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| Bob Ojeda | |
|---|---|
| Name | Bob Ojeda |
| Position | Pitcher |
| Bats | Right |
| Throws | Left |
| Birth date | 12 February 1957 |
| Birth place | Brooklyn, New York |
| Debutleague | MLB |
| Debutdate | May 14 |
| Debutyear | 1980 |
| Debutteam | New York Mets |
| Finalleague | MLB |
| Finaldate | October 6 |
| Finalyear | 1995 |
| Finalteam | Boston Red Sox |
| Stat1label | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value | 126–117 |
| Stat2label | Earned run average |
| Stat2value | 3.62 |
| Stat3label | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value | 1,406 |
| Highlights | * World Series champion (1986) * All-Star selections |
Bob Ojeda
Robert Joseph Ojeda (born February 12, 1957) is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher, coach, and broadcaster. He played in MLB for the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees from 1980 to 1995, and was a member of the Mets' 1986 World Series. Ojeda later served in coaching and media roles with several Major League Baseball organizations and regional sports networks.
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Jackson Heights, Ojeda attended Flushing High School (Queens) where he pitched for the baseball team and played alongside peers from the New York City high school circuit. He progressed through local amateur summer leagues and area showcases that fed talent to college programs and professional scouts from franchises such as the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox. Ojeda was signed as an amateur free agent by the New York Mets and advanced through the minor league system, including stops with the Little Falls Mets, Lynchburg Mets, and Jackson Mets before earning a call to the major league roster. His amateur development was influenced by instructors and scouts affiliated with organizations like the Baseball Winter Meetings and the Major League Baseball Draft pathway.
Ojeda made his MLB debut with the New York Mets in 1980 and established himself as a rotation starter during the early 1980s, competing in the National League East against teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Montreal Expos. He missed time due to injury but returned to play key roles in Mets pitching staffs under managers including Davey Johnson. Traded to the Boston Red Sox in 1986, Ojeda contributed to a pennant-winning rotation that faced the Minnesota Twins in the American League and later helped the Red Sox reach the World Series—notably earning wins in postseason appearances that season. His career thereafter included stints with the Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and a final run with the New York Yankees and a return to the Boston Red Sox before retiring in 1995. Throughout his career Ojeda played during eras shaped by labor events like the 1981 Major League Baseball strike and managerial changes involving figures such as Buck Showalter, Tommy Lasorda, and Joe Torre.
Ojeda was a left-handed pitcher known for his mix of a fastball, slider, and changeup, relying on control and pitch sequencing to neutralize hitters from lineups including sluggers like Mike Schmidt, Dale Murphy, and Cal Ripken Jr.. His career statistics include a 126–117 win–loss record, a 3.62 earned run average, and 1,406 strikeouts across more than 2,200 innings, with seasonal peaks that placed him among top National League starters in ERA and wins. Advanced metrics from retrospectives compare his value to contemporaries such as Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling, and David Cone, reflecting contributions to Mets rotation depth and Boston's postseason push. Ojeda made use of pitching strategies emphasized by coaches in the 1980s and 1990s, aligning with evolving analytics later adopted by teams like the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers.
After retiring as a player, Ojeda transitioned to coaching and broadcasting, serving on staff with organizations including the Boston Red Sox and working in player development roles that collaborated with minor league affiliates like the Pawtucket Red Sox and Binghamton Mets. He worked as a pitching coach and adviser for several clubs and was employed by regional sports networks covering teams such as the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, appearing on broadcasts alongside commentators from networks like NESN and SNY. Ojeda also provided analysis for national platforms during postseason coverage and participated in instructional programs run by entities such as USA Baseball and winter leagues in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.
Ojeda has resided in the New York metropolitan area and maintained ties to community programs and alumni events connected to former teammates from the 1986 New York Mets and other eras. His family life includes relatives who participated in local athletics and community organizations in Queens, and he has been involved in charity appearances for causes supported by MLB alumni associations and foundations like the Baseball Assistance Team.
Ojeda is remembered for his role on the 1986 World Series champion Mets and for a durable major league career that spanned three decades of Major League Baseball history. He has been honored at team alumni events hosted by the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox and is cited in retrospectives alongside pitchers such as Sid Fernandez and Jon Matlack when discussing left-handed starters of the 1980s. His career is documented in statistical repositories and histories of the period, and he remains a frequent interview subject for oral histories about the 1980s and early 1990s era of professional baseball.
Category:1957 births Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Boston Red Sox players Category:New York Mets players Category:Living people