 24 and only played five games that year.

His time with Baltimore was short. Over two seasons, 1975 and 1976, he played just 14 games.

Things changed in 1976 when the Toronto Blue Jays picked him first overall in the MLB expansion draft. That made him the first player ever chosen by the new team.

In Toronto’s first season in 1977, Bailor appeared in 122 games and hit .310. He broke Rusty Staub’s record for highest batting average on an expansion team.

Multi-Position Versatility

Bailor stood out for his ability to play all over the field. He played shortstop, second base, third base, and outfield.

Teams leaned on him to step in wherever they needed help.

With Toronto from 1977 to 1980, Bailor mostly played shortstop and second base. He appeared in 522 games over those four years.

After Toronto, he joined the New York Mets from 1981 to 1983. The Mets used him mainly at shortstop and second base in 279 games.

He wrapped up his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1984 and 1985. Bailor hit .275 in 65 games in 1984 and .246 in 74 games during his final season.

Achievements and Notable Seasons

Bailor’s best year came in 1977 with Toronto, hitting .310 in 122 games. That set the expansion team batting average record and helped put the Blue Jays on the map.

His career stats: .264 batting average, 9 home runs, and 222 RBIs in 955 games. He played for four teams over 11 seasons.

Bailor racked up 8.9 WAR in his career, with his best years in Toronto and New York. He posted a 2.1 WAR in 1977 and 1.9 WAR in 1982 with the Mets.

After he retired in 1985, Bailor stayed in baseball. He managed in the Blue Jays organization and served as their first base coach from 1992 to 1995.

Being Toronto’s first expansion draft pick and setting their early batting record pretty much locked in his place in Blue Jays history.

Tenure with the Blue Jays

Bob Bailor became the first player picked by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1976 expansion draft. That kicked off a four-year run that shaped both his career and the early days of the franchise.

His versatility as a utility player and record-setting batting performance helped lay the foundation for the team.

Being an Original Blue Jay

The Blue Jays took Bob Bailor as the second overall pick in the 1976 MLB expansion draft. That made him the first player on their roster.

Bailor came from the Orioles organization, where he batted .288 with twelve home runs and 201 RBIs over seven seasons in their farm system.

The Jays didn’t give him a fixed position at first. In April 1977, he played shortstop, left, and center field as the team tried different lineups.

By late April, Bailor settled in as the regular shortstop, holding that spot until mid-July. Then the team moved him to center field, where he played every day until he got hurt in late August.

When he came back in September, Bailor finished the year as the regular left fielder. That kind of flexibility was huge for an expansion team.

Impact and Fan Support

Bailor’s rookie year with Toronto in 1977 made him a fan favorite and a cornerstone for the franchise. He played 122 games and got 523 plate appearances that season.

He hit .310, breaking Rusty Staub’s expansion team record of .302 from 1969. That gave the young team some instant credibility.

Bailor led the Jays in several offensive categories that year. He logged 154 hits, 15 stolen bases, and 62 runs scored.

Early in his Toronto career, his plate discipline stood out. He batted 51 times before striking out for the first time, which happened on April 20, 1977.

The Blue Jays named Bailor their Player of the Year for their first two seasons. That showed just how important he was to getting the team off the ground.

Key Seasons and Performance

Bailor’s most productive years with the Jays were 1978 and 1979, when he became their regular right fielder. In 1978, he drove in a career-high 52 runs and struck out only 21 times in 621 at-bats.

He led the majors in at-bats per strikeout ratio in 1978. That showed his value as a contact hitter.

The 1979 season was rougher. Bailor hit just .229 with 1 home run and 38 RBI in 130 games.

Even with the drop in offense, his defense stayed solid. He had 15 assists from right field, tying Dwight Evans for the most in the American League that year.

By 1980, Bailor lost his starting right field job to Lloyd Moseby. He became more of a fourth outfielder and even pitched in three games as a reliever.

The Blue Jays traded Bailor to the New York Mets on December 12, 1980, for pitcher Roy Lee Jackson. That ended his four-year run with the team he helped launch.

Stints with Other Major League Teams

Bob Bailor played for four teams in his 11-season career, but his time with the Blue Jays stands out the most. He started with the Baltimore Orioles, spent productive years with the New York Mets, and finished up with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Baltimore Orioles Years

Bailor started his major league journey with the Baltimore Orioles in 1975. He made his debut on September 6, 1975, against the Yankees at age 24.

He didn’t get much playing time with Baltimore. Over the 1975 and 1976 seasons, he struggled to find a regular spot in the lineup.

His stats with the Orioles were pretty modest. He went three-for-thirteen, no home runs or RBIs, during his two seasons there.

He showed his utility value by playing multiple positions. On September 28, he started both games of a doubleheader against the Yankees, playing shortstop in one and second base in the other.

Bailor picked up his first major league hit off pitcher Larry Gura during that doubleheader. That moment kicked off what turned out to be a long baseball career.

Time with the Mets

The New York Mets picked up Bob Bailor on December 12, 1980, trading with the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto sent Bailor to New York for pitcher Roy Lee Jackson.

Bailor’s first season with the Mets in 1981 didn’t go smoothly. He missed a month with a rib cage injury and played just 51 games, getting 81 at-bats.

Things turned around for him in 1982. Bailor battled Wally Backman and Tom Veryzer for time at second base and finished the year with 404 plate appearances.

That 1982 season ended up being one of his best in New York. He swiped a career-high 20 bases and topped the National League with an 87% stolen base rate.

He started 1983 as the Mets’ shortstop. Bailor played in 118 games, his most since 1979 with Toronto.

While with the Mets, Bailor wore number 4, the same number Rusty Staub wore during his first run with the team from 1972 to 1975.

Final Seasons with Braves and Dodgers

Bob Bailor spent his last big league seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, not the Braves—despite what some sources say. On December 8, 1983, the Mets traded Bailor and Carlos Diaz to the Dodgers for Sid Fernandez and Ross Jones.

Injuries made 1984 rough for Bailor in L.A. He dislocated his left shoulder in spring training, so he missed the season’s first month.

Then, during batting practice on August 12, he tore cartilage in his right knee. That injury needed arthroscopic surgery and ended his season for good.

Bailor managed a .275 average, no home runs, and 8 RBIs in just 65 games that year. His final season in 1985 looked pretty similar.

In 1985, he hit .246 with no homers and 7 RBIs over 74 games. He helped the Dodgers get to the playoffs, appearing in two NLCS games against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Dodgers released him on April 2, 1986. That move marked the end of Bailor’s major league career.

Retirement as a Player in 1985

Bob Bailor wrapped up his 11-year MLB career in 1985 with the Dodgers. He hung up his cleats at age 34 after finally reaching the postseason.

His last season closed out a journey that started with the Orioles and took him through Toronto and New York.

Final Game and Exit from MLB

Bailor made his last big league appearance on October 6, 1985, during the NLCS against the Cincinnati Reds. He got one hit in one at-bat, driving in a run in his final plate appearance.

In 1985, Bailor put up a .246 average, no home runs, and seven RBIs in 74 games for the Dodgers. Even with modest numbers, he helped Los Angeles make a postseason run.

His postseason experience was short but pretty special. In the 1985 NLCS against the Cardinals, Bailor pinch-hit in two games, going 0-for-1 as the Dodgers lost the series.

After spending most of his career as a utility player, Bailor finally got a taste of the postseason stage that had always seemed just out of reach.

Legacy and Reflections on Retirement

Bailor retired with career stats that showed his value as a reliable utility guy. Over 11 years, he hit .264, racked up 775 hits, 107 doubles, 23 triples, and nine home runs.

He stood out most for his contact hitting. Bailor struck out only 164 times in 2,937 at-bats, which says a lot about his plate discipline.

Career Highlights:

• First player picked by Toronto Blue Jays in the 1976 expansion draft
• Made the Topps All-Star Rookie team in 1977
• Led AL right fielders in assists in 1979
• Played every infield and outfield spot during his career

Bailor’s versatility really defined him. He covered second, short, third, and all three outfield positions, and he did it well.

He also brought speed to the table. Bailor finished with 90 stolen bases in 126 tries, showing off some smart baserunning.

Post-Playing Career and Coaching Success

After retiring in 1985, Bob Bailor jumped into coaching and player development with the Toronto Blue Jays. He managed several minor league teams before joining the major league staff as first base coach from 1992 to 1995. During that time, he helped the Jays win two World Series titles.

Transition to Minor League Management

Toronto brought Bailor back for a second act in player development. The Blue Jays valued his baseball smarts and his knack for working with young players.

Bailor managed a few seasons in the Blue Jays’ minor league system. Since he played every position except first base and catcher, he brought a unique perspective to developing prospects.

He managed the way he played—emphasizing fundamentals and hard work. Bailor often said he had to “work to be average” as a player, and he carried that attitude into managing.

His success in the minors caught the Blue Jays’ attention. They saw his potential and brought him up to the big league coaching staff.

Role as Blue Jays First Base Coach

In 1992, Bailor joined the Blue Jays’ major league coaches as first base coach. That job put him right on the field, helping players and shaping game strategy.

He handled base running instruction and situational coaching. His own experience stealing bases and understanding the running game really paid off.

Bailor spent four seasons in that role, from 1992 to 1995, working under manager Cito Gaston.

He got a front-row seat to the Jays’ best years. Bailor watched the team rise to the top and played a supporting role in those championship runs.

World Series Championships as a Coach

Bailor’s time coaching lined up with the Blue Jays’ back-to-back World Series wins in 1992 and 1993. He was part of the staff that helped guide the team to those historic moments.

The 1992 title was the first World Series win for a Canadian team. Bailor contributed as the Jays beat the Atlanta Braves in six games.

In 1993, the Blue Jays did it again, taking down the Philadelphia Phillies. Bailor became part of consecutive championship teams, which is pretty rare in baseball.

After the 1995 season, the Blue Jays let go of all of Gaston’s coaches, including Bailor. They didn’t offer him another job, so that ended his run with the team.

Personal Life and Net Worth

Since leaving baseball in 1985, Bob Bailor has kept his personal life mostly out of the public eye. Not much is out there about his family or current activities, but his post-baseball life seems focused on personal interests and staying connected to his community.

Family Life and Hobbies

Bailor has always kept details about his family private. He never really shared much about his relationships or family, even during his playing days.

He was born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, and stayed close to his hometown roots throughout his career. Bailor never played high school baseball, which is unusual, and that shaped his work ethic.

Instead of high school baseball, he played basketball at Geibel High and learned baseball through American Legion ball in Connellsville, since there wasn’t a high school team.

That unconventional path probably influenced how he approached life after baseball. His versatility on the field hints at an adaptable personality that served him well after retirement.

Community Involvement

Bailor’s ties to Pennsylvania have stayed strong. In 2010, the Fayette County Sports Hall of Fame honored him, showing his impact on the local sports scene.

That recognition came decades after he retired, proving his story still resonates with local fans. Making it to the majors without high school baseball experience? That’s pretty inspiring for young athletes.

While there aren’t many details about his community work, a lot of retired players from his era get involved in youth baseball programs or local sports. Given his background, Bailor would make a great mentor for kids chasing their own baseball dreams.

Estimated Net Worth and Life after Baseball

No one really knows Bob Bailor’s exact net worth. Like a lot of retired players from his era, he hasn’t made that number public.

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, players earned way less than today’s stars. Bailor played for 11 seasons, from 1975 to 1985, but salaries during those years just weren’t what they are now.

Most guys from that time needed jobs after baseball to make ends meet. It’s pretty common, honestly.

Bailor hasn’t shared much about his finances, so he clearly prefers to keep that part of his life private. A lot of his peers ended up coaching, working in business, or just finding new paths after retirement.

He was actually the first player the Toronto Blue Jays ever picked in 1976, which is a cool bit of history. Still, that title probably didn’t make a huge difference to his overall wealth.