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

Bob Meyer’s major league baseball career wrapped up in 1970 after six seasons as a left-handed pitcher. He played for five different teams across the American League. Born in Toledo, Ohio, back in 1939, Meyer broke into pro baseball with the New York Yankees in 1964 at age 24. That kicked off a journeyman path that took him pretty much coast to coast.

Meyer’s journey through baseball really shows what a lot of players go through—talented, sure, but always chasing consistent playing time in the big leagues. He played parts of three seasons between 1964 and 1970. During that time, he struck out 92 batters and kept a 4.38 ERA while bouncing between the Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City Athletics, Seattle Pilots, and Milwaukee Brewers.

His last season with Milwaukee in 1970 closed out a career that highlighted both the chances and the setbacks pro baseball players faced during an era of expansion and constant change. Meyer’s story gives us a glimpse into what it was like for players who helped shape the game during a pretty wild time in baseball history. There were some memorable moments, like when he struck out future Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski for his first major league strikeout.

Bob Meyer’s Baseball Career Overview

Bob Meyer pitched in the major leagues from 1964 to 1970, suiting up for five different teams. He started out with the New York Yankees and managed some notable moments, even though he was always switching organizations.

Professional Debut and Early Career

The New York Yankees signed Bob Meyer as an amateur free agent in 1960, kicking off his professional baseball journey. He spent four years working his way through the minors before finally getting the call.

Meyer made his MLB debut on April 20, 1964, with the Yankees at 24 years old. The left-handed pitcher from Toledo, Ohio, got noticed right away when he struck out Carl Yastrzemski for his first big league K.

That rookie season? It was tough. Meyer went past rookie limits in 1964, and the adjustment to major league hitters wasn’t easy. Still, he showed flashes as a starting pitcher with his lefty delivery.

Major League Baseball Teams Played For

Meyer’s career took him all over the place during his six-year MLB run. He played for five teams, really living up to the journeyman label.

Teams and Years:

• New York Yankees (1964)
• Los Angeles Angels (1964)
• Kansas City Athletics (1964)
• Seattle Pilots (1969)
• Milwaukee Brewers (1970)

In 1964 alone, Meyer played for three teams, moving from the Yankees to the Angels, then landing with the Athletics. After a break from the majors, he came back in 1969 with the Seattle Pilots before finishing up with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970.

Career Highlights and Notable Performances

Meyer had a few standout games, even if his overall stats weren’t eye-popping. He finished with a 2-12 win-loss record, 92 strikeouts, and a 4.38 ERA over 41 games.

His biggest moment came on September 12, 1964, pitching for the Athletics. Meyer tossed a complete game one-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles, matching Frank Bertaina in a rare double one-hitter. The A’s lost 1-0 on a sacrifice fly.

He also threw a six-hit complete game win over Baltimore on September 7, 1964, with a 6-1 final. Another highlight? Nine scoreless innings in a 13-inning win over the Yankees on September 1, 1969, where he allowed just one unearned run.

Meyer’s last big league game happened on May 20, 1970, against the Oakland Athletics while he was with Milwaukee.

Teams and Seasons

Bob Meyer’s major league career really only spanned parts of three seasons from 1964 to 1970, but he bounced around a lot, especially in his rookie year. He played for five organizations, including three teams in his debut 1964 season. After that, he returned to the majors in 1969 with the Seattle Pilots and finished with the Milwaukee Brewers.

New York Yankees Tenure

Meyer got his start in the majors with the Yankees in 1964 after signing as a free agent in 1960. He made his Yankees debut on April 20, 1964, facing the Boston Red Sox at 24.

He appeared in 7 games for the Yankees, starting just once. He threw 18.1 innings, posted a 4.91 ERA, and went 0-3.

Notable Achievement: His first big league strikeout was against Carl Yastrzemski, which is pretty cool. That was a highlight in an otherwise short Yankees stint.

Meyer struggled with control while in New York, walking 12 and striking out 12 in his limited innings. His WHIP was 1.527, showing the command issues that would pop up again later.

Los Angeles Angels Season

Not long after the Yankees let him go, Meyer joined the Los Angeles Angels during the same 1964 season. His Angels stint was short, but he did a bit better than in New York.

He pitched in 6 games for the Angels, starting 5. He logged 18 innings, put up a 5.00 ERA, and had a 1-1 record.

Statistical Performance: Meyer gave up 25 hits in those 18 innings, which works out to a high 12.5 hits per nine. He struck out 13 and walked 13, so at least the ratio was balanced.

The Angels gave him more starts than the Yankees did, so he got to pitch deeper into games.

Kansas City Athletics Years

Meyer ended up with the Kansas City Athletics to finish out 1964, and honestly, that’s where he did his best work that year. The A’s gave him the most chances as a starter.

He appeared in 9 games for Kansas City, starting 7. He tossed 42 innings, posted his best ERA of the season at 3.86, and went 1-4.

Best Performance: While with the Athletics, Meyer completed 2 games—his only complete games that season. He struck out 30 and walked 33, showing a bit more command than before.

The A’s finally gave him a bit of stability after bouncing around so much. His 0.91 strikeout-to-walk ratio with Kansas City was his lowest of the year, but he did seem to settle in a bit.

Later Years: Seattle Pilots and Milwaukee Brewers

In his final years, Meyer pitched for two teams that are now forever linked in baseball history. He joined the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and followed them when they became the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970.

Seattle Pilots Season

After a few years in the minors, Meyer got back to the majors in 1969 with the Seattle Pilots, an expansion team making their debut.

He made six appearances for the Pilots that year, starting five times. That gave him a shot to show what he could do in a bigger role.

The Pilots struggled all year, dealing with money problems and empty seats at their home park.

Meyer’s time with Seattle gave him a chance to squeeze a little more out of his major league career. It was a weird, transitional time for the franchise.

Transition to Milwaukee Brewers

The Seattle Pilots moved to Milwaukee in early 1970, becoming the Brewers. That move happened incredibly late in spring training.

They pulled off the relocation in just six days during camp. The deal was done by April 1, 1970, so the team barely had time to get uniforms and gear together.

Meyer pitched in 10 games for the Brewers in 1970. That ended up being his last season in pro baseball.

The Milwaukee Brewers played their first game on April 7, 1970, at County Stadium. They lost 12-0 to the California Angels, but Milwaukee fans were just happy to have baseball back.

After that season, Meyer’s career was over. He finished with a 2-12 record in 41 big league games between 1964 and 1970.

Bob Meyer’s 1970 Season and Retirement

Bob Meyer’s final season in the majors ended on May 20, 1970. That closed the book on a six-year big league career.

Performance During the 1970 MLB Season

Meyer’s 1970 run with the Brewers was short—just 10 games. He really struggled that year.

The lefty pitched 18.1 innings in those 10 games. He just couldn’t find his groove.

Home vs. Road Performance:

• Home games: 4 appearances, 6.23 ERA, 8.2 innings
• Road games: 6 appearances, 6.85 ERA, 9.2 innings

He gave up 24 hits and 13 earned runs, walking 12 along the way.

Control was a problem all season. Meyer allowed 2 homers at home but none on the road.

In his last game, he pitched 3.1 innings against the Oakland Athletics, giving up just 1 hit, striking out 4, walking 2, and allowing 1 earned run.

Retirement From Major League Baseball

Meyer’s career ended on May 20, 1970, at age 30. That last appearance against the A’s turned out to be his final major league outing.

He finished with a 2-12 record over 41 games, racking up 92 strikeouts in his six years.

Meyer played for five different teams: the Yankees, Angels, Athletics, Pilots, and Brewers.

Once he retired, Meyer left behind a career that started in 1964 when he broke into the majors. He’d first signed as an amateur free agent with the Yankees in 1960, and his journey wrapped up in Milwaukee.

Statistical Legacy and Playing Style

Bob Meyer’s time in the big leagues was short and his stats were modest, reflecting the reality for a lot of journeyman pitchers in the 1960s. That 4.38 ERA and 2-12 record across three seasons pretty much tell the story: a lefty with some promise who never quite put it all together at the top level.

Pitching Statistics and Records

Meyer’s numbers show a guy who had to fight for every opportunity. Over 38 games and 129.1 innings, he went 2-12 with a 4.38 ERA.

He did strike out 92 batters, which wasn’t bad for the era. That first K—against Carl Yastrzemski—remains a cool footnote.

His best stretch came with the Kansas City Athletics in 1964, when he posted a 3.86 ERA over 42 innings. That was probably the peak of his potential.

But control was always a struggle. Meyer walked 80 batters in 129.1 innings, leading to a high WHIP of 1.639 that made life tough on the mound.

Analysis of Bob Meyer’s ERA and Impact

Meyer’s 4.38 ERA was well below average for his time, when league ERAs usually sat around 3.50. His ERA+ of 85 means he was about 15 percent worse than the average pitcher.

He bounced around a lot, which says something about the challenges he faced. After starting with the Yankees, he ended up with five teams in just three major league seasons.

Meyer leaned on his left-handed delivery, which helped against lefty batters. Still, his control issues held him back against everyone.

His last game came on May 20, 1970, with the Brewers. He pitched 3.1 innings, allowed one earned run, and struck out four in his final big league appearance.

Collectibles and Memorabilia

Bob Meyer’s baseball cards have become sought-after collectibles. Collectors especially chase his 1970 Topps card, which tends to command the highest prices.

You can usually find his autographed memorabilia selling for modest amounts. That makes sense, considering Meyer mostly played as a journeyman pitcher and didn’t spend long in the majors.

1970 Topps Baseball Card

The 1970 Topps Bob Meyer card (#667) stands out as his most valuable collectible. It shows Meyer wearing a Seattle Pilots uniform and belongs to the high-number series that Topps released late in the season.

This card is pretty scarce because Topps printed fewer cards in that final series. By September, interest in baseball cards had dropped off, so they didn’t make as many.

That lower production means collectors have a tougher time tracking down the Meyer card compared to regular-issue cards.

Current market values for the 1970 Topps Bob Meyer card depend on its condition:

• Near Mint condition: $15-25
• Excellent condition: $8-15
• Good condition: $3-8

The card features Meyer as a Seattle Pilots player, but he also played for the Milwaukee Brewers that year after the franchise moved.

Other Baseball Cards and Collectible Highlights

You’ll find Meyer on quite a few other baseball cards from his career. His 1964 Topps rookie card (#488) has him as a New York Yankees player, and usually goes for about $10-20 if it’s signed.

The 1965 Topps card (#219) puts Meyer in a Kansas City Athletics uniform. This one really shows how he bounced between teams during the 1964 season.

Collectors can pick up autographed memorabilia like signed index cards, photos, and old baseball cards. Lately, people have paid anywhere from $6 to $17 for these, though signed cards tend to fetch a little more than paper items.

You’ll often spot Meyer’s signed 1971 Topps card (#456) at auctions. It’s a Milwaukee Brewers card, and usually sells for just $2-5 if it’s autographed, so it’s honestly a budget-friendly pick for collectors.