Books and articles about Bob Skinner

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A three-time .300 hitter with Pittsburgh, Skinner batted a career-high .321 and was the National League's All-Star left fielder in 1958. As a rookie in 1954, he set a ML first base record with eight assists in a game. In 1956 he led the NL with 54 pinch-hitting appearances. During a torrid three-game stretch against Cincinnati in 1959, he hit five homers, including a grand slam and a three-run shot on May 31. He went 2-for-3 as a Cardinal pinch hitter in the 1964 World Series, then led the NL with 15 pinch hits in 1965. His last 45 at-bats came off the bench, in 1966. Skinner became manager of San Diego, at that time the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, and by June 1968 he had replaced Gene Mauch at the helm of the parent club. He lasted until the following August. A coach for Pittsburgh, San Diego, and California, he served one game as the Padres' interim manager in 1977. He returned to the Pirates in 1979, working for manager Chuck Tanner, and moved with him to the Braves, 1986-88. Bob's son, Joel Skinner, became a catcher with the White Sox and Yankees. (RTM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 2, 1954: At Chicago, the Cubs and Pirates split. Chicago's Paul Minner outguns Vern Law in the opener, 5–3, and the Pirates outhit Chicago to win the nitecap, 18–10 in eight innings. Frank Thomas has seven straight hits on the afternoon for Pittsburgh, before fanning. Hank Sauer hits three homers for Chicago, two in the nitecap, when he goes 4-for-4: Hammerin' Hank will belt 13 homers this year against the Pirates—a major-league record (set by Jimmie Foxx and since tied by Joe Adcock, in 1956) for home runs against one team. Bob Skinner has three hits to drive in five runs for the Bucs in game 2, as they score 15 runs in the first four innings. Winning pitcher Bob Friend also drives in three runs to win his first of the year. With homers in both games today, the Cubs set an National League mark of 13 straight games in which they've homered since the start of the season. » May 7, 1958: Pirates Bob Skinner, Ted Kluszewski and Frank Thomas hit home runs in the 5th inning at Seals Stadium, but the Giants win 8–6. » April 17, 1960: Pittsburgh's Joe Gibbon makes his ML debut in the 2nd game of a twinbill with the Reds. With the Pirates down 5–0 in the 8th, the rookie comes in to mop up. Gibbon throws two scoreless innings and the Bucs score six in the 9th for a 6–5 win. Hal Smith's 3-run pinch homer and Bob Skinner's 2-out, two-run homer off reliever Ted Wieand makes Gibbon the winner. The Bucs win the opener, 5–0, behind Bob Friend's 4-hitter. » July 23, 1962: At Cincinnati, Reds pitcher Jim O'Toole loses his no hit bid when Bob Skinner doubles in the 8th inning. O'Toole finishes with a 3–0 one-hitter against the Pirates. » May 23, 1963: Pittsburgh trades OF Bob Skinner to the Reds for OF Jerry Lynch. » June 15, 1968: Gene Mauch (27-27) is fired as manager of the Phillies. He will be replaced tomorrow by Bob Skinner, manager of the San Diego farm team. » August 7, 1969: Phils' manager Bob Skinner quits saying he had little front office support in his attempts to discipline slugger Dick Allen. Coach George Myatt will manage the team for the rest of the season.