Bobby Knoop
Robert Frank Knoop is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and right-handed batter who played for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals.
Nicknamed "Nureyev" by sportswriters for his exciting and acrobatic fielding plays, Knoop played a deep second base, with exceptional range and a strong arm. He turned the double play well along with shortstop Jim Fregosi, to give the Angels outstanding keystone defense. In 1967, the pair both won the gold glove award at their respective position. As a hitter, he had his best season in 1966 with career-highs of 17 home runs, 72 RBI, 54 runs and 11 triples.
After attending Montebello High School in Montebello, California, Knoop was signed by the Milwaukee Braves in 1956. The Angels obtained him via the Rule 5 draft, by the rules of which he was required to remain on the 1964 major-league roster. He in fact played in every game that season and remained the Angels' regular second baseman for the next five and a half years, winning the club's MVP award four times in the span, a mark tied by Garret Anderson and Mike Trout. Knoop was sent to the White Sox in mid-1969 and then was traded to the Royals in 1971. With Kansas City, he played mostly as a backup for Cookie Rojas.
In his career Knoop batted.236, with 56 home runs, 331 RBIs, 337 runs, 129 doubles, 29 triples, and 16 stolen bases in 1153 games.
After retiring, Knoop worked for over 40 years as a minor league and major league coach, scout and adviser, including stints with the Chicago White Sox, Angels, Toronto Blue Jays and Colorado Rockies. In 1994 Knoop served as manager of the Angels for two games, posting a 1-1 record. In February 2019, Knoop retired from Major League Baseball, after a career that lasted 53 years.
