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

Bob Scheffing wrapped up his Major League Baseball playing career in 1951. He spent a decade behind the plate as a reliable catcher.

The Missouri native, nicknamed “Grumpy,” played for three teams. He made his biggest mark during his long stretch with the Chicago Cubs.

Scheffing retired from playing in 1951, closing out an eight-year MLB career. He batted .263 with 20 home runs and 187 RBIs in 517 games.

World War II service interrupted his playing days, but he came back and put up solid seasons before hanging up his cleats at 38. The 6-foot-2 catcher played his final game on September 11, 1951, for the St. Louis Cardinals.

What makes Scheffing’s story stand out? His baseball career was really just starting when he stopped playing. He moved from player to manager and then to front office executive, getting involved in some of baseball’s most memorable moments—controversial trades and championship runs that shaped the sport for decades.

Early Life and Background

Bob Scheffing was born on August 11, 1913, in Overland, Missouri. That’s where he started building the foundation for his future in baseball.

His journey to professional baseball began at Ritenour High School. From there, he worked through the St. Louis Cardinals’ farm system before reaching the major leagues.

Family and Upbringing

Robert Boden Scheffing was born into a Missouri family in the small community of Overland. The area sits in greater St. Louis, which later played a big role in his professional baseball story.

He grew up during the 1920s and early 1930s—a time when baseball was turning into America’s national pastime. His childhood lined up with the golden age of legends like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig.

Growing up in Missouri, Scheffing absorbed the state’s baseball traditions. With both the St. Louis Cardinals and Browns nearby, the regional baseball culture probably fueled his early interest.

His “Grumpy” nickname followed him throughout his career. The story behind it from his youth remains a mystery.

Ritenour High School

Scheffing went to Ritenour High School, where he first showed off his baseball talents. The school’s baseball program gave him organized experience that proved crucial for his growth.

During those high school years, Scheffing played baseball and started standing out as a possible pro prospect. Scouts from professional teams noticed his performances at Ritenour.

The school gave him the structured training he needed. He learned the fundamentals that would help him in his pro career.

His time at Ritenour High School set the stage for his later success as a catcher. His athletic ability showed up during those early years.

The coaching and competition he faced in high school prepared him for the challenges of pro baseball.

Path to Professional Baseball

Scheffing’s professional career started in 1935 when he entered the St. Louis Cardinals’ farm system. That was the first step toward the major leagues, though it took a few years to get there.

He spent several seasons in the minors, working on his skills. The Cardinals’ organization gave him lots of training and game experience at different levels.

While in the minors, Scheffing took on a player-manager role for the Washington Red Birds in 1939. At 25, he managed the Class D Pennsylvania State Association team.

That early leadership experience came in handy later in his managerial career.

The Chicago Cubs picked him in the 1940 Rule 5 draft, finally giving him a shot at the majors. After years in the Cardinals’ system, he broke through.

He debuted in MLB on April 27, 1941.

Professional Playing Career

Bob Scheffing played Major League Baseball for 11 seasons from 1941 to 1951. He mainly worked as a catcher for three National League teams.

He finished with a .263 batting average, 20 home runs, and 187 RBIs in 517 games.

Major League Debut and Teams

Scheffing made his MLB debut on April 27, 1941, with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs picked him in the 1940 Rule 5 draft after he spent years in the Cardinals’ farm system starting in 1935.

He worked his way up through the minors before finally landing a major league spot.

Scheffing played for three teams during his career. He spent most of his time with the Chicago Cubs from 1941-1942 and 1946-1950.

The Cincinnati Reds acquired him in 1950, and he played there through 1951. His last MLB appearance happened on September 11, 1951, with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Role as Catcher

Scheffing played catcher throughout his MLB career. He stood 6’2″ and weighed 180 pounds, batting and throwing right-handed.

His best offensive year came in 1948. That season, he played 102 games for the Cubs and hit .300 with five home runs, 18 doubles, and 45 RBIs, sporting a .351 on-base percentage.

His catching skills kept him in the majors for over a decade. He delivered steady defense behind the plate and chipped in with modest offensive numbers typical for catchers of his time.

1941–1951 Playing Years

World War II interrupted Scheffing’s playing career. He served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1945 in the Pacific.

He came back to baseball in 1946.

In his eight-year MLB career, he racked up 357 hits in 517 games. His final stats: 20 home runs, 53 doubles, and 187 RBIs with a .263 lifetime average.

He finished up in 1951 after short stints with Cincinnati and St. Louis. By then, he’d built a reputation as a reliable veteran catcher and was ready to move into coaching and managing.

World War II Service and Impact on Career

World War II forced Bob Scheffing to put his baseball career on hold. He served three years in the U.S. Navy from 1942 to 1945.

That military service made him miss the Cubs’ 1945 World Series run and changed the course of his baseball journey.

Military Enlistment and Service

Scheffing joined the U.S. Navy in October 1942 after finishing his second season with the Cubs. He had already shown promise as a catcher before answering the call to serve during World War II.

He spent three full years in the Navy. Scheffing left the service in November 1945, missing the 1943, 1944, and 1945 baseball seasons.

He was just 29 when he went into the military—prime years for a ballplayer.

The timing really stung. The Cubs made the World Series in 1945, but Scheffing was still in uniform, missing the chance to play in what would be the Cubs’ last Series for decades.

Returned to Baseball after Service

Scheffing came back to baseball in 1946 and picked up where he left off as the Cubs’ catcher. Even after a three-year layoff, he got back into the swing of things.

He put together his best season in 1948, playing 102 games and posting a career-high .300 average. That year, he also tallied 5 home runs, 18 doubles, and 45 RBIs, with a .351 OBP.

Scheffing stayed with the Cubs until 1950, then played briefly for the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals in 1950 and 1951. He retired with a .263 average, 357 hits, 20 home runs, and 187 RBIs in 517 games.

Missing those three prime seasons was tough, but Scheffing’s successful return showed his resilience and commitment.

1951 Season and Retirement as a Player

Bob Scheffing’s last season in the majors capped an 11-year career from 1941 to 1951. The veteran catcher split 59 games between the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals before calling it quits on September 11, 1951.

1951 Performance Highlights

In 1951, Scheffing took on a reduced role but kept showing solid fundamentals. He played 59 games, splitting time between Cincinnati and St. Louis after a mid-season trade.

His batting stats looked about right for a backup catcher of that era. Scheffing had 33 hits in 140 at-bats, finishing with a .236 average.

He drove in 16 runs and scored 9 times that season.

Home vs. Road Performance:

• Home: 29 games, .211 average, 15 hits, 5 RBIs
• Road: 30 games, .260 average, 18 hits, 11 RBIs

He actually hit better on the road, with his average nearly 50 points higher away from home.

The right-handed catcher hit 2 home runs that season, one at home and one on the road. His on-base percentage hit .317 at home and .346 on the road, showing some patience at the plate despite limited at-bats.

Final Games and Retirement Announcement

Scheffing played his last major league game on September 11, 1951, for the St. Louis Cardinals. The 38-year-old catcher joined the Cardinals after a trade from Cincinnati earlier that year.

His final pro appearance came after more than a decade in the majors. He debuted on April 26, 1941, with the Chicago Cubs and spent most of his career there from 1941-1950.

He wrapped up his career with a .263 average in 517 games. Scheffing collected 357 hits with the Cubs, Reds, and Cardinals.

After retiring as a player, Scheffing stayed in baseball. He moved into coaching and management, eventually returning to the Cubs organization where he’d built his reputation as a steady catcher.

His playing career ended quietly, which was pretty common for veteran players back then. Not everyone got a big send-off.

Post-Playing Baseball Roles

Bob Scheffing moved easily from player to baseball executive. He served as a coach, manager, and general manager for several organizations.

He managed the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers. Later, he became the general manager of the New York Mets during their 1973 pennant-winning season.

Coaching and Management Positions

After he retired as a player in 1951, Scheffing jumped right into coaching with the St. Louis Browns in 1952 and 1953. Then he went back to the Chicago Cubs as a coach from 1954 to 1955.

He kicked off his managerial career in the minors with the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League. Scheffing led the Angels to 107 wins and the 1956 PCL championship, which earned him a promotion to manage the big-league Cubs.

The Cubs brought Scheffing on as their manager for the 1957 season. Over three years, he managed a 208-254 record and posted a .450 winning percentage. In 1957, his team finished 62-92 and tied for seventh in the eight-team National League.

The Detroit Tigers brought Scheffing in to manage their club in 1961. He stayed at the helm for two and a half seasons, up until June 16, 1963, when Chuck Dressen took over. While managing Detroit, Scheffing put up a 210-173 record and a .548 winning percentage.

Achievements as a Manager

Scheffing’s most successful managerial season came in 1961 with the Tigers. He took over a sixth-place squad and somehow led them to 101 victories and second place in the American League. The Tigers held the league lead until July 25 and fought the Yankees for the pennant until September.

That 1961 Tigers team finished just eight games behind the Yankees after a crushing three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium in early September. If you ask most people, that year stands out as the high point of Scheffing’s managerial run.

His Cubs teams did improve over time. The 1958 and 1959 squads won 72 and 74 games, both tying for fifth place. That was a step up from his first year’s seventh-place finish.

When it was all said and done, Scheffing’s career managerial record stood at 418-427 (.495), just nine games under .500. He managed a total of 849 games between the Cubs and Tigers.

General Manager and Executive Leadership

Scheffing joined the New York Mets organization in December 1965 as player personnel director, taking over from Eddie Stanky. On January 19, 1970, just five days after Johnny Murphy passed away, Scheffing got promoted to general manager.

While Scheffing served as GM, the Mets won the 1973 National League pennant. They lost to the Oakland Athletics in a seven-game World Series, but honestly, winning the pennant was a big deal for the franchise.

The most talked-about move Scheffing made as GM was the trade that sent Nolan Ryan to the California Angels on December 10, 1971. He sent Ryan and three others to California for Jim Fregosi. Ryan, of course, went on to break the all-time strikeout record and land in the Hall of Fame.

Joe McDonald took over as the Mets’ general manager on October 2, 1974. Still, Scheffing stuck around with the organization as a scout after stepping down from the GM job.

Broadcasting and Scouting

Once his managerial days in Detroit ended, Scheffing worked as a scout and radio broadcaster for the Tigers. That job kept him close to the game while he moved into front-office work.

After his time as Mets general manager, Scheffing returned to scouting for the organization. He served as a special consultant, drawing on his deep baseball experience to help evaluate talent.

Broadcasting gave Scheffing a new angle on the game. With his background as both a player and manager, he brought some real insight to radio listeners.

His scouting career stretched across decades and several organizations. Scheffing’s knack for spotting and evaluating talent made him a valuable figure in baseball operations long after he left the field.

Personal Life, Legacy, and Net Worth

Bob Scheffing’s life went well beyond his playing days. He built family relationships and left a real mark on baseball through all his different roles. His finances reflected the modest pay of players from his era, though his post-playing work added to his income.

Personal Life and Family

Scheffing was born Robert Boden Scheffing on August 11, 1913, in Overland, Missouri. People called him “Grumpy” during his career, but honestly, no one seems to know exactly how he got that nickname.

He attended Ritenour High School and got serious about baseball there. Scheffing started his pro career in 1935 in the St. Louis Cardinals’ farm system.

During World War II, he served in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1945 in the Pacific. That service pulled him away from baseball for three seasons.

After his baseball days, Scheffing settled in Phoenix, Arizona, for his later years. He passed away on October 26, 1985, at age 72 in Phoenix.

Honors and Tributes

Scheffing earned his biggest recognition as a manager, not as a player. His 1961 Detroit Tigers team won 101 games and finished second in the American League, which was his standout achievement as a manager.

As general manager of the Mets, Scheffing helped put together the club that won the 1973 National League pennant. Still, people often remember his tenure for trading Nolan Ryan to the Angels in 1971, a move that’s become one of baseball’s most debated trades.

He also managed the Los Angeles Angels to the 1956 Pacific Coast League championship, showing he knew how to build winning teams at different levels.

Estimated Net Worth

Players in Scheffing’s era just didn’t make what today’s athletes do. His eight-year MLB career ran from 1941 to 1951, a time when salaries were a lot lower than what we see now.

He probably made more money after he stopped playing. He managed the Chicago Cubs from 1957 to 1959 and led the Detroit Tigers between 1961 and 1963. Later, he took on an executive job as the Mets general manager from 1970 to 1974.

People didn’t really track or share financial details back then, so exact numbers are tough to find. Still, his long and varied career in baseball hints at modest but steady earnings over the years.