Bailor signed with the Orioles upon graduation from Geibel Catholic in. He was immediately a utility player, playing the outfield, second base, third base, shortstop and even pitching for one game in his first professional season with the Bluefield Orioles. In with the Aberdeen Pheasants, Bailor led the Class ANorthern League with a.340 batting average. In, he led the Class A California League with 63 stolen bases. Eventually, he began playing more and more shortstop by the time he debuted with the Baltimore Orioles in September. He started both games of a September 28 doubleheader with the New York Yankees, one at short and the other at second, and collected his first major league hit off Larry Gura in the second game. He returned to the triple ARochester Red Wings in, and again received a call up to the majors that September. In total, Bailor batted.288 with twelve home runs and 201 runs batted in over seven seasons in the Orioles' farm system. He was three-for-thirteen with no home runs or RBIs at the major league level.
After the Seattle Mariners selected Ruppert Jones from the Kansas City Royals with the first overall pick in the expansion draft, the Toronto Blue Jays made Bailor the second overall pick. Despite the fact that he did not have an everyday position, Bailor appeared in 122 games, and logged 523 plate appearances his rookie season in Toronto. He led the team in hits, stolen bases, runs scored, and his.310 batting average set an expansion team record. He had ten assists from the outfield in just 537 innings, and was named to the ToppsRookie All-Star team at shortstop despite the fact that he only appeared in 53 games at short. On April 20, the New York Yankees' Sparky Lyle struck Bailor out for the first time in his major league career. Bailor had batted a record 51 times before striking out for the first time. In and, Bailor emerged as the Jays' regular right fielder, though he still played many different positions. In 1978, he drove in a career high 52 runs while striking out only 21 times in 621 at-bats. He was named the Blue Jays Player of the Year for the first two years of the franchise's existence. Bailor's production declined in 1979, as he batted only.229 with 1 home run and 38 RBI in 130 games, however, his fifteen assists from right field tied Dwight Evans for the most in the American League. In, Bailor lost his job in right field to Lloyd Moseby, and was used as a fourth outfielder. He also appeared in three games as a relief pitcher, allowing two earned runs in 2.1 innings pitched. On December 12, the Blue Jays traded Bailor to the New York Mets for pitcher Roy Lee Jackson.
New York Mets
Bailor spent a month on the disabled list with a rib cage injury, and was used sparingly his first season in New York, appearing in 51 games and logging just 81 at-bats. He went into Spring training competing for either of the two middle infield positions, and began the season competing with Wally Backman and Tom Veryzer for playing time at second base. With both Bailor and Backman batting over.300 at the end of May, Bailor began seeing more playing time at short and third base. He ended the season with 404 plate appearances, his most since 1979. He also stole a career-high 20 bases, and led the National League with an 87% stolen base percentage. He began the season as the Mets' starting shortstop. For the season, he appeared in 118 games, his highest total since 1979. On December 8, Bailor and pitcher Carlos Diaz were shipped to the Dodgers for Sid Fernandez and Ross Jones.
Bailor's first season in Los Angeles started late and ended early due to injuries. He dislocated his left shoulder during Spring training, causing him to miss the first month of the season. He then tore the cartilage in his right knee during batting practice on August 12 requiring arthroscopic surgery that pretty much ended his season. He ended the season hitting.275 with 0 HR and 8 RBI in just 65 games. In 1985, Bailor hit.246 with 0 HR and 7 RBI in 74 games with Los Angeles, helping the team reach the post-season. In the 1985 NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals, Bailor got into two games, going hitless in one at-bat, as the Dodgers lost to the Cardinals. On April 2, 1986, the Dodgers released Bailor.
Career stats
Games
PA
AB
Runs
Hits
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SB
BB
SO
Avg.
OBP
AB/SO
Fld%
IP
ERA
955
3206
2937
339
775
107
23
9
222
90
187
164
.264
.310
17.9
.974
1.2
7.71
Bailor's.310 batting average with the expansion Toronto Blue Jays broke Rusty Staub's record set in 1969 with the Montreal Expos. The two were teammates on the New York Mets from 1981 to 1983. Bailor wore number 4 with the Mets, Staub's number during his first tenure with the club. Though he proved to be one of the great utility players of his era, Bailor never liked the term. "It sounds like a guy who changes light bulbs."
Management
Shortly after his release from the Dodgers, Bailor was offered a player-coach position with Toronto's triple A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs. He turned the position down in order to spend time with his newborn child, Robert Michael, Jr. A year later, he accepted a position with the organization managing the Florida State League's Dunedin Blue Jays. Bailor went on to manage Syracuse from to, and was named International LeagueManager of the Year as he led the Chiefs to a first-place finish. From until, Bailor served as a coach with the Toronto Blue Jays.
