Robert Patrick Jarvis (born
March 18, 1941) is an American former professional baseball player.
He was a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played eight seasons for the Atlanta Braves and the Montreal Expos from 1966 to 1973 in the National League. Jarvis was born in Carlyle, Illinois, and pitched collegiately at Murray State University.
Originally signed by the Chicago Cubs, he was traded to the Braves in 1963 and was
voted that team's top rookie for 1966. Over a four-season span from 1967-70,
Jarvis was one of the National League's top starting pitchers, winning 60
games. He was Atlanta's starting pitcher in Game 3 of the 1969
National League Championship Series, played at Shea Stadium in New York City. A first-inning Hank Aaron home run staked Jarvis to a 2-0 lead, but he
ended up the losing pitcher in a 7-4 defeat to the New York Mets. He won just 19 games in his final three seasons
before ending his career with the Montreal Expos in 1973. Standing 5 feet
10 inches (178 cm) tall and weighing 180 pounds (82 kg), he
gained the nickname "The Little Bulldog" during his time in the major
league. After retiring from baseball, Jarvis served in several government
positions in the state of Georgia, including Sheriff of Dekalb County. In 1999
he was convicted of fraud. He currently runs an organic nursery in Rutledge, Georgia.