Bob Kennedy

Robert Daniel Kennedy

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 193 lb.
• High School Morgan Park High School
• Debut September 14, 1939
• Final Game September 29, 1957
• Born August 18, 1920 in Chicago, IL USA
• Died April 7, 2005 in Mesa, AZ USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Bob Kennedy grew up on the South Side of Chicago and worked as a vendor at Comiskey Park as a youth.

He made his big league debut for Chicago White Sox as a 19-year old in 1939. Kennedy entered Naval Aviation in October 1942, was transferred to the Marines and was discharged in January 1946. In Korea, he gave flying lessons to fellow fighter jockey Ted Williams.

After a playing career that lasted nearly two decades, Kennedy was the Cleveland Indians' assistant farm director in 1960-1961. He was part of the Chicago Cubs College of Coaches as a coach in 1962, then went on to manage the team from 1963to 1965, and the Oakland Athletics in 1968. From 1970 to 1972, Kennedy was the Director of Player Development for the St. Louis Cardinals and was the assistant GM of the Cards from 1973 to 1975. He became General Manager of the Cubs (from 1977 to May 1981). Kennedy moved to the Houston Astros as assistant GM from 1982 to 1985, and held the same post with the San Francisco Giants from 1986 to 1992.

Kennedy's son, catcher Terry Kennedy, was an All-Star for the San Diego Padres. Another son, Bob Kennedy Jr., pitched in the St. Louis Cardinals chain and was later a scout for the Chicago Cubs.

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the Cleveland Indians in 1948

Preceded by College of Coaches

Chicago Cubs Manager 1963-1965

Succeeded by Lou Klein

Preceded by Luke Appling

Oakland A's Manager 1968

Succeeded by Hank Bauer

Preceded by Salty Saltwell

Chicago Cubs General Manager 1977-1981

Succeeded by Herman Franks

Year-By-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1962	Salt Lake City Bees	Pacific Coast League	81-73	2nd	Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians	none
1963	Chicago Cubs	National League	82-80	7th	Chicago Cubs
1964	Chicago Cubs	National League	76-86	8th	Chicago Cubs
1965	Chicago Cubs	National League	24-32	--	Chicago Cubs		replaced by Lou Klein on June 14
1966	Albuquerque Dodgers	Texas League	74-66	3rd	Los Angeles Dodgers	Lost League Finals
1968	Oakland Athletics	American League	82-80	6th	Oakland Athletics

Related Sites

• Bob Kennedy at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Manager page
• Department of Defense Article on Baseball Players who Served in the Korean War
• [1] Article on Bob Kennedy in The Hardball Times, part 1.
• [2] Article on Bob Kennedy in The Hardball Times, part 2.