Bob played high school baseball for Garfield High in the early 1940s. As a dominating pitcher, he threw no-hitters and was All-City, All-District while leading his team to being the Regional Champs. He lettered at the University of Akron as both pitcher and catcher and set a record striking out 15 batters in 7 innings.

Bob pitched for the Dayton Indians, a Cleveland Pro-Class A farm team, the Zanesville Indians, and in the Iola Kansas League. He pitched several years for the U.S. Navy team in Manilla and played many years in local amateur baseball leagues.