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Pinetarpress · 01-05-2018, 11:15 AM

Rob Picciolo was the 4th overall pick in the secondary phase of the 1974 draft out of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Ca. A So Cal kid Rob made a quick entrance to the majors when he broke camp as the every day SS for the Oakland A's in 1977 at the age 24. Rob took over at SS for the ever popular Bert "Campy" Campaneris who had moved on to Texas as a free agent. The 1977 A's team was the first year of a long period of bad Oakland baseball after all the great A's players of the early 70's were gone. Picciolo started 121 games at SS and hit and even .200 with a OBP of .218. Rob just did not like to walk...he walked 9 times in 419 at bats and just 25 times in 1628 total big league at bats. In 1978 the A's picked up a new SS in Mario Guerrero and Picciolo played in 78 games as a utility infielder with only 93 at bats he hit .226. In 1979 he regained the SS job for one of the worst baseball teams ever (54-108) and he rewarded the A's with a .253 AVG but only had a .261 OBP....get this "Tony Pena JR approach fans" Rob had 45 k's and 3 bb's in 348 at bats.

In 1980 Picciolo assumed a utility role again backing up Guerrero and a couple of players at 2B. He hit .240 and drew 2 walks in 271 at bats. Rob was the primary SS in the strike shortened 81 season and he had his best offensive year hitting .268 with a .290 OBP.He also played in the post season hitting .250 (2-8) in 3 games during the ALDS and ALCS. In 1982 Rob started out the season in Oakland hitting .224 in 18 games before being traded to the Brewers in May for P Mike Warren (who threw a no hitter as a rookie the same season) Rob played in just 22 games the rest of the season and went 6-21 (he did not play in the post season)

In 1983 at the age of 30 things were not looking good for Rob's career as he played in just 14 games for the Brew Crew going 6-27 (he did not walk) In 1984 after being granted his release Rob latched on with the Angels and had one last shot at glory. He played in 87 games tutoring young SS Dick Schofield JR. and hit .202 but even better some how managed a OBP less than his AVG (.200) I don't even know how that is possible... Rob was released during the winter and played 1985 (his last big league season) for the A's... He hit .275 avg in 102 at bats.

After his playing career Picciolo became the longest-tenured coach in San Diego Padres history, serving 16 consecutive years between 1990 and 2005.

1st big league game: 4.9.77 vs Minn batting 9th 0-4...1st AB ground out 5-3 vs Dave Goltz

1st big league hit: 4.11.77 single off of Nolan Ryan in Oakland

1st big league HR: 4.15.77 in Minn off of Paul Thormodsgard (solo HR)

best big league game: 8.28.79 in Toronto 4-4 with a DB, 2 rbi, 2 RS

loved to face: Mike Flanagan 9-26

hated to face: Dennis Leonard 1-18

01-05-2018, 11:15 AM	#760
Pinetarpress Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 423	Rob Picciolo was the 4th overall pick in the secondary phase of the 1974 draft out of Pepperdine University in Malibu, Ca. A So Cal kid Rob made a quick entrance to the majors when he broke camp as the every day SS for the Oakland A's in 1977 at the age 24. Rob took over at SS for the ever popular Bert "Campy" Campaneris who had moved on to Texas as a free agent. The 1977 A's team was the first year of a long period of bad Oakland baseball after all the great A's players of the early 70's were gone. Picciolo started 121 games at SS and hit and even .200 with a OBP of .218. Rob just did not like to walk...he walked 9 times in 419 at bats and just 25 times in 1628 total big league at bats. In 1978 the A's picked up a new SS in Mario Guerrero and Picciolo played in 78 games as a utility infielder with only 93 at bats he hit .226. In 1979 he regained the SS job for one of the worst baseball teams ever (54-108) and he rewarded the A's with a .253 AVG but only had a .261 OBP....get this "Tony Pena JR approach fans" Rob had 45 k's and 3 bb's in 348 at bats. In 1980 Picciolo assumed a utility role again backing up Guerrero and a couple of players at 2B. He hit .240 and drew 2 walks in 271 at bats. Rob was the primary SS in the strike shortened 81 season and he had his best offensive year hitting .268 with a .290 OBP.He also played in the post season hitting .250 (2-8) in 3 games during the ALDS and ALCS. In 1982 Rob started out the season in Oakland hitting .224 in 18 games before being traded to the Brewers in May for P Mike Warren (who threw a no hitter as a rookie the same season) Rob played in just 22 games the rest of the season and went 6-21 (he did not play in the post season) In 1983 at the age of 30 things were not looking good for Rob's career as he played in just 14 games for the Brew Crew going 6-27 (he did not walk) In 1984 after being granted his release Rob latched on with the Angels and had one last shot at glory. He played in 87 games tutoring young SS Dick Schofield JR. and hit .202 but even better some how managed a OBP less than his AVG (.200) I don't even know how that is possible... Rob was released during the winter and played 1985 (his last big league season) for the A's... He hit .275 avg in 102 at bats. After his playing career Picciolo became the longest-tenured coach in San Diego Padres history, serving 16 consecutive years between 1990 and 2005. 1st big league game: 4.9.77 vs Minn batting 9th 0-4...1st AB ground out 5-3 vs Dave Goltz 1st big league hit: 4.11.77 single off of Nolan Ryan in Oakland 1st big league HR: 4.15.77 in Minn off of Paul Thormodsgard (solo HR) best big league game: 8.28.79 in Toronto 4-4 with a DB, 2 rbi, 2 RS loved to face: Mike Flanagan 9-26 hated to face: Dennis Leonard 1-18 Last edited by Pinetarpress; 01-05-2018 at 11:17 AM.