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

Bob Duliba spent eight years in Major League Baseball as a relief pitcher, wrapping up his career in 1967 with the Kansas City Athletics. This right-hander from Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania, wasn’t the tallest guy on the mound at 5-foot-10, but he had a lively fastball that kept hitters guessing as he bounced between four different teams.

Duliba finished his career during the 1967 season, after he struggled with a 6.52 ERA in just a handful of games. That marked the end of a journey that started with the St. Louis Cardinals system. His route to the majors didn’t follow the usual path, either. He spent three years in the Marine Corps, which probably saved his career and gave him the confidence he needed to stick around at baseball’s highest level.

From his first game against the San Francisco Giants in 1959 to his last one against the Boston Red Sox in May 1967, Duliba lived out the story of so many players who found their place in baseball’s changing bullpen world. He played during a time when relief pitching was just starting to get specialized. Later on, he even learned a knuckleball, showing he’d do whatever it took to keep pitching in the majors.

Early Life and Background

Robert John “Ach” Duliba was born January 9, 1935, in Glen Lyon, Pennsylvania, to Michael and Marie Duliba. He grew up in the coal mining towns of northeastern Pennsylvania, where tough times and family loss shaped his early life before his athletic skills caught the eye of scouts.

Childhood and Education

Bob Duliba spent his childhood in a working-class immigrant family in Newport, Pennsylvania. His dad, Michael, came from White Russia (now Belarus), and his mom, Marie, was Polish. The neighborhood was full of Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian families.

Duliba lost his father when he was just 9. His dad died at age 50 after decades in the mines. Bob’s uncle Andrew helped out, but he’d lost a leg in a mining accident and also later died from black lung.

Even with all that going on, Duliba stood out at Newport Township High School. He earned seven varsity letters in football, basketball, and baseball. Football was his main sport, and he made the All-Wyoming prep football team.

He took Polish classes in high school, keeping close to his roots. To this day, he’s still the only player from Newport Township High School to make it to the major leagues.

Entry into Professional Baseball

Duliba didn’t play for his high school baseball team until his senior year. Instead, he spent most of his time working odd jobs, like hauling ashes from houses for 50 cents.

His chance came in a game against Nanticoke High School. Most of his teammates were off on the senior trip to Gettysburg, but Duliba couldn’t afford to go. That left him as the only pitcher for that game.

On a cold, snowy day, he struck out 18 of 21 batters and was throwing 90 mph. Two Cardinals scouts, Pop Kelchner and Stan Brackenridge, had come to watch someone else but ended up noticing Duliba.

“It was the most fortunate thing that ever happened to me,” Duliba said later. Brackenridge signed him to a Cardinals contract not long after.

Time in the Minor Leagues

Duliba started his pro career in 1952 with the Class D Ozark Eagles in Alabama. At 17, he won 6 games and posted a 3.65 ERA over 106 innings. The team won the Alabama-Florida League pennant.

He moved up to Class C ball in 1953 with the St. Joseph Cardinals, mostly pitching in relief. He finished that year with a 12-3 record and a 3.23 ERA in 128 innings. The team grabbed another pennant.

The next couple years didn’t go as well. In 1954, pitching for the Peoria Chiefs, he went 9-10 with a 5.01 ERA. Manager Whitey Kurowski gave him the nickname “Ach,” and it stuck.

After a rough 1955 season, Duliba joined the Marine Corps for three years. “I was getting my ass kicked. I wasn’t doing very well,” he admitted about his decision.

He spent time at Parris Island and in Hawaii while in the Marines, pitching a ton of baseball. He put up a 51-7 record as a Marine pitcher, which helped him get his confidence and skills back.

Major League Career Overview

Bob Duliba appeared in 176 major league games from 1959 to 1967. He finished with a 17-12 record and a 3.47 ERA. His career started strong with the Cardinals, got interrupted by military service, and later he bounced between teams, trying to hang on in the big leagues.

Debut with the St. Louis Cardinals

Duliba made his big league debut on August 11, 1959, facing the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium. He was 24 then, working his way up through the Cardinals’ system after signing as a free agent.

He impressed right away. In 11 appearances, throwing 22⅔ innings, he posted a 2.78 ERA and notched a save. He allowed just one run in his first seven games, showing off the control he became known for.

The St. Louis Cardinals kept him for 1960 as part of their bullpen. On April 23, 1960, he picked up his first major league win in a five-inning relief outing against the Dodgers.

But his 1960 season ended early. On July 10, he was in a serious car accident near Columbia, Missouri, while heading to teammate Ray Sadecki’s wedding. Three passengers died, and Duliba broke several ribs on his right side, which ended his season.

Military Service Interruption

Duliba’s three years in the United States Marine Corps from 1955 to 1958 changed the course of his baseball life. He served at Parris Island and spent a year in Hawaii.

While in the Marines, Duliba played a ton of baseball—up to 150 games a year—against college teams like Michigan, Michigan State, Duke, and Ohio State during their spring training.

He dominated in military baseball, racking up a 51-7 record over his three years. That much playing time did wonders for his pitching and his confidence.

“I was getting my ass kicked. I wasn’t doing very well and I came home and I looked at my mother and I said I think I’m going to go in the service and I joined the Marine Corps. Best thing I ever did,” Duliba said.

Final Seasons in the Majors

After the 1960 car accident, Duliba bounced between the minors and majors. He returned to the Cardinals in 1962 and put up his best numbers—posting a 2.08 ERA in limited action.

The Cardinals traded him to the Los Angeles Angels in April 1963. In 1964, he had his busiest year, pitching in 58 games and finishing with a 6-4 record, a 3.59 ERA, and nine saves.

The Angels dealt him to the Boston Red Sox in 1965. There, he learned a knuckleball from Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm. That year, he went 4-2 with a 3.78 ERA in 39 games for Boston.

His last season in the majors came in 1967 with the Kansas City Athletics. He struggled early, putting up a 6.52 ERA in 9⅔ innings before heading back to the minors. That was the Athletics’ last year in Kansas City before they moved to Oakland.

Duliba’s career numbers include a 1.374 WHIP, 129 strikeouts, and 14 saves over 257 innings. He worked exclusively as a relief pitcher, appearing in 176 games without ever starting.

Teams Played For

Bob Duliba pitched for four MLB teams from 1959 to 1967. He spent the most time with the St. Louis Cardinals, had his busiest years with the Los Angeles Angels, and posted a standout season with the Boston Red Sox.

St. Louis Cardinals

Duliba broke into the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1959. He debuted on August 11, 1959, facing the San Francisco Giants at Busch Stadium.

In his first outing, he threw two scoreless innings. The Cardinals lost 5-4, but Duliba managed to strike out a batter in that game.

Just 18 days after his debut, he picked up his first major league save in a home game against the Reds.

He played for the Cardinals in 1959, 1960, and 1962. His best stretch came in 1962, when he pitched in 28 games as a reliever.

That year, he posted a 2.06 ERA. After that, the Cardinals traded him to the Los Angeles Angels.

Los Angeles Angels

The Los Angeles Angels got Duliba in a trade after his strong 1962 season. They sent Bob Botz to St. Louis to make the deal.

Duliba played for the Angels in 1963 and 1964. In 1964, he pitched in 58 games—his busiest season ever.

He finished 35 games and ranked among the American League’s top ten for games pitched and finished. He went 6-4 with nine saves and a 3.59 ERA.

That 1964 season was the peak of Duliba’s career in terms of workload. He became a key part of the Angels’ bullpen.

Boston Red Sox

Bob Duliba joined the Boston Red Sox in 1965 after a trade from the Angels. He appeared in 39 games for Boston that year.

Statistically, his year with the Red Sox was a high point. Duliba led the pitching staff with a 3.17 ERA.

That season was one of the best of his career. Even though he only spent one year in Boston, he made a real impact on their bullpen.

The Red Sox used Duliba only as a reliever, and his consistency helped steady the team’s pitching staff.

Kansas City Athletics and Retirement in 1967

Bob Duliba’s last season came with the Kansas City Athletics in 1967. His short time with the struggling Athletics wrapped up his major league career at age 32.

Short Tenure with Kansas City Athletics

Duliba joined the Kansas City Athletics in 1967, knowing it might be his last shot in the majors. The team struggled, finishing 62-99 and landing in last place in the American League.

He pitched in just 7 games for Kansas City. Compared to his earlier years, his numbers took a hit.

Duliba threw 9.2 innings for the Athletics, giving up 13 hits and 7 earned runs for a 6.52 ERA. He only walked one batter but allowed 3 homers in those limited outings.

He managed 6 strikeouts with Kansas City. The team used him to finish 5 games, still seeing him as a possible late-inning option, even though he wasn’t the same pitcher anymore.

Retirement from Major League Baseball

Bob Duliba wrapped up his career after the 1967 season with the Kansas City Athletics. At just 32, he decided to hang up his glove and step away from professional baseball.

His final major league stats show a solid career—he posted a 3.47 ERA in 176 games over seven seasons. Duliba finished with a 17-12 record and logged 14 saves, pitching 257 innings overall.

He played for four different teams: the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Athletics. Honestly, his best years probably came with St. Louis back in the early ’60s.

Duliba kicked off his career in 1959, and by the time he retired, he’d overcome military service from 1956 to 1958 to make a name for himself as a reliable reliever in the majors.

Pitching Style and Career Statistics

Bob Duliba made a name for himself as a steady relief pitcher over his seven seasons, putting up a 3.47 ERA and 1.374 WHIP in 257 innings. He really shined with the St. Louis Cardinals, where his numbers looked the best.

Role as a Relief Pitcher

Duliba always came out of the bullpen. In 176 appearances, he never started a game. He focused on closing out matchups and stepping in for middle relief.

His most valuable years came in the early ’60s when he picked up 14 saves. In 1964 with the Los Angeles Angels, Duliba notched 9 saves in 58 games, showing he could handle the pressure.

The right-hander often came in during tense situations. He finished 93 games, so he threw the last pitch for his team in more than half his outings.

Duliba’s job meant he faced some of the toughest hitters late in games. He kept his walks low, ending up with a career strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.34.

Key Performance Metrics

Bob Duliba’s career statistics show solid numbers across the board. His 3.47 ERA was better than average for relievers at the time, and a 1.374 WHIP proved he had good control.

He struck out 4.5 batters per nine innings, which was decent for that era. Opponents managed 9.0 hits per nine innings, but he didn’t let offenses run wild.

His best stat might have been his walk rate—just 3.4 per nine innings. That control kept him effective, even if he wasn’t blowing batters away with strikeouts.

Notable Seasons and Achievements

Duliba’s standout year came in 1962 with St. Louis. He put up a 2.06 ERA in 39.1 innings, went 2-0, and grabbed 2 saves, all while keeping a sharp 1.271 WHIP.

In 1963 with the Angels, he really impressed in a small sample—just 6 games, but a 1.17 ERA and only 3 hits allowed in 7.2 innings.

The 1964 season was his busiest. He pitched in 58 games for Los Angeles, picked up 6 wins, 4 losses, and a career-high 9 saves.

Bob Duliba had a rough final season in 1967 with Kansas City. He posted a 6.52 ERA in just 7 appearances before calling it a career.

He definitely pitched better in the National League, with a 3.07 ERA, compared to a 3.73 ERA in the American League. Maybe he just felt more at home in the senior circuit.

Life After Baseball

Bob Duliba went from professional baseball to education and coaching. He became a high school history teacher and coach, sticking close to his Pennsylvania roots and building a family with his second wife.

Coaching and Teaching Career

After leaving baseball in 1967, Robert John Duliba headed back to Pennsylvania. He used the G.I. Bill to finish college after serving in the Marines.

Duliba spent a short time as an assistant coach at Wilkes College in Wilkes-Barre. That job let him stay involved in baseball while figuring out his next steps.

He eventually focused on education. Bob Duliba took a job as a high school history teacher at Wyoming Area High School. The school was in the same northeastern Pennsylvania area where he’d once been known for high school football.

At Wyoming Area, Duliba juggled teaching and coaching. His pro experience gave his students a unique perspective, both in the classroom and on the field. He spent several years in this dual role, sharing what he knew about sports and academics.

Personal Life and Legacy

Bob Duliba got married twice over the course of his life. His first marriage lasted 25 years, but they didn’t have any children.

“We didn’t have any children. And then we parted and I got married again and now I got two boys,” Duliba said.

His second marriage brought him two sons, Robert Junior and Andrew. By 2013, Robert Junior was about to turn 25, and Andrew was 23.

Duliba kept close ties to his Pennsylvania mining community roots. He stayed the only player from Newport Township High School to ever reach the major leagues.

Manager Whitey Kurowski gave him the nickname “Ach,” and honestly, it stuck with him long after his baseball days.

After pitching for the Cardinals, Angels, Red Sox, and Athletics, Duliba chose to keep living in the area where he grew up. He never really drifted far from the community that shaped him early on.