Ultimate Mets Database - Memories of Bobby Klaus

THE ULTIMATE METS DATABASE IS NOT AFFILIATED IN ANY WAY WITH THE NEW YORK METS OR MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

- All-Time Roster Every Met player... EVER!
- Mug Shots The pretty ones and the ugly ones -- we have them all!
- Player Awards Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Hall of Fame, and more.
- Transactions Over a thousand player transactions -- in chronological order!
- Managers & Coaches The men who have led the Mets, and the men who helped them.
- Mets Staff Executives, General Managers, Broadcasters, and more. (And Jane Jarvis too!)
- Birth Places Perfect for planning your Mets pilgrimages!
- Oldest Living Mets See which Mets players have spent the most time walking the Earth.
- Necrology Mets players and personnel who are no longer with us.

- Game Results
  All the wins, all the losses. Includes box scores and score cards!
- Opening Day
  The first day of each season! See the starting lineups, who started at each position year-by-year, and leaders by position.
- Walkoff Wins & Losses
  Interactively search for the happiest and saddest endings to Mets games.
- Postseason Games How the Mets have fared in the games that count the most!
- No-Hitters & One-Hitters See a list of every no-hitter and one-hitter pitched by the Mets, or against them. One of these categories was frustratingly empty for over fifty years, but not anymore!
- All-Star Games Mets who have appeared in baseball's Mid-Summer Classic
- Opponents & Ballparks See the Mets won-lost record against every team, and in every ballpark in which they've played!
- Daily Standings What was the Mets' pennant outlook on any given day in past seasons?
- Yearly Finishes The heights and the depths: the Mets won-lost record at the end of each season.
- Mayor's Trophy Games A look back at the long-ago annual series between the Mets and their Bronx rivals.

- Leaderboards Career, season, and individual game leaders at your fingertips!
- Team Leaders Players who led the Mets in various categories, from season to season.
- Decade Leaders Mets history broken down into ten-year chunks!
- Post-Season Leaders Mets leaders, by category, in post-season games

- Ultimate Mets Scrapbook The history of the Mets, as it was reported when it happened!
- Forum Visit the Crane Pool Forum to discuss the Mets and just about anything else!
- Fan Memories Insightful. Poignant. Thrilling. Somber. Nutty. Our visitors have submitted thousands of thoughts and memories of the Mets and the games they've played.
- Mets Uniforms It's more than just laundry! Trace the evolution of the Mets official uniform over the years.
- Uniform Numbers In association with Mets By the Numbers, we present a full history of who wore what number, and when!/li>
- Baseball Cards Our collection of home-made baseball cards, in the style of the classic Topps cards of the 1970's.
- This Date in Mets History Births, Deaths, Transactions, Newspaper Covers

- Contact Us
- FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

Mets
Statistics

Situational
Statistics

Bobby Klaus
vs. the Mets

Bobby Klaus
vs. Other Teams

Ballpark
Statistics

Monthly
Statistics

Game Log

Memories of
Bobby Klaus

Bobby Klaus
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 325 of 1252 players

Robert Francis Klaus
Born: December 27, 1937 at Spring Grove, Ill.
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 6.02 Weight: 200

Bobby Klaus was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on October 15, 2012, May 18, 2019, September 22, 2023, and February 7, 2024.

First Mets game: July 30, 1964
Last Mets game: October 3, 1965

Share your memories of Bobby Klaus

HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY:

Frank
I remember playing hookey on a freezing, raining Thursday in April to go to Shea. This had to be the most miserable weather I have ever watched a game in. The guy selling hot chocolate was making a bundle. This has to be either 64 or 65. Anyway....Klaus wins the game in the 10th (thank God) with a shot down the left field line, just above the orange line.

Alan
January 11, 2002
Frank, I was there that day too, in the boxes on the third base line. Bobby's Home Run hit the foul pole......it was cold day..I was 12 years old...I believe he had a brother Billy who played in the Yankees system.

Alan
January 11, 2002
Frank , it was 4/14/65 Mets beat Houston 7-6 10 innings, you know your comments made me remember that day

Charlie
February 22, 2002
Believe it or not I was at that same game on 4/14/65. It was Holy Thursday against Hoston. The Mets were playing LA, Hstn and SF on this opening homestand.
Klaus was a terrible hitter whose brother played in the AL but not with the Yankees.

FRED of Nyack
March 18, 2003
My recollection was that Bobby Klaus was a hustling, ballplayer with limited talents whose best work was in his initial appearances. To get them both in the lineup in 1965, Casey put All-Star Ron Hunt at third base for a while, which Hunt wasn't crazy about, until the Peter Principle caught up with Bobby. While his brother, Billy (also an infielder) may have been a Yankee farmhand, I know he played for the Phillies.

Bobster1985
March 21, 2003
Isn't the Internet wonderful? Totally obscure bit players like Bobby Klaus live on in cyberspace. My family lived in a two-family house in Flushing during the late '60's, and one of our neighbors said that Bobby once rented it too. It was cheap rent but I guess ballplayers didn't make much then. No way you'd catch a big leaguer living in a working class neighborhood like that today.

Chris
May 5, 2003
It's a long time ago, but, if I'm not mistaken, Sandy Becker mentioned Bobby's game-winning homer on his show that day. Sandy also commented that the Mets had a 2-game winning streak! One of my prevalent memories of Sandy Becker is his mention of Bobby Klaus on his show that day. Anyone back me up (please!!)??

rich edwards
May 6, 2003
Chris, it's very possible. I remember watching the game on tv. It was 4-15-65 (not 4-14) as some have said. Klaus' home run made Jim Bethke the winning pitcher. I think he was only 19 at the time. The Mets also made a weird triple play that day. Sandy Becker was great. My favorite was k lastima.

mets
May 29, 2003
Bobby Klaus' brother Billy Klaus played with the Red Sox. I think Billy was also traded from the Boston Braves to the New York Giants with Johnny Antonelli in the Bobby Thomson trade.

robert
June 23, 2003
I remember the game he won in the 10th inning, too - my only memory of him! Is it possible schools were closed for Easter vacation or were we ALL playing hooky that day? It was the first win of the year, I thought - I remember the Mets first win coming progressively earlier each year from '62 to this point. The triple play - I think it went from right field to home nailing a runner trying to tag up from third (was it Johnny Lewis who made the throw) and then a runner from first trying to move to second on the throw home - I can't remember what I had for dinner last night but I can remember a triple play from 1965 - is there a medical term for a condition like that?

sally
June 25, 2003
When I was 5 I lived next door to Bobby Klaus in Flushing. I played with his daughter and I remember him as a great guy who played catch with us and taught us the "Meet the Mets" song. I was very sorry to see such a nice family move on.

Jerry
April 13, 2005
Bobby Klaus was a ballplayer who will live on in the Hall of Good. He was very decent, and could hit, but like many good ballplayers, his best numbers were run up in the minors.
At Cincinnati, he would have been backup to Pete Rose, Leo Cardenas, Tony Perez, Deron Johnson, and Chico Ruiz, not to mention a developing Tommy Helms. At New York, he was in the company of Roy McMillan, Chuck Hiller, and Ron Hunt. Like many good ballplayers, you have to ask the question, would he have made it with another team?
I was overwhelmed when the expansion San Diego Padres picked him. But San Diego sent him away to the Pittsburgh Pirates system. Bobby's brother Billy was the starting shortstop for the Boston Red Sox before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles.
A namesake, Richard C. Klaus was an infielder during the 40's and 50's before becoming a manager. About him, I know very little.

jamey bumbalo
November 25, 2005
While Bobby Klaus only played in the majors in 1964 and 1965, his brother Billy lasted longer, playing from 1952 to 1963 with the Boston and Milwaukee Braves, Red Sox, Orioles, Senators, and Phillies. It's too bad the brothers were never in the majors at the same time.

Kelly Klaus
December 28, 2005
I just googled my dad, Bobby Klaus, and got this website. I was the daughter that lived in Flushing and hung out with "Sally". I have great memories of the New York Mets, they were a team full of heart and family. It is great to have Cyberspace to live on and remember. At our last family reunion my uncle Billy wore his uniform and we all had fun. My dad was old school baseball, very humble - couldn't believe he was making a living doing what he loved most. He turned down coaching positions because he couldn't handle the new "attitude" of the modern players. He is enjoying his grandchildren and still in touch with the teammates throughout the different teams he played on. Once in a while he is invited back to the San Diego Padres Old-Timers games and he has no regrets.

Del Jakabosky
April 28, 2006
I remember watching Bobby play with the minor league Padres in 1967 and '68. He was a player coach and led the Padres to the PCL championship in old Westgate park in San Diego. I wanted to play second base just like him.

DBuyher
October 28, 2006
I knew Bob at U of I, where he was an excellent player who was a true student of the game. He loved baseball and there was no doubt he was going to play major league baseball somewhere. There was always a game of street ball going on behind the T dorm and he was always in the competition.

Robert
January 6, 2007
I lived in Manhasset until the age of 8. I moved to California in 1967 and became an Angel fan. My first team, however, was the Mets. I was enamored with Bobby Klaus. My dad was on a business trip to Chicago in around 1965 or 1966 and, lo and behold, he was staying at the same hotel as the Mets. He got ahold of Bobby Klaus and had him call me! I don't remember a lot, but I do remember being thrilled that I was talking to a real major leaguer. He was my first "favorite player." I've had a few since then, all Angels, but you never forget your first of anything. Thanks Bobby.

Gene Daly
October 6, 2010
Bobby was a class act who lived on my block in Flushing (41st Ave bet Murray Street and 154 Street) during the 1965 season. I was a 17 year old senior in high school at the time and met him in the Fall of 1965 after the baseball season was over. He was working in the off season for Rheingold beer and came home one afternoon and asked if he could join our touch football game we used to play in the street. The rest was history; he played all fall and winter with us until he was traded. He befriended me and even took me to a Jets football game vs Houston where I sat with Bob Murphy and Miss Rheingold.

Jim Eckert
January 21, 2011
Memories of Bobby in this forum open with his game winning homer in a cold April game, 4/15/65 - a 5-4 win over Houston. One comment that caught my attention was that the homer was said to have hit the foul pole.
I have strong memories of at least another of his four career Met homers hitting the pole. It actually glanced off the outside of the LF pole, quite near to where I was sitting. This was in another 5-4 Mets win 8/23/64, this time over the Cubs. It was a solo shot coming earlier in the game so it wasn't a walk- off winner. But the Mets swept two that day (1st game 2-1) with Ed Kranepool and Charlie Smith getting game winning walk-off singles (first game in 10th, second in 9th) in respective games. What a rare feat in a 53-109 season.
Bobby must have been in his major league glory that day with a 9 3 5 1 doubleheader to get his average then to an unKlaus-like .302.

Bob
September 6, 2013
I remember waiting to take batting practice with the reserves before a game in the summer of 65. Bobby just happened to be standing next to me at the batting cage. He kind of looked at me at one point and said " I'm gonna get me a cigarette." He then walked away.
This is a true story!

Ralph
April 25, 2022
I remember him as the San Diego Padres 2nd baseman 66-68. Always a clutch player. I still picture him leaping to snap a line drive in the second game of a doubleheader vs. the Tulsa Oilers.

charlie wilson
December 3, 2023
He was my paper route manager in San Diego.

Jack Hines
April 18, 2024
I was one year behind Bobby at St Peter’s Grade School, and also following to Grant high school.
Bob’s family had a small farm of sorts near our place in the Spring Grove area of Illinois.My grandfather Pa used to go to their place for eggs.
Bob was my grade school and high school hero - he was a really great kid AND leader. I NEVER saw Bob put down or, in any way, demean a boy with lesser skills. He was the perfect combination of great player and great leader, imo. When at St Peter’s, Bob insisted ALL the boys in the upper grades must be allowed to play. We often had ten men on a team or more, just so everyone could play. Sure, it wasn’t REALLY baseball, or football, but, this was long before there was were little leagues. Now, how many jocks would do that, instead of making sure they, themselves, had fun?
Bob was also good football player and was the starting QB at Grant HS in Ingleside, ill.
I don’t think things went as well as they could have for Bob in his early adult years, but I lost track of him as we moved on.
I can only hope he had a good life - because he deserved it.

Jcrobbins
October 9, 2024
I remember my Dad coming home one evening and staying Bobby Klaus was a hero for having hit a home run to win a game.
That's how I learned the meaning of the word hero.
Now I know that the hero was my Dad, who took us to Shea to see Koufax throw a palm ball and a young Nolan Ryan.