Former Mets Coach: Bobby Wine (1993-1996)

Robert Paul Wine was born on September 17, 1938 in New York City. The sure handed short stop was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1958 making his MLB debut in 1960 getting two hits in four at bats. He spent the next two seasons back in the minors becoming the Phillies regular short stop from 1962-1965.

With his exceptional range & strong arm Wine won the gold glove award in 1963. He also led all short stops in fielding percentage in 1962 (.979%) & 1967(.980%). He would be in the top five in that category six times in his career.

Wine once pulled the famous hidden ball trick on Willie Mays and tagged him out at second base. In 1966 he lost his job to the 1960 league MVP Dick Groat, but returned to the main shortstop position again in 1967.

Wine was never a great hitter, having career highs in HRs (6) & RBIs (44) in his first full season. He hit below .200 in 1967-1968 and was then traded to the expansion Montreal Expos in 1969. That year he led all shortstops in errors (31) and hit just .200.

The next year he played the most games at short stop (159) and turned over a then record 137 double plays. He had career highs at the plate in hitting (.232) hits (116) doubles (21) at bats (501) & RBIs (51). He then posted the third best fielding percentages in the league in both 1970 & 1971. Wine was Montreal’s main shortstop until Tim Foli arrived from the New York Mets in 1972.

At the plate in his career, Wine only hit 30 HRs but five of them were off Hall of Fame pitchers. In a 12 year career he was a lifetime .215 hitter with 682 hits, 104 doubles, 30 HRs & 268 RBIs. At short stop he only made 141 errors in 4869 chances posting a .971 fielding % (67th all time).


Retirement: After his playing days he coached with the Phillies from 1973 through 1983. He was with the team going from last place in their dismal 1972 season to their World Series win in 1980. He moved to coach with the Atlanta Braves from 1985-1990 serving as interim manager briefly in 1985, going 16-25 in that role.


He came aboard the New York Mets coaching staff in 1993 with his old pal, Dallas Green whom he had coached for in Philadelphia. Wine stayed on board the Mets staff for four seasons until Bobby Valentine arrived in 1996. 

After that job, Wine became a very successful scout with the Atlanta Braves reporting directly to manager Bobby Cox during the Braves glory years.

Family: Bobby Wine's son Robbie Wine, was a catcher briefly with the Houston Astros in 1986. His grandson Corey Wine was drafted by the Phillies in 2009 but never made the big leagues.