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Bob Oldis
Bob Oldis
Bob Oldis
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Robert Carl Oldis (January 5, 1928 – September 21, 2025) was an American scout for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball, as well as a professional baseball player and coach.

Key Information

Biography

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Oldis was a catcher whose playing career lasted for 15 seasons, 1949–63. The native of Preston, Iowa, stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg) and threw and batted right-handed during his active career. As a Major Leaguer, he appeared in 135 games as a second- or third-string receiver over all or parts of seven seasons (1953–55; 1960–63) with the Washington Senators, Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies. He was a member of the 1960 World Series champion Pirates squad that beat the New York Yankees, serving as the club's third catcher behind Smoky Burgess and Hal Smith. Although he got into only 22 games during the 1960 season (three as a starting catcher), Oldis appeared in Games 4 and 5 of the World Series as a defensive replacement, spelling Burgess, but had no plate appearances. The Pirates won both contests, however, and went on to a seven-game upset on Bill Mazeroski's walk-off home run. Oldis' greatest number of games played was 47, in his final major league season.

For his MLB career, Oldis hit .237 with one home run—hit off Pete Richert of the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 9, 1962[1]—along with 22 runs batted in and 56 hits. Following his playing career, he was a coach for the Phillies (1964–66), Minnesota Twins (1968) and Montreal Expos (1969), and scouted for the Phils and Expos. He was associated with the Marlins from 2002.

Oldis died in Gilbert, Arizona, on September 21, 2025, at the age of 97.[2]

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Bob Oldis

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Bob Oldis was an American professional baseball catcher known for his seven-decade career in the sport as a player, coach, and scout. He played in Major League Baseball from 1953 to 1963, primarily as a reliable backup catcher for the Washington Senators, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Philadelphia Phillies, and was a member of the 1960 World Series champion Pirates, where he appeared as a defensive replacement in two games. After retiring as a player, Oldis served as a bullpen coach for the Phillies, Minnesota Twins, and Montreal Expos, and later enjoyed a long tenure as a scout for the Expos and Florida/Miami Marlins, earning Scout of the Year honors in 2002 and contributing to the Marlins' 2003 World Series title. Oldis was celebrated for his exceptional defensive skills, strong throwing arm despite an early finger injury, and his invaluable clubhouse presence as a morale booster and teammate. Described as a "baseball lifer," he remained active in the game into his eighties and was praised for his positive influence, with colleagues noting that "every team needs a Bob Oldis." Born on January 5, 1928, in Preston, Iowa, he maintained deep ties to his home state through community involvement, including decades as a high school sports official and work with the University of Iowa athletics. Oldis passed away on September 21, 2025, in Gilbert, Arizona, at the age of 97.

Early life

Background and youth

Robert Carl Oldis was born on January 5, 1928, in Preston, Iowa, a small farming community in the foothills of the Mississippi River Valley, to Edward and Emma Oldis. His father, Edward, served as the local postmaster and had played semiprofessional baseball himself. The family relocated to Iowa City when Oldis was about four years old, and he grew up in the area, attending Iowa City High School. Iowa City High did not have a baseball program until Oldis's junior year, and he did not play as a senior after graduating at the semester break. During his youth, Oldis developed a strong interest in baseball through amateur play, particularly American Legion Junior Baseball, where he transitioned from third base to catcher when the team's regular catcher left. He also participated in fast-pitch softball, which was popular in the Midwest at the time, and played with local teams like the Iowa City Cardinals. After high school, Oldis worked as a milkman at a local dairy, where he suffered an accident that severed part of his right index finger, sidelining him for six weeks before returning in August to help the Iowa City Cardinals reach the National Softball League playoffs. Oldis was an avid all-around athlete in high school, serving as a trainer for football and basketball teams in addition to his involvement in emerging baseball opportunities. These early experiences in local leagues and amateur games fueled his passion for the sport before he pursued professional opportunities.

Entry into professional baseball

Bob Oldis entered professional baseball after attending Jack Rossiter's Baseball School in Cocoa, Florida, during the winter preceding the 1949 season. He paid $175 for the six-week course, which included bus fare from Iowa City for a three-day, four-night trip, and was one of twelve players signed by the Washington Senators from the camp. Oldis received no signing bonus and inked his professional contract with the Washington Senators in February 1949. The Senators assigned the 21-year-old to the Emporia Nationals of the Class D Virginia League for his first professional season in 1949. He batted .285 with 5 home runs and 33 RBI during the campaign. A standout moment came on August 7, 1949, when Oldis hit two home runs as part of a 13-run first inning against Lawrenceville, marking the first time that feat had been accomplished in league history. Oldis returned to Emporia in 1950, serving as the regular catcher and driving in 74 runs with 3 home runs while helping the team capture the league championship. He was also voted the team's most popular player by fans and received a bejeweled watch for the honor. These early minor league assignments with the Senators' organization allowed Oldis to develop as a reliable defensive catcher in lower-level leagues. He remained in the Washington Senators' minor league system, honing his skills until earning a promotion to the major leagues with the Senators in 1953.

Playing career

Minor leagues

Bob Oldis played extensively in the minor leagues from 1949 to 1961, appearing in 1,044 games while compiling a .279 batting average with 931 hits, 22 home runs, and 299 RBIs across his career. Primarily a catcher, he was recognized for reliable defense, posting a career fielding percentage of .991 at the position in the minors with only 37 errors in 4,141 total chances. Oldis began his professional career in 1949 with the Emporia Nationals of the Class D Virginia League, batting .285 with five home runs in 79 games while also seeing limited time in the outfield. He returned to Emporia in 1950, hitting .289 in 118 games, before advancing to the Class B Charlotte Hornets of the Tri-State League in 1951, where he batted .285 in 116 games. In 1952, Oldis moved to Double-A with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern Association, batting .277 in 95 games and serving as the "sparkplug" of the team that won its first league championship in 16 years. He spent several seasons with Chattanooga, including partial campaigns in 1953 (.266 in 28 games), 1955 (.306 in 38 games at Double-A combined with time at Class A Charlotte), and a full season in 1956 (.286 in 118 games). Oldis reached Triple-A in 1957 with the Denver Bears of the American Association, batting .294 in 85 games, followed by a .268 average in 124 games with the Richmond Virginians of the International League in 1958. His most productive minor league season came in 1959 back with Denver, where he hit .294 with 133 hits and a career-high 65 RBIs in 135 games. Oldis concluded his minor league playing time in 1961 with the Columbus Jets of the International League, batting .224 in 81 games. His minor league tenure was occasionally interrupted by Major League call-ups.

Major League career

Bob Oldis played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed batting and throwing catcher for three teams over seven non-consecutive seasons. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 185 pounds, he served primarily as a backup catcher throughout his big-league career, starting just 61 of his 135 total games. Oldis debuted with the Washington Senators on April 28, 1953, and remained with the club through the 1955 season, appearing in 24 games. He returned to the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960 after several years away and played there through 1961. Oldis then concluded his playing career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1962 and 1963, where he received his most substantial playing time with 85 games across those two seasons. His most notable major league achievement came as a member of the 1960 World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates, who defeated the New York Yankees four games to three. Oldis appeared in two games during the Series but recorded no plate appearances, contributing defensively as a catcher. Across his career, Oldis batted .237 with 56 hits, one home run, and 22 RBIs in 236 at-bats and 262 plate appearances. He hit his only major league home run in 1962 while with the Phillies and never exceeded 47 games in any single season.

Post-playing career

Coaching roles

After retiring as a player following the 1963 season, Bob Oldis transitioned to coaching, beginning with the Philadelphia Phillies where he served as a bullpen coach from 1964 to 1966 under manager Gene Mauch. Oldis coached for the Minnesota Twins in 1968, again as a bullpen coach. He then reunited with Mauch in 1969 as one of the original coaches for the expansion Montreal Expos. In the minor leagues, Oldis managed the Watertown Expos of the Class A Northern League in 1971, an Expos affiliate, compiling a 30-40-1 record in the league's final season.

Scouting career

Bob Oldis had a prolonged career as a professional baseball scout in addition to his coaching roles. He scouted for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1967 following his initial coaching tenure with the team. He later scouted for the Montreal Expos, transitioning to full-time scouting in the late 1960s and early 1970s, focusing on the Midwest region including high-school and college talent in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and the Dakotas. Following the annual June draft, he evaluated Class A players in the Midwest League, attending home games of teams such as Cedar Rapids and Quad Cities. Oldis later scouted for the Florida Marlins (later renamed the Miami Marlins) and remained active in this role well into his 90s. In 2002, Oldis's colleagues voted him major-league scout of the year. He received a 2003 World Series ring from the Florida Marlins following their championship. Oldis believed he played a key role in bringing 19 or 20 players to the major leagues, including Shane Rawley, Bill Gullickson, Jeff Huson, Casey Candaele, David Herndon, and Brad Hand.

Personal life

Death

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