Bob Carothers was the all-state starting shortstop for Abilene High’s baseball team that was state runner-up in 1955 and won back-to-back state championships in 1956 and 1957. He led the district in home runs as a junior and senior. Kansas City A’s scout Buster Mills, a BCAHOF member, discovered Carothers, who signed a three-year contract with the A’s. Carothers saw 30 innings with the major leaguers as an 18-year-old during spring training, but was sent to the minors after suffering a knee injury. In 1959, Carothers led the Sophomore League in five offensive categories and had the top fielding percentage of all shortstops. He played for professional teams with the California State League in Visalia and the Sophomore League’s Albuquerque Dukes in 1960. In his final game with the Dodgers, Carothers hit two home runs against the Dodgers’ top Triple A team, but decided to retire from baseball and returned to Baylor to finish his degree.
