No TCL player means more to a team than Bob Graber

By Jack Lapos
Of The Morning Call


Just how valuable is Bob Graber to the Upper Perkiomen Chiefs in the Tri- County Baseball League?

"I don't think there is a player in the entire league who means more to a team than Bob does," says Manager Bill Solivan.

That's quite a statement but Solivan says he means every word of it.

One can understand how Solivan feels by watching the 6-foot-2, 190- pound, 22-year-old Graber in action whether he is pitching or playing third base.

He was so impressive as a pitcher and hitter in the league's recent all- star game at Limeport that he was named MVP for the contest which saw 47 players display their talents.

Actually, being saluted for outstanding play is nothing new to Graber.

The Pottstown native, who now lives in Pennsburg, was a standout in basketball and baseball at Upper Perkiomen High School and then continued to sparkle at Kutztown University. Two years ago he spent a summer with the Allentown Wings of the Atlantic Collegiate League and posted a 7-0 record.

For some reason or other, none of the scouts came forward and no contracts were offered and the young, ambitious Graber obviously was downcast about it. He has hoped for many years now to get into professional baseball and try to prove himself in a big league team's system.

"Scouts just don't seem to come around to watch anymore," Graber told Neighbors.

This season he is going great guns as expected with the Upper Perk Chiefs. Going into the middle of July he had a 6-0 pitching record and a .420 batting average. He bats left but throws right. He has an impressive assortment of fastballs, curves, sliders and forkballs.

Bob, an electrician in his dad's Graber Wiring business in Pennsburg, is enjoying himself in the Tri-County League.

"It is a competitive, well-balanced league and most of the players are cordial," Graber pointed out. "We have a good time." He said he is happy playing for Solivan. "Bill knows what he is doing . . . handles the team well . . . keeps everybody happy by making sure nobody sits on the bench a whole game."

Upper Perk won 14 of its first 19 games and was hot in pursuit of frontrunning Gilbertsville in the Southern Division at this writing. Graber feels Upper Perk will get into the playoffs and make a good accounting of itself.

When Bob is not working in the family business or playing baseball he divides his recreational time between playing golf and watching the Phillies on TV or in the stands at Veterans Stadium. He also likes to hunt and fish and plays a lot of basketball during the off- season to stay in shape.

His biggest fans are his parents, who can be seen rooting for the Upper Perk team at home and away games. Bob Sr. played baseball years ago both in Bally and East Greenville as a first baseman.

Bob notes that the Upper Perk team is a tight-knit group. "Just about everybody has known everybody else for many years and that means a friendly atmosphere . . . and don't think we don't play hard to win . . . there is a lot of team pride involved."



  

From The Morning Call -- July 26, 1984

Copyright © 1984, The Morning Call