Bobby Wine

Induction Year: 1993

Category: Baseball

Location: Northport

Bobby is a former shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. Born in New York City, he grew up in nearby Long Island and was a keenly-scouted high school baseball player from Northport High School.

Wine was signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent before the 1957 season. He made his major league debut in 1960 when Philadelphia used him in four games, picking up two base hits and fielded at shortstop without an error.

He did not return to the major league squad in the following two seasons, and spent his time in the minors with the International League’s Buffalo Bisons. In both seasons, he finished with fielding percentages above .900.

Wine spent the next 10 seasons, 1963-72, in the major leagues and won a Gold Glove for his excellent play at shortstop for the Phillies. While his hitting lacked any admiration, he was known for his strong arm, high fielding percentages and trickery, having pulled the hidden ball trick on, of all people, the legendary Willie Mays.

Wine became a coach as soon as he was released by the Montreal Expos in 1972, and worked with the Phillies from that year through the 1983 season. It was during this time that the team had gone from terrible to respected, winning National League pennants in 1980 and 1983 and the 1980 World Series.

Wine currently lives with his wife, Fran, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. His son, Robbie, is a former major league catcher and former head baseball coach of Penn State. Wine was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.