Bob Knepper

Infobox MLB retired
name=Bob Knepper
position=Pitcher
bats=Left
throws=Left
birthdate=birth date and age|1954|5|24
Akron, Ohio
debutdate=September 10
debutyear=by|1976
debutteam=San Francisco Giants
finaldate=June 24
finalyear=by|1990
finalteam=San Francisco Giants
stat1label=Wins-Loss record
stat1value=146-155
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=3.68
stat3label=Strike outs
stat3value=1,473
teams=
* San Francisco Giants (by|1976-by|1980, by|1989-by|1990)
* Houston Astros (by|1980-by|1989)
highlights=
* 2x All-Star selection (1981, 1988)
* 1981 NL Comeback Player of the Year

Robert Wesley Knepper (born May 24 1954 in Akron, Ohio) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball with a 15-year career from 1976 to 1990. He played for the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros, both of the National League.

He was voted to the National League All-Star team twice (1981 and 1988).

He led the National League in Shutouts in 1978 (6) and 1986 (5), Hit Batsmen in 1980 (8) and Losses in 1987 (17).

Knepper is often remembered for his negative side. His comments concerning Pam Postema, a female AAA umpire officiating a Major League spring training game, were particularly offensive:

:"I just don’t think a woman should be an umpire. There are certain things a woman shouldn’t be and an umpire is one of them. It’s a physical thing. God created women to be feminine. I don’t think they should be competing with men. It has nothing to do with her ability. I don’t think women should be in any position of leadership. I don’t think they should be presidents or politicians. I think women were created not in an inferior position, but in a role of submission to men. You can be a woman umpire if you want, but that doesn’t mean it’s right. You can be a homosexual if you want, but that doesn’t mean that’s right either." [cite web|title=Baseball Reliquary: Tribute to Pam Postema|url=http://www.baseballreliquary.org/postema.htm]

As were his comments concerning the National Organization for Women:

:"They are a bunch of lesbians. Their focus has nothing to do with women's rights. It has everything to do with women wanting to be men." [cite web|title="New York Times" article "Sports People; Knepper Speaks" June 16, 1988|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEED8153BF935A25755C0A96E948260]

He was not fined nor suspended for his remarks. At the time players were not punished merely for voicing controversial opinions. It wasn't until Bud Selig assumed the acting commissioners role in 1993 that he started implementing political correctness in MLB, and punishing baseball personalities Marge Schott, John Rocker, and others who have made disparaging remarks against women, minorities, gays etc, or voiced unpopular opinions.

Knepper followed up his controversial comments in 1988 by having one of his best seasons in his career, and was selected to the National League All-Star Team. During player introductions at the game in Cincinnati, he was loudly booed by the fans.

References

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins

External links

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