| Bob Heise | |
| Caption: | Heise with the Boston Red Sox in 1976 |
| Position: | Infielder |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Birth Date: | 12 May 1947 |
| Birth Place: | San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | September 12 |
| Debutyear: | 1967 |
| Debutteam: | New York Mets |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | October 1 |
| Finalyear: | 1977 |
| Finalteam: | Kansas City Royals |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .247 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 1 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 86 |
| Teams: |
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Robert Lowell Heise (born May 12, 1947) is an American former professional baseball infielder, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for seven teams, from 1967 to 1977.
Heise was a "military brat" born in San Antonio, Texas, but he spent most of his youth in California. As a junior at Vacaville High School in Vacaville, California, he was part of the Bulldogs team that won the Golden Empire League championship. Heise's American Legion Post 165 team, coached by his father, William, won the league championship in . In February 1965, Heise signed as an amateur free agent with the New York Mets.
Heise was a Western Carolinas League All-Star with the Greenville Mets in, earning a September callup in . In his major league debut, he collected his first hit, a single off Atlanta Braves pitcher Jay Ritchie, and was promptly caught stealing.[1] Overall, Heise batted .323 in his first major league season.
He spent in the minors with the AAA Jacksonville Suns, splitting his time evenly between second base and shortstop in Jacksonville. He received a second September callup to the majors, mostly playing shortstop.
Heise was part of a proposed trade package along with Ed Kranepool and Amos Otis when the Mets attempted to acquire the Braves' Joe Torre who went to the St. Louis Cardinals for Orlando Cepeda instead.[2] He spent playing shortstop for the triple A Tidewater Tides. He joined the Mets once again that September, going 3-for-10 in four games, but was not added to the postseason roster. Heise was sent along with Jim Gosger from the Mets to the San Francisco Giants for Ray Sadecki and Dave Marshall on December 12, 1969.[3]
Heise enjoyed his first full season in the majors in . He spent most of the season backing up Hal Lanier at short until an injury to Ron Hunt made him the starting second baseman for the month of September. That year, Heise got a career-high 22 runs batted in (RBI) over 154 at bats. He also hit his first career triple[4] and only career home run, on June 25 and 30, respectively.[5]
Heise had played in thirteen games, going hitless in 11 at bats when he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Floyd Wicker on June 1, .[6] Upon his arrival in Milwaukee, Heise took over as the Brewers' starting shortstop.
Heise began seeing more playing time at third base in . The move allowed Heise to attain career-highs in games (95) and ABs (271).
Heise’s playing time was significantly cut in, due to many new acquisitions by the Brewers, including Don Money, Tim Johnson, and Pedro García.. He appeared in 49 games, batting .204. He was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Tom Murphy on December 8, 1973.[7]
Heise spent the majority of his time with the Cardinals organization with the AAA Tulsa Oilers, with his only trial being in all three games of a series against the Houston Astros in July. Heise was then dealt to the California Angels for a player to be named later.
While with the California Angels, Heise saw action in 29 games backing up second and third base.
Heise was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Tommy Harper at the Winter Meetings on December 2, 1974.[8]
Heise batted .214 with 21 RBI in . Though he was on the Red Sox post season roster, he did not appear in any post season games.
Though Heise was healthy throughout the season, he saw incredibly limited action. Heise appeared in only 32 games, and logged just 61 plate appearances.
On December 6, 1976, Heise was purchased by the Kansas City Royals.
Heise saw limited playing time in Kansas City in (54 games played). He was released by the Royals in January 1978, and subsequently retired from active play, at the age of 30.
| Games | PA | AB | Runs | Hits | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | HBP | Avg. | Slg. | Fld% | |
| 499 | 1,232 | 1,144 | 104 | 283 | 43 | 3 | 1 | 86 | 3 | 47 | 77 | 6 | .247 | .293 | .960 |