Bob McClure
Robert Craig McClure is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1975 to 1993, most notably as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers with whom he won the 1982 American League pennant. Following his playing career, he has served as a coach for several MLB teams.
Playing career
Kansas City Royals
McClure was born in Oakland, California, and attended Terra Nova High School in Pacifica, California, and College of San Mateo in San Mateo, California. He was both a Little League and high school teammate of Keith Hernandez. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round of the January phase of the 1973 Major League Baseball draft, however chose not to sign. Instead, he signed with the Kansas City Royals, who selected him in the secondary phase of the draft that June, also in the third round.The Royals used McClure as a starting pitcher his first professional season in the Pioneer League in 1973. He went 10–2 with a 2.11 earned run average for the Billings Mustangs. He started in 1974 as well, and was converted to a relief pitcher in 1975. He made his major league debut with the Royals on August 13, 1975 against the Baltimore Orioles, pitching one inning, striking out one and walking one. On September 23, he entered a ballgame at Kauffman Stadium against the Texas Rangers with one out and one on in the second inning. He pitched six scoreless innings to earn his first major league win. McClure spent most of with the triple A Omaha Royals, appearing in only eight games and pitching only four innings with the big league club.
Milwaukee Brewers
On December 6, 1976, the Milwaukee Brewers sent catcher Darrell Porter and pitcher Jim Colborn to the Kansas City Royals for Jamie Quirk, Jim Wohlford and a player to be named later. On March 15, 1977, McClure was sent to the Brewers to complete the deal.With the Brewers, McClure led his team in saves in 1978 and 1980, then spent almost all of 1981 on the disabled list with arm problems. In 1982, he was moved to the starting rotation and had a 12–7 mark for the American League champion Brewers, but he returned to the bullpen after incumbent closer Rollie Fingers was unavailable for the postseason. In the 1982 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, McClure made five appearances, saving Games Four and Five, but he also had two losses, including a blown save in the decisive Game Seven.
McClure came back to the Brewers starting rotation in 1983 and 1984, before returning to relief duties in.