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Bob Horner League
5-6-1975
First Date Sparks Starting Pitcher
Retired (1969, Age 40)
CAREER BIOGRAPHICAL DATA
ERA 3.50 Total Rating B-   Bats/Throws R/L
W-L 252-138 Status Retired (1969) Option Years 0  
SV 2 Age 45 (OS 46) Date of Birth 10-06-1929
K 2928 Drafted Round 1, Pick 6
(1950)
Majors Svc Time 17 years
(29 games)
IP 3794.0
WHIP 1.24
OFFENSE PITCHING MENTORING
Contact vs. R D- Contact vs. L D- Endurance B-   Ldrship
Power vs. R D- Power vs. L D- Velocity   Mentor Val A-
Speed Bunt Control B+
POSITIONS DEFENSE/HEALTH POSTSEASON
 C * --- SS --- Range WS Rings 3
1B --- LF --- Arm WS Appearances 4
2B --- CF ---   Health LCS Appearances 13
3B --- RF ---   Injured Days 0 All Star Teams 9
* League requires 50% rating to start at catcher.

Year   Team W L G GS CG SHO SV BS IP H R ER HBP BB SO WHIP ERA Awards
1951 STL
5
9
21
20
1
0
0
0
131.2
133 61 54 4 49
98
1.38
3.69
1952 STL
15
9
34
34
3
1
0
0
225.0
239 123 116 2 76
175
1.40
4.64
1953 STL
13
7
35
35
5
2
0
0
242.2
216 111 102 2 88
186
1.25
3.78
1954 STL
21
6
36
36
7
2
0
0
252.2
246 104 102 1 85
206
1.31
3.63
1955 STL
17
12
36
36
7
3
0
0
263.0
225 96 85 2 92
214
1.21
2.91
1956 STL
21
6
33
33
6
0
0
0
243.0
213 86 77 2 51
190
1.09
2.85
1957 STL-SEA
20
6
35
35
7
4
0
0
255.2
213 85 79 0 71
223
1.11
2.78
1958 SEA
12
13
36
36
9
3
0
0
244.2
231 123 113 2 88
196
1.30
4.16
1959 SEA
15
9
37
37
6
1
0
0
245.1
229 104 91 0 88
192
1.29
3.34
1960 SEA
17
8
34
34
2
0
0
0
230.2
203 84 76 1 71
176
1.19
2.97
1961 SEA
17
2
27
27
5
2
0
0
190.0
153 67 63 0 53
139
1.08
2.98
1962 SEA
13
10
36
36
4
2
0
0
238.0
218 102 94 1 70
181
1.21
3.55
1963 SEA
20
7
36
36
7
3
0
0
249.0
214 79 74 0 54
195
1.08
2.67
1964 SEA
19
5
30
30
9
3
0
0
221.1
199 84 80 1 51
177
1.13
3.25
1965 SEA
7
9
29
29
0
0
0
0
173.0
180 80 74 1 56
127
1.36
3.85
1966 SEA
7
4
31
14
1
0
2
1
108.0
118 52 52 3 38
70
1.44
4.33
1967 SEA
10
7
29
29
3
0
0
0
176.2
189 90 80 3 47
119
1.34
4.08
1968 SEA-MIA
3
9
36
14
0
0
0
0
95.1
113 57 53 0 35
59
1.55
5.00
1969 SEA
0
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
8.1
16 17 12 0 7
5
2.76
12.96
1975
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0.0
0 0 0 0 0
0
0.00
0.00
Total
252
138
597
551
82
26
2
1
3794.0
3548 1605 1477 25 1170
2928
1.24
3.50
Career Transactions
DateTransaction
1969-11-01First Date Sparks has retired from the Seattle Rainiers
1969-08-08First Date Sparks of the Seattle Rainiers is injured and is expected to be out 14 days.
1969-07-29The Seattle Rainiers have promoted Dal Sullivan to the major league team. The Seattle Rainiers have promoted First Date Sparks to the major league team.
1969-07-29The Seattle Rainiers have acquired First Date Sparks from the waiver wire.
1969-04-08The Miami Motorboatin SOBs have waived First Date Sparks.
1969-03-25The Miami Motorboatin SOBs have promoted Bart Graber to the major league team. The Miami Motorboatin SOBs have promoted Tom Strickland to the major league team. The Miami Motorboatin SOBs have designated First Date Sparks for assignment.
1968-09-30First Date Sparks of the Miami Motorboatin SOBs is injured and is expected to be out 29 days.
1968-07-14The Miami Motorboatin SOBs have acquired First Date Sparks from the waiver wire.
1968-07-07The Seattle Rainiers have designated First Date Sparks for assignment.
1967-11-01First Date Sparks now holds the league record for career strikeouts.
1967-11-01First Date Sparks now holds the league record for career innings pitched.
1967-06-27First Date Sparks of the Seattle Rainiers is injured and is expected to be out 24 days.
1964-11-01First Date Sparks now holds the league record for career wins.
1964-08-10First Date Sparks of the Seattle Rainiers is injured and is expected to be out 33 days.
1963-11-01First Date Sparks now holds the league record for career pitching games started.
1961-06-28First Date Sparks of the Seattle Rainiers is injured and is expected to be out 12 days.
1961-04-16First Date Sparks of the Seattle Rainiers is injured and is expected to be out 38 days.
1958-11-01First Date Sparks now holds the league record for career shutouts.
1957-10-23Trade #1867336 has been completed between the Seattle Rainiers and the St. Louis Men in New Laundry. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry receive Hank Dolworth, Mike Schellhase, Kenny Madison, Draft Pick 1960 Round 1 SEA (Hideki Sakurai), Draft Pick 1958 Round 1 SEA (Guy Weaver) from the Seattle Rainiers in exchange for First Date Sparks, Aaron Merloni, Victor DePhillips.
1956-08-21First Date Sparks of the St. Louis Men in New Laundry is injured and is expected to be out 15 days.
1953-06-08The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted First Date Sparks to the major league team.
1953-06-07The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have sent First Date Sparks down to the minors.
1951-10-03The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted Ivan Lind to the major league team. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted First Date Sparks to the major league team.
1951-10-03The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have sent First Date Sparks to the minors. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have sent Ivan Lind to the minors.
1951-09-05The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted First Date Sparks to the major league team.
1951-08-16The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have sent First Date Sparks to the minors.
1951-07-07The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted First Date Sparks to the major league team.
1951-06-15The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have sent First Date Sparks to the minors.
1951-05-05The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted First Date Sparks to the major league team.
1950-05-06The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have renamed "First Date" Sparks to First Date Sparks.
1950-05-06The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have renamed John Sparks to "First Date" Sparks.
1950-04-01The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted Glen Pasek to the major league team. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted Palmer Wheelock to the major league team. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted Ed Hawk to the major league team. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted Fred Smith to the major league team. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted Dino Wicker to the major league team. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted Frank Simpson to the major league team. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have promoted Kim Howe to the major league team. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have sent Robert Pattison to the minors. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have sent John Sparks to the minors. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have sent Rick Darby to the minors. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have sent Ivan Lind to the minors. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have sent Craig King to the minors. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have sent Joe Barrett to the minors. The St. Louis Men in New Laundry have sent George McCormick to the minors.