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Patrick Edward Dobson, Jr. (February 12, 1942 – November 22, 2006) was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers (1967-69), San Diego Padres (1970), Baltimore Orioles (1971-72), Atlanta Braves (1973), New York Yankees (1973-75) and Cleveland Indians (1976-77). He was best known for being one of four Orioles pitchers to win 20 games in their 1971 season.

Born in Depew, New York in 1942. Dobson signed with Detroit in 1959. After spending seven years in the minor leagues and in winter ball, pitching mostly in relief, he made his debut with the big team in the 1967 season. Dobson was traded to San Diego in 1969 and attracted the attention of the Orioles after going 14-15, with 185 strikeouts and a 3.76 earned run average, as the ace staff for the 1970 last-place Padres.

In 1971 Dobson had a winning streak of 12 games (including nine consecutive complete games) and a scoreless inning streak of 23. That September 24, he reached his 20th win, a 7–0 shutout against the Indians. Dobson posted a 20-8, 187, 2.90 season record, and was part of the Orioles' "Big Four" pitching staff along with Dave McNally (21-5), Mike Cuellar (20-9) and Jim Palmer (20-10). Baltimore went on to win 101 games, with the distinction of having four 20-game winners in a season; only one other team in MLB history, the 1920 Chicago White Sox, have had four 20-game winners.

On November 2, 1971, Dobson threw a 2-0 no-hitter against the Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo. It was the first no-hit game in the Japanese-American baseball exhibition history.

Dobson was an All-Star in 1972. His 2.65 ERA was a major improvement from his 20-win season, but he went 16-18, tying for the AL lead in losses. After the season, he was traded to the Braves along with Davey Johnson. Dobson was then sent to the Yankees in mid-1973. The next year he went 19-15 with a 3.07 ERA, the best numbers that year for a Yankee pitcher. After a slumping 11-14, 4.07 in 1975, Dobson was traded to the Indians and recovered with a 16-12, 3.48. After his 3-12, 6.16 record in 1977, he finished his career.

In his 11-season career Dobson had a record of 122-129, with 1301 strikeouts, a 3.54 earned run average, 74 complete games, 14 shutouts, 19 saves, and 2120 innings pitched in 414 games.

In 1997, Dobson joined the San Francisco Giants as an advance scout and assistant to general manager Brian Sabean.

Dobson died from leukemia in 2006 in San Diego, California aged 64.

[edit] See also

• List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
• 1968 Detroit Tigers season

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• ESPN.com - "Former Orioles 20-game winner Dobson dies at 64"