# Bob Alexander > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bob_Alexander > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bob_Alexander.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Alexander > Source revision: 1270796128 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For other people named Bob Alexander, see [Bob Alexander (disambiguation)](/source/Bob_Alexander_(disambiguation)). **Robert Somerville Alexander** (August 7, 1922 – April 7, 1993) was a Canadian professional [baseball](/source/Baseball) [pitcher](/source/Pitcher). He attended [Bethany College](/source/Bethany_College_(West_Virginia)) in West Virginia. Alexander was signed by the [New York Yankees](/source/New_York_Yankees) in . However, he did not make his Major League debut until 1955 with the [Baltimore Orioles](/source/Baltimore_Orioles). He also played for the [Cleveland Indians](/source/Cleveland_Indians) and the [Toei Flyers](/source/Toei_Flyers) of the [Nippon Professional Baseball](/source/Nippon_Professional_Baseball) (NPB). He is the first Canadian player in NPB history.[1] On top of playing baseball, he was also an [Aviation Cadet](/source/Aviation_Cadet) in the [United States Navy](/source/United_States_Navy) during World War II.[2] ## Professional career ### New York Yankees Before entering military service in 1944 Bob pitched for the [Butler Yankees](/source/1942_New_York_Yankees_season#Farm_system) of the Class D [Pennsylvania State Association](/source/Pennsylvania_State_Association) and the [Amsterdam Rugmakers](/source/1942_New_York_Yankees_season#Farm_system) in the Class C [Canadian–American League](/source/Canadian%E2%80%93American_League). In Bob pitched for the [Wellsville Yankees](/source/1943_New_York_Yankees_season#Farm_system) in the Class D Pony League and was 4–3 with a 3.60 ERA. In Bob split the season with Wellsville, the [Hagerstown Owls](/source/Hagerstown_Owls) of the [Interstate League](/source/Interstate_League) and the [Norfolk Tars](/source/Norfolk_Tars) of the [Piedmont League](/source/Piedmont_League) for a combined 6–9 record. After his service Bob returned to the Norfolk Tars where Bob was 6–5 with a 2.64 ERA and also spent time with the [Binghamton Triplets](/source/Binghamton_Triplets) of the Class A [Eastern League](/source/Eastern_League_(1938%E2%80%932020)) in . Robert Alexander continued to pitch in the minor leagues with the [Denver Bears](/source/Denver_Bears) in the [Western League](/source/Western_League_(1900%E2%80%931958)), where Bob was 10–12 with a 4.15 ERA in , and the [Beaumont Exporters](/source/Beaumont_Exporters) in the [Texas League](/source/Texas_League) where Bob was 11–16 with a 3.70 ERA in . In Bob compiled a record of 8–8 with the [Louisville Colonels](/source/Louisville_Colonels_(minor_league_baseball)) in the [American Association](/source/American_Association_(20th_century)) and a record of 12–10 with the Colonels in . Bob threw a [no-hitter](/source/No-hitter) on July 29, against the [Milwaukee Brewers](/source/Milwaukee_Brewers).[3] ### Brooklyn Dodgers In Bob was acquired by the [Brooklyn Dodgers](/source/Brooklyn_Dodgers) and pitched for the [Montreal Royals](/source/Montreal_Royals) in the [International League](/source/International_League), where Bob compiled a 15–9 record with a 3.58 ERA. Bob performed well enough to earn a spot on the [spring training](/source/Spring_training) roster with the Dodgers in . Bob didn't make the club in '52, instead he was back with Montreal for the regular season and was 8–7 with a 4.34 ERA. Robert Alexander remained with Montreal in 1953 and after the season, Bob underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. ### Portland Beavers In Bob was acquired by the [Portland Beavers](/source/Portland_Beavers) of the [Pacific Coast League](/source/Pacific_Coast_League) where Bob finished with a 10–12 record and 3.22 ERA. At the end of the season, Robert Alexander, who was 32 years old at the time, was purchased by the [Baltimore Orioles](/source/Baltimore_Orioles). ### Baltimore Orioles Robert Alexander made his Major League debut in a relief appearance for the Orioles on April 11, against the [Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1901%E2%80%9360)).[4] Bob would make a further three relief outings before returning to Portland in July to record a 10–10 record and excellent 2.66 ERA. ### Cleveland Indians Robert Alexander continued to be a stellar pitcher in the Pacific Coast League and got his final shot at the Major Leagues in , when the 35-year-old right-hander joined the [Cleveland Indians](/source/Cleveland_Indians) pitching staff. Robert Alexander made five relief appearances for the Indians to end his Major League career. ## References 1. 阿佐智 (October 30, 2019). ["アテネ以来の日加対決！日本でプレーしたカナダ人選手を振り返る"](https://baseballking.jp/ns/column/207357?fbclid=IwAR3QncSdt-X8r-55IQNkKBmbzvIM0g39BotazS6m3ytmXHSKOag1p2Y4My4) (in Japanese). *Baseball King*. Retrieved April 11, 2020. 1. [Bob Alexander | Baseball in Wartime](http://www.baseballinwartime.com/player_biographies/alexander_bob.htm) 1. [Toledo Blade. – July 30, 1950: Colonels' Bob Alexander Hurls No-Hit Contest Against Milwaukee; Walks Two](https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I4wUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KgAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4303,5939739&dq=bob+alexander&hl=en) 1. [Baltimore Orioles vs Washington Senators April 11, 1955 Box Score](http://www.baseball-almanac.com/box-scores/boxscore.php?boxid=195504110WS1) ## External links - [Retrosheet](https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/A/Palexb101.htm) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bob Alexander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Alexander) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Alexander?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.