1976 Topps #568 - Rob Andrews

• Rob Andrews played in the majors from 1975-1979. Andrews was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1970. Rob played in the Orioles' system from 1970-1974 without getting a shot at the big leagues, although he batted .309 in AA in 1973 and .306 for AAA Rochester in 1974. After the 1974 season Andrews was traded with Enos Cabell to the Houston Astros for Lee May and Jerry Schlueter.
• Rob made the Houston ballclub in 1975 and was used at 2B and at SS. Andrews played in 103 games and batted .238 in 277 AB. In 1976 Rob batted .256 in 109 games. He also had a 25-game stint in AAA Tucson in '76.
• During spring training in 1977 Andrews was traded (with cash) to the San Francisco Giants for Willie Crawford and Rob Sperring. Rob became the starting second baseman for the Giants and batted .264 in 127 games.
• The Giants moved some players around in 1978 (Bill Madlock from 3B to 2B, Darrell Evans from LF to 3B, Terry Whitfield becoming a starting OF) and these moves left Andrews as the odd man out. Rob backed up at 2B and SS in 1978 and batted .220 in 177 AB. Andrews had a similar role in 1979 and batted .289 in 154 AB.
• After the 1979 season the Giants released Andrews. Rob signed with the New York Mets in 1980 but he didn't make their ballclub and retired.
• Rob's brother Mike Andrews was also a major league player.
• Rob did some high school and college baseball coaching and taught elementary school after his retirement as an active player.
• Andrews ran a baseball camp from 1985-2008 in the San Francisco bay area.
• Liked to face: Rob Dressler (.538 in 13 AB); Joe Niekro (.467 in 15 AB); Tom Seaver (.429 with 2 HR in 21 AB) Note: Rob hit only three career HR and two of them were off of Seaver -- both in one game in 1979
• Hated to face: Eddie Solomon (.000 in 10 AB); Steve Rogers (.056 in 18 AB); Jerry Koosman (.105 in 19 AB)