Bob Cluck

Robert Alton Cluck (born January 10, 1946 in San Diego, California) is a former minor league baseball pitcher who later went on to become a scout, a minor league manager and a pitching coach at the major and minor league levels.

Cluck began his playing career in 1967 with the Salt Lake City Giants of the San Francisco Giants organization. In 21 games, he went 3-2 with a 4.20 ERA. He was signed by former Major League Manager Dave Garcia as a first-baseman and pitcher after going 7-3 and hitting .361 his senior year at San Diego State. In 2007 Cluck was inducted into the San Diego State University Hall of Fame. His number 39 was also retired.

From 1968 to 1971, Cluck played in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system. In 1968, he pitched for the Clinton Pilots and Salem Rebels, going a combined 2-2 with a 1.61 ERA in five games started. In 1969, he pitched for the Rebels, going 10-4 with a 2.25 ERA in 20 games (18 starts). He spent the 1970 season with the Waterbury Pirates, going 5-3 with a 3.10 ERA in 22 games (eight starts). With Waterbury again in 1971, he went 2-3 with a 3.80 ERA in 30 games (three starts).

He played in the Houston Astros organization from 1972 to 1975. For the Oklahoma City 89ers in 1972, he went 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA in 46 relief appearances. In 1973, he pitched for the Denver Bears, going 6-3 with a 3.82 ERA in 38 relief appearances. He split the 1974 season between two teams – the Cedar Rapids Astros and the Bears – going a combined 1-3 with a 2.10 ERA in 24 games. He played his final season in 1975, as a Player/Manager for the Dubuque Packers. He finished an eight-year career with a 35-22 record and an ERA of 2.97.

Cluck managed the Dubuque Packers in 1975 and for part of the 1976 season. In 1975, he led them to a record of 58-67, which placed the team seventh in the standings. He was also the manager in 1976. He was a scout and Director of Instruction for the Houston Astros from 1977 to 1981. During the 1979, 1980, and 1981 seasons he held the position of "Interim Major League Pitching Coach" when Pitching Coach Mel Wright developed cancer. With the Astros he signed All-Star Dave Smith (219 career saves).

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