Bob Bailey Should Have Been an NL All-Star

Bob Bailey, an original member of the Montreal Expos, passed away suddenly yesterday at the age of 75.

Bailey began his professional career as a bonus baby signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1961. He would make his MLB debut the following year at the age of 19. Bailey became a Pirates regular in 1963 primarily playing third base. However, his offensive numbers didn't live up to expectations. Prior to the 1967 season, the Pirates traded Bailey and future New York Yankees manager Gene Michael to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Maury Wills. Unfortunately, Bailey's numbers didn't improve. The Dodgers sold Bailey's contract to the Expos prior to their expansion season in 1969 and collected the team's first hit off no less than Tom Seaver.

It was in 1970 that Bailey came into his own hitting .287 with 28 HR and 87 RBI. Between 1970 and 1974, Bailey drove in at least 70 runs four times and hit 20 or more home runs thrice during that period. Despite these good offensive numbers, Bailey was never selected to a NL All-Star Team.

Bailey's offensive numbers would slip in 1975 after he lost the third base job to Larry Parrish. The Expos traded Bailey to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Clay Kirby prior to the 1976 season. Despite limited playing time, Bailey would earn his only World Series ring with the Big Red Machine. Late in the 1977 season, the Reds traded Bailey to the Boston Red Sox where he would finish his playing career in 1978. In 17 big league seasons, Bailey collected 1,564 hits for a lifetime batting average of .257 with 189 HR and 773 RBI. His 118 HR for the Expos are seventh on the Expos/Nationals all-time list. R.I.P.