Bobby Malkmus – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Bobby Malkmus played as a light-hitting utility infielder for six seasons in Major League Baseball before he retired in 1962. He was born on July 4, 1931, in Newark, New Jersey. People doubted his size and hitting, but he still managed to build a respectable career with the Milwaukee Braves, Washington Senators, and Philadelphia Phillies.

He batted just .215 over his career, but people around the league knew him for his “big-league glove.” Malkmus became a valuable utility player who could handle second base, shortstop, and third base.

His path to the majors was anything but typical. At 5 feet 9 inches and 160 pounds, scouts pretty much dismissed the slightly built infielder from South Side High School in Newark.

After hearing he couldn’t make it in professional baseball, Malkmus decided to enroll in prep school to get ready for college. But Boston Braves scout John “Honey” Russell took a chance on him, and that decision set off a career that spanned both playing and coaching.

From his Milwaukee debut in 1957 to his final season with Philadelphia, Malkmus’s story shows the challenges faced by defensive specialists. Back then, teams didn’t expect middle infielders to hit much.

His career had some memorable moments—he hit his first major league home run as a grand slam and played a part in Warren Spahn’s first no-hitter. He also lived the reality of being a role player on struggling teams during baseball’s expansion era.

Early Life and Background

Robert Edward Malkmus was born on July 4, 1931, in Newark, New Jersey, to Robert and Elizabeth Malkmus. His family’s modest circumstances during the Depression and his military service in the Korean War helped shape his character and his athletic achievements.

Those early experiences set the stage for his professional baseball career.

Family and Childhood in Newark, NJ

Robert Edward Malkmus came into the world on Independence Day, 1931, in Newark, New Jersey. His dad worked as a press setter in a local print shop, and his mom, Elizabeth, kept things running at home.

Bobby grew up with two older brothers, Harold and Bill, and an older sister, Margaret. The Great Depression meant the family had to make do with what they had.

Still, the Malkmus kids found ways to play sports and have fun. Bobby’s brothers introduced him to baseball, and their mom insisted that Harold and Bill include their younger brother in their games.

“The competition was good for me,” Malkmus once said. “The other kids didn’t like having a younger kid around, though.”

Money was tight, so organized youth leagues weren’t always an option. Bobby remembered the thrill of getting his first uniform: “We didn’t have organized leagues. We didn’t have uniforms either until one year we scraped up $5 and pitched in to get suits. Man, we thought that was something special, having uniforms.”

Education and Amateur Baseball

Malkmus went to South Side High School in Newark and played both basketball and baseball. His athletic ability stood out, but his size—5-foot-9 and about 160 pounds—kept scouts from getting too interested.

He admitted his grades weren’t great in high school. After graduating in 1949, scouts told him he wouldn’t make it in baseball.

“I enrolled in St. Benedict’s Prep School,” Malkmus recalled. He wanted to improve his academics and get ready for college, but he also kept playing baseball and basketball.

That extra year turned out to be crucial. Boston Braves scout John “Honey” Russell noticed him at St. Benedict’s.

Russell, seeing something others missed, decided to sign him. “He decided to take a chance and signed me,” Malkmus said of the scout who changed his life.

Military Service during the Korean War

Malkmus’s professional baseball career hit a pause when he was drafted into the US Navy during the Korean War. He served his country for two full seasons.

He missed the entire 1952 and 1953 baseball seasons. That two-year gap came at a tough time in his development as a player.

During his Navy years, Malkmus married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Norma Bischoff, on September 6, 1952. They stayed together for life and eventually settled in northern New Jersey, raising a son and a daughter.

The military service, though it interrupted his baseball, gave Malkmus discipline and maturity. When he came back to baseball in 1954, he landed with the Evansville Braves in the Class B Three-I League and started the long climb back.

Professional Baseball Debut

Bobby Malkmus started his pro career in 1951 with the Bluefield Blue-Grays, but military service soon interrupted his path. He finally made his MLB debut with the Milwaukee Braves in 1957, during their championship season, although his stint there was brief before he moved to the Washington Senators.

Minor League Beginnings

Malkmus kicked off his pro journey with the Bluefield Blue-Grays in the Class D Appalachian League in 1951. He hit .273 in 469 at-bats and made both the All-Star and All-Rookie teams.

After the Navy drafted him, he missed the 1952 and 1953 seasons. When he returned in 1954, he joined the Evansville Braves in the Class B Three-I League.

He bounced back strong, hitting .295 in 522 at-bats. On September 4, he hit for the cycle, helping Evansville win the league championship.

That performance earned him All-Star honors and a spot on Milwaukee’s 40-man roster.

Between 1955 and 1957, Malkmus worked his way up the minors. He played for Jacksonville in the Class A South Atlantic League (1955), Austin in the Double-A Texas League (1956), and Wichita in the Triple-A American Association (1957).

His batting average climbed from .243 to .291 as he moved up.

MLB Debut with Milwaukee Braves

The Milwaukee Braves called up Malkmus on May 30, 1957, hoping he could help at second base. Danny O’Connell was struggling, batting in the .230s, and his defense had slipped.

Malkmus made his major league debut on June 1, 1957, starting at second base and leading off against the St. Louis Cardinals. He went 0-for-4 that day and stayed hitless through his first 15 at-bats.

He finally got his first MLB hit on June 5 against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds. He tripled in the eighth and scored the winning run in a 9-8 victory.

A mental mistake in a later game, though, pretty much ended his shot with the Braves.

When the Braves acquired All-Star Red Schoendienst from the Giants on June 15, Malkmus became mostly a pinch-runner and pinch-hitter. After just 13 games and a 2-for-22 (.091) average, he went back to Wichita on June 23.

Transition to Washington Senators

The Washington Senators picked up Malkmus in the Rule 5 draft in December 1957. Manager Cookie Lavagetto said Malkmus would get the first shot at second base for the 1958 season.

Malkmus started eight of the first ten games but struggled at the plate, batting just .160 (4-for-25). The Senators shuffled five different players through second base that year.

Malkmus stayed on the roster the whole 1958 season but hit only .186 (13-for-70). He tried to get better by playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic with Estrellas, hoping to improve his hitting and fielding.

But the Senators traded for Reno Bertoia in the offseason, pushing Malkmus down the depth chart. After just six games as a pinch-runner, his contract was sold to the Triple-A Denver Bears in early May 1959.

MLB Career Highlights

Bobby Malkmus played six seasons in the majors from 1957 to 1962, appearing in 268 games for three teams. His best years came with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he became a steady utility infielder and even got an MVP vote in 1961.

Philadelphia Phillies Years

Malkmus really found a home with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1960 to 1962. The team picked him in the Rule 5 draft in November 1959, thanks to general manager John Quinn.

Manager Gene Mauch liked Malkmus’s versatility from the start. In 1960, he started at shortstop (7 games), second base (17 games), and third base (8 games).

Mauch also used him as a late-inning defensive replacement 32 times across all three positions.

The 1961 season was his most productive. He started 55 games at second base, 16 at short, and 10 at third.

That year, he hit .231 with 79 hits in 342 at-bats.

Even though the team finished last and lost 107 games, Malkmus received one vote for the National League MVP award. He was the only Phillies player to get MVP consideration that year.

His time in Philadelphia ended in May 1962 when the team sent him to Triple-A Buffalo after just five at-bats.

Notable Games and Achievements

Malkmus hit his first major league home run on September 15, 1960, at Connie Mack Stadium. It was a grand slam off Giants pitcher Sam Jones and tied the game in the sixth inning.

The next night in Milwaukee, he played a memorable part in Warren Spahn’s first no-hitter. With two outs in the ninth, Malkmus hit a line drive back to the mound. The ball bounced off Spahn’s glove to shortstop Johnny Logan, who threw to first for the last out.

His best offensive season came in 1961, when he hit seven of his eight career home runs. On August 20, 1961, he hit a two-run homer off Spahn at County Stadium—those were the Phillies’ only runs in a 5-2 loss.

Malkmus notched his career-high four hits on September 23, 1961, in a 16-inning win over Pittsburgh. That game also featured his final major league home run.

Batting and Fielding Profile

Malkmus batted and threw right-handed during his six-year career. He stood 5 feet 9 inches tall and played at about 175 pounds.

His career batting average was .215, with 123 hits in 572 at-bats. He hit eight home runs and drove in 46 runs across 268 games.

Teammates and managers often praised his defensive skills.

People knew him for having a “big-league glove” at second, short, and third base. His defense kept him in the majors, even when his bat didn’t.

His best offensive season was 1961, when he hit .231 in 342 at-bats. He had three three-hit games in his career and showed a bit of power with seven homers that season.

Retirement and Legacy

Bobby Malkmus wrapped up his major league career in 1962 after six seasons as a versatile infielder. After playing, he shifted to mentoring and coaching, shaping plenty of pro baseball careers.

His reputation as a dependable utility guy stuck with him, and folks in baseball circles still respect what he brought to the game.

Final Season in 1962

Malkmus wrapped up his last season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1962, and honestly, it was a tough one. Younger players started taking over, and with Tony Taylor and Ruben Amaro both healthy at just 26, the 31-year-old Malkmus barely saw the field.

By mid-May, he got only five at-bats and filled in defensively just once. The Phillies sent him down to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons that month to make space for 23-year-old shortstop Bobby Wine.

At Buffalo, Malkmus showed he still had something left, hitting .278 in 453 at-bats. He moved around the infield, playing second, short, and third, just like he always did.

That year in Triple-A ended up being his last as a player in organized baseball. Even though he barely played in the majors, he proved he could still hang in the highest level of the minors.

Influence on Future Players

The Phillies saw how much Malkmus knew about baseball, so they started grooming him for coaching while he was still playing. From 1963 to 1966, he took on a player-coach role under Frank Lucchesi with the Phillies’ Triple-A teams.

He kicked off his full-time coaching career in 1967, managing the Eugene Emeralds in the Class A Northwest League. The team finished second, and he picked up the league’s Manager of the Year award.

Malkmus managed in the minors for nine years, helping to develop young players in three different organizations. He worked with the Phillies, Montreal Expos, and Baltimore Orioles farm systems.

Players liked his patient approach and how well he understood infield play. People called him “Preacher” not just because of his faith, but also because he always looked out for the younger guys, on and off the field.

Recognition in Baseball History

Malkmus got his name on the list of 1957 Milwaukee Braves World Series champions, the last time a Milwaukee team won it all. His role was small, but that moment stuck with him.

He finished his big league career with a .215 batting average over six seasons—8 home runs, 123 hits in 572 at-bats. The numbers weren’t flashy, but coaches and scouts always praised how well he played defense all around the infield.

Baseball historians still talk about his part in Warren Spahn’s first no-hitter on September 16, 1960. Malkmus lined a ball back to the mound that Spahn deflected, leading to the game’s final out.

In 1961, he got one vote for the National League MVP, actually the only Phillie to get any that year. That little bit of recognition said a lot about how much the team valued him, especially as a utility guy during a rough season.

Post-Playing Career and Personal Life

After hanging up his spikes in 1962, Bobby Malkmus stayed in the game as a coach and manager in the minors. He settled down in New Jersey, raised a family, and stayed active in the local community until he passed away at 93 in February 2025.

Minor League Managing and Scouting

Malkmus jumped right into coaching after playing, working as a player-coach for the Phillies organization. He worked under Frank Lucchesi with the Arkansas Travelers from 1963-1965, then with the San Diego Padres in 1966.

The Phillies put him in charge of the Eugene Emeralds in 1967. He led them to second place, earning Manager of the Year.

He managed for nine years in the minors, moving through the Phillies, Expos, and Orioles systems. Malkmus also scouted for major league teams, using his experience to spot talent in the minors.

Later Life in New Jersey

Robert Edward Malkmus spent his whole post-baseball life in northern New Jersey. He stayed close to his Newark roots, never really leaving the area he grew up in.

He got involved in speaking at churches, youth groups, and YMCAs, sharing stories about faith and sports. Teammates called him “Preacher,” “Rev,” and “Deacon” for a reason—his strong religious beliefs were a big part of who he was, and he kept up his ministry work even after baseball.

Malkmus passed away on February 23, 2025, at 93, in Bricktown, New Jersey. They held his funeral on February 27 at McCracken Funeral Home in Union, New Jersey.

Family and Personal Interests

Malkmus married Ruth Norma Bischoff, his high school sweetheart, on September 6, 1952, while serving in the U.S. Navy. They spent their whole married life in northern New Jersey.

They had two kids, a son and a daughter. The family kept things pretty quiet and private, staying out of the baseball spotlight.

His deep religious faith was always front and center in his life. People knew him for carrying a Bible and bringing up religion in locker rooms everywhere he went.

He came across as a quiet, unassuming guy who cared more about his family and faith than anything he did on the baseball field.

Career Statistics and Records

Bobby Malkmus put up modest stats during his six years in the majors from 1957 to 1962. He hit .215 with 8 home runs and 46 RBIs in 268 games. He played second base, shortstop, and third base, batting and throwing right-handed, and showed off defensive versatility.

MLB Offensive Stats

Malkmus struggled at the plate most of his career, ending up with a .215 average over 572 at-bats. His best year came in 1961 with the Phillies, when he played 121 games and notched 79 hits—including 7 of his 8 career homers.

He finished with 123 hits, 15 doubles, 5 triples, and 8 home runs. He drove in 46 runs and scored 69 times.

In 1961, he batted .231 with a .276 on-base percentage. That was his only full season as a regular, and it made up more than half of his career plate appearances.

He drew 38 walks and struck out 90 times over his career. His offensive production really dropped off in his last season—just 1 hit in 5 at-bats over 8 games in 1962.

Defensive and Fielding Numbers

Malkmus handled all three infield spots throughout his career. He spent the most time at second base, where he put up a .982 fielding percentage over several seasons.

His 1961 season with Philadelphia stands out for his defense at second base. He played 58 games there, handled 330 total chances, made 146 putouts, 180 assists, and only 4 errors.

He also filled in at shortstop and third base when needed. At shortstop in 1960, he managed a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 29 games, handling 55 chances without a single error.

That kind of versatility made him valuable, especially to the Phillies, who moved him around as needed. The numbers show he was most comfortable at second base, turning 52 double plays in his standout 1961 season.

Minor League Performance

Malkmus played 12 seasons in the minor leagues. He hit .268 and knocked out 94 home runs during that time.

His minor league career stretched from 1952 through 1967, covering years both before and after his big league days. You can see he put up better offensive numbers in the minors than he ever did in the majors.

Those 94 home runs over a dozen minor league seasons really show he had more power than the 8 homers he managed in the majors. His long run in the minors makes you wonder about the challenges he faced trying to stick in the big leagues.

After his last major league game in 1962, he kept playing in the minors for five more years, right up until 1967.