Robert Sr. was an engineer for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, hauling coal, iron ore and limestone, and Agnes was a stay-at-home mom.

Among his teammates were future Seattle Mariners pitcher Bob Galasso and first baseman Jim Braxton, who went on to have an eight-year career in the National Football League with the Buffalo Bills.

[4] He had ten assists from the outfield in just 537 innings, and was named to the Topps Rookie All-Star team at shortstop despite the fact that he only appeared in 53 games at short.

On April 20, the New York Yankees' Sparky Lyle struck Bailor out for the first time in his major league career.

[7] Bailor's production declined in 1979, as he batted only .229 with 1 home run and 38 RBI in 130 games, however, his fifteen assists from right field tied Dwight Evans for the most in the American League.

On December 12, the Blue Jays traded Bailor to the New York Mets for pitcher Roy Lee Jackson.

Bailor spent a month on the disabled list with a rib cage injury, and was used sparingly his first season in New York, appearing in 51 games and logging just 81 at-bats.

He then tore the cartilage in his right knee during batting practice on August 12 requiring arthroscopic surgery that pretty much ended his season.

In 1985, Bailor hit .246 with 0 HR and 7 RBI in 74 games with Los Angeles, helping the team reach the post-season.

Bailor's .310 batting average with the expansion Toronto Blue Jays broke Rusty Staub's record[clarification needed] set in 1969 with the Montreal Expos (.302).

"[12] Shortly after his release from the Dodgers, Bailor was offered a player-coach position with Toronto's triple A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs.

Post-baseball, Bailor split his time between Connellsville and Palm Harbor, Florida, where he pursued his hobbies of fishing and hunting.