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

Bob Kearney put together a solid eight-year run in Major League Baseball as a catcher. He played for three teams before calling it quits in 1987.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Kearney worked his way up through the minor leagues after the San Francisco Giants drafted him in 1977. He eventually turned into a reliable defensive presence behind the plate.

Kearney played from 1979 to 1987, appearing in 479 games with a .233 batting average. He built a reputation as one of the American League’s most skilled defensive catchers. His best season came in 1984 with the Seattle Mariners. That year, he led AL catchers in several defensive stats and really showed off the work ethic that defined his approach to the game.

The path from Texas college baseball to the majors tells the story of a player who squeezed the most out of his abilities through dedication and smart game management. It’s a story filled with the grind of breaking into pro ball, the demands of catching, and the inevitable transition when it’s time to step away.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Bob Kearney was born on October 3, 1956, in San Antonio, Texas. He developed his baseball skills there before earning a scholarship to the University of Texas.

His journey from local high school standout to pro prospect peaked when the San Francisco Giants picked him in the 14th round of the 1977 MLB Draft.

Childhood in San Antonio

Robert Henry Kearney came into the world in San Antonio on October 3, 1956. Growing up in Texas, he was pretty much surrounded by baseball from the start.

San Antonio’s warm weather meant you could play ball all year. That gave Kearney plenty of chances to hone his skills as a catcher.

As a kid, he showed natural talent behind the plate. He developed a strong arm and quick reflexes, traits that would become hallmarks of his pro career.

His defensive abilities started to stand out in local youth leagues. Those early years in San Antonio really set the stage for what was to come.

Kearney’s commitment showed as he moved through various youth baseball programs in the area.

High School and University of Texas Career

Kearney went to Jay High School in San Antonio. He kept excelling as a catcher, and college scouts across Texas started to notice.

His skills behind the plate made him a hot recruit for college programs. The University of Texas offered him a scholarship, which he gladly accepted.

At Texas, he played for the Longhorns. The program’s strong baseball tradition gave him access to great coaching and tough competition.

That environment helped him sharpen his catching techniques and learn how to manage a game. Facing top-level college players prepared him for the next step and put him on MLB scouts’ radar.

MLB Draft Selection by the San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants picked Kearney in the 14th round of the 1977 MLB Draft, 348th overall.

The Giants saw his potential as a defensive catcher, even though he wasn’t an early pick. Scouts liked his arm and his ability to call a game.

After the draft, Kearney jumped into pro ball that same year with the Great Falls Giants at the Rookie league level. This was the start of his journey through the minors.

Getting drafted capped off years of work, from San Antonio sandlots to college ball at Texas. It opened the door to his eight-year MLB career.

Major League Career Highlights

Bob Kearney spent eight years in the majors, playing for three teams and showing off his defensive chops behind the plate. He debuted with the San Francisco Giants in 1979, found his groove with the Oakland Athletics in 1983, and then became Seattle’s main catcher from 1984 to 1987.

San Francisco Giants Debut and Early Years

Kearney made his MLB debut on September 25, 1979, at Candlestick Park against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The San Francisco Giants called him up late that season after he spent most of the year in the minors.

His time with the Giants was short, but it was his first taste of the big leagues. He went back to the minors in 1980 with the AAA Phoenix Giants.

The Giants had drafted him in the 14th round back in 1977. He worked his way up through their farm system before finally getting his shot.

Tenure with the Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics traded for Kearney, and he spent parts of four seasons with them from 1981 to 1983. He started out with their AAA team, the Tacoma Tigers, in 1981 and 1982.

His breakout came in 1983 when he played 108 games for the A’s. That year, Kearney hit .255 with a .312 on-base percentage and .372 slugging, adding eight homers.

He proved he belonged as a big-league catcher. He got to play alongside legends like Rickey Henderson and worked under Hall of Fame skipper Dick Williams.

Seattle Mariners Starting Catcher

The Seattle Mariners landed Kearney in a multiplayer trade after the 1983 season. He took over as their main catcher and spent four seasons with the team from 1984 to 1987.

His best defensive year was 1984. That season, he led all AL catchers in several categories, picking up 823 putouts, a 7.16 range factor per nine innings, and a 6.66 range factor per game.

He also finished second among AL catchers with 133 defensive games and 47 caught stealing in 1984. In 1985, he led AL catchers with a .995 fielding percentage.

His bat cooled off in later seasons, and that cut into his playing time. The Mariners released him around the All-Star break in 1987, and he wrapped up his MLB career with a .233 average in 479 games.

Defensive Excellence and Catching Abilities

Bob Kearney made his mark in MLB with his defensive skills, especially during his time with Seattle. He posted a .995 fielding percentage in 1985 and threw out 42% of would-be base stealers over his career.

Fielding Percentage and Defensive Metrics

Kearney really hit his stride defensively with the Seattle Mariners. In 1985, he led AL catchers with a .995 fielding percentage, showing he could handle pitches cleanly and keep errors to a minimum.

His career fielding percentage of .987 put him among the more dependable catchers of his era. That kind of steadiness helped pitching staffs on every team he played for.

Kearney’s defensive numbers got better as his career went on. His best years came when he was Seattle’s main guy behind the plate from 1984 to 1986.

Caught Stealing and Game-Calling Skills

Kearney’s strong arm and quick release made life tough for base stealers. He nailed 42% of runners trying to steal, way above the league average for catchers in the ’80s.

He had a 1.7-second turnaround time to second base—he once said that was one of his biggest strengths. That quickness kept opponents honest and helped his pitchers out.

Kearney also talked about how important game-calling is for a catcher. He believed that working with pitchers and calling the right game really separates the good from the great.

Putouts and Range Factor

In 1984, Kearney hit his defensive peak, leading AL catchers with 823 putouts. That stat showed his durability and how involved he was in defensive plays.

His range factor numbers were just as impressive. He put up a 7.16 range factor per nine innings and 6.66 per game, both tops in the AL that year.

Those stats showed he could cover ground behind the plate and make plays on foul balls and wild pitches. He appeared in 133 defensive games that season, finishing second in the league for that category.

Key Seasons and Statistical Achievements

Bob Kearney’s time in the majors included a few seasons that really defined his role as a reliable defensive catcher. His 1983 year with the Oakland A’s was his breakout as a starter, while his 1984 season with the Seattle Mariners proved he could handle a heavy workload.

1983 Breakout Season with Oakland

In 1983, Kearney broke through with the Oakland Athletics as a regular. He played in 108 games, the most he’d seen up to that point.

At 26, he hit .255 with 76 hits in 298 at-bats. That was a big step up from his rough 1982 season, when he hit just .169.

He flashed some power that year, too. Kearney hit 8 home runs and drove in 32 runs, scoring 33 times.

That season made him Oakland’s main catcher. His 1.6 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) was the best of his career.

He also put up 11 doubles and a .684 OPS. Not eye-popping, but solid for a backstop who handled a demanding position.

Leading AL Catchers in 1984

Kearney’s move to the Seattle Mariners in 1984 gave him his most playing time. He started 133 games and was one of the American League‘s most durable catchers that year.

He racked up 464 plate appearances, which was near the top for AL catchers. His batting average dipped to .225, but his steady defense kept him in the lineup.

He picked up 97 hits, including 24 doubles and 7 homers, and drove in 43 runs. That helped the Mariners’ offense through the season.

Kearney’s ability to catch almost every day was his biggest asset. He caught more games than most AL catchers and gave Seattle’s pitchers a steady hand.

Managers trusted him because of his fielding numbers. His knack for handling pitchers and calling games made him valuable, even if his bat wasn’t always there.

Career Offensive Numbers

Over his eight-year career, Kearney hit .233 in 479 games. He collected 316 hits, including 66 doubles and 27 home runs.

He drove in 133 runs during his career, fitting his role as more of a defensive specialist. He scored 131 runs when he got the chance.

His career OPS was .619, which was below average, but in the ’80s, teams valued catchers more for defense than hitting.

Kearney struck out 235 times and drew 67 walks. His plate discipline was pretty average for catchers back then.

Most of his production came with Seattle, where he spent four seasons. He picked up 228 of his 316 career hits and 19 of his 27 home runs with the Mariners.

Transition out of Professional Baseball

Bob Kearney’s career wrapped up in 1987 after the Seattle Mariners released him. That marked the end of an eight-year MLB career spent with three different teams.

Release from Seattle Mariners in 1987

The Seattle Mariners let go of Bob Kearney during the 1987 season, ending his run with the team. That move came after his earlier years with the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants.

Kearney spent parts of a few seasons as a backup catcher. He filled a similar role with Seattle as he had with his previous clubs, providing depth behind the plate.

Teams often make roster changes to bring up younger players or those with better numbers. At age 30, Kearney faced the tough reality that many veteran players deal with.

He finished with a .233 batting average over his career. His 27 home runs and 133 RBIs came across 479 big-league games.

Final Transactions and Retirement

After Seattle released him, Kearney didn’t sign with another MLB team. The 1987 season ended up being his last in professional baseball.

No other major league clubs offered him a contract for the next year. He just faded out of the league, like a lot of players do.

He retired along with a group of American League players who wrapped up their careers in 1987. For a lot of athletes back then, the transition from playing to retirement happened fast.

Kearney started his professional baseball journey in 1977 when the San Francisco Giants picked him in the 14th round of the draft. Over the next decade, he played in both the minors and the majors.

Catching puts a lot of wear and tear on the body. Years of squatting and handling pitchers can really take a toll, and that probably pushed him to retire rather than keep grinding it out in the lower leagues.

Legacy, Recognition, and Life After Baseball

Bob Kearney made a mark on the catcher position with his defensive skills and his willingness to mentor others. His ties to Texas baseball and his stats still give us a window into how the game looked in the 1980s.

Contributions to the Catcher’s Role

Kearney built a reputation as a defensive specialist who really got how to work with pitchers. His 1.7-second throw to second base was top-notch for catchers in his day.

After his playing days, he talked about how crucial game calling and relationships with pitchers were. He described catching as being “a great commentator, calling the game,” and he always stressed how important it was to guide pitchers, especially when things got tough.

His defensive stats back up his reputation. In 1984, he led all American League catchers in a few big categories:

  • Putouts: 823
  • Range factor per 9 innings: 7.16
  • Range factor per game: 6.66

In 1985, he finished with a .995 fielding percentage, the best among AL catchers. Over his career, he threw out 42% of base stealers and posted a .987 fielding percentage.

Retrosheet and Statistical Records

Databases like Retrosheet keep track of Kearney’s numbers from his eight-year career. He played in 479 games, hit for a .233 average, launched 27 home runs, and drove in 133 runs.

He caught over 3,500 innings in the majors. Those stats really paint the picture of a defense-first catcher from the 1980s.

Kearney worked with teammates like Rickey Henderson and manager Dick Williams, which adds some color to those early ’80s Oakland Athletics teams. He also remembered working with pitcher Mark Langston, offering a glimpse into how catchers and pitchers clicked.

His best offensive year came in 1983 with Oakland. That season, he put up a .255/.312/.372 line with eight home runs in 108 games.

Connection to San Antonio and Texas Baseball

Kearney was born in San Antonio, Texas on October 3, 1956. He grew up representing his home state all through his professional career.

He went to Jay High School in San Antonio. After that, he moved on to the University of Texas.

You can really see Texas high school baseball’s impact when you look at his path to the major leagues. The San Francisco Giants picked him in the 14th round of the 1977 draft, right out of the University of Texas Longhorns program.

Kearney always showed his Texas roots in the way he played. He often told young catchers to be “complete” and to get “a little fanatic in working out,” which honestly sounds like solid advice.

You can still see the link between San Antonio baseball and major league success through Kearney. His journey from local high school ball all the way to eight seasons in the majors really shows what Texas players could achieve back in the 1970s.

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