Mike Fitzgerald | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Catcher | |
Born: Long Beach, California, U.S. | July 13, 1960|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 13, 1983, for the New York Mets | |
Last MLB appearance | |
October 4, 1992, for the California Angels | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .235 |
Home runs | 48 |
Runs batted in | 293 |
Teams | |
Michael Roy Fitzgerald (born July 13,1960) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1983 through 1992 for the New York Mets,Montreal Expos and California Angels. [1]
Fitzgerald was selected by New York Mets in the 6th round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft. [2] He made his major league debut with the New York Mets on September 13,1983. [1] Fitzgerald hit a home run in his first major league at bat,becoming the 57th player in major league history to accomplish the feat. [3] [4] In 1984,he led National League catchers in range factor and fielding percentage,becoming only the fourth catcher in major league history to win a fielding title in his rookie year. [5] [6] Fitzgerald was selected as the catcher for the 1984 Baseball Digest Rookie All-Star team,and for the 1984 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster. [7]
On December 14,1984,the New York Mets traded Fitzgerald along with Hubie Brooks,Herm Winningham and minor league pitcher Floyd Youmans to the Montreal Expos for catcher Gary Carter. [8] He became the Expos starting catcher,posting his best offensive year in its 1986 season with a .282 batting average,six home runs and 37 runs batted in. [1] In October 1991,the Expos granted Fitzgerald free agency;he signed to play for the California Angels in their 1992 season. [8] After one year as the Angels' starting catcher,he retired as a player. [1]
In a ten-year major league career,Fitzgerald played in 848 games,accumulating 545 hits in 2316 at bats for a .235 career batting average along with 48 home runs and 293 runs batted in. [1] He ended his catching career with a .988 fielding percentage. [1]
Gary Edmund Carter was an American professional baseball catcher whose 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career was spent primarily with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. Nicknamed "The Kid" for his youthful exuberance,Carter was named an All-Star 11 times,and was a member of the 1986 World Series Champion Mets.
Joseph Paul Torre Jr. is an American professional baseball executive and former player,manager,and television color commentator. He has served as a special assistant to the Commissioner of Baseball since 2020. He previously served in the capacity of Major League Baseball's (MLB) chief baseball officer from 2011 to 2020. Torre ranks fifth all-time in MLB history with 2,326 wins as a manager. With 2,342 hits during his playing career,Torre is the only major leaguer to achieve both 2,000 hits as a player and 2,000 wins as a manager. From 1996 to 2007,he was the manager of the New York Yankees,and guided the team to six American League (AL) pennants and four World Series championships.
Hubert "Hubie" Brooks is an American former professional baseball right fielder,third baseman,and shortstop. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1980 to 1994 for the New York Mets,Montreal Expos,Los Angeles Dodgers,California Angels,and Kansas City Royals. Brooks was selected third overall in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Mets and went on to play for five different teams over a 15-year career,and was twice named an All-Star. MLB pitcher Donnie Moore was Brooks' cousin.
Jesús Manuel Marcano Trillo,nicknamed "Indio",is a Venezuelan former professional baseball second baseman,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics (1973–1974),Chicago Cubs,Philadelphia Phillies (1979–1982),Cleveland Indians (1983),Montreal Expos (1983),San Francisco Giants (1984–1985),and Cincinnati Reds (1989). A four-time All-Star,he was the Phillies' starting second baseman when the franchise won its first World Series Championship in 1980. He was known as one of the best fielding second basemen of his era,with a strong throwing arm.
Henry Ramón Blanco is a Venezuelan professional baseball coach and former player. He is currently the catching and strategy coach for the Washington Nationals. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2013,appearing for the Los Angeles Dodgers,Colorado Rockies,Milwaukee Brewers,Atlanta Braves,Minnesota Twins,Chicago Cubs,San Diego Padres,New York Mets,Arizona Diamondbacks,Toronto Blue Jays,and Seattle Mariners. He later served as quality assurance coach for the Cubs. Although a light-hitting player,he was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers in Major League Baseball.
Andrés JoséPadovani Galarraga is a Venezuelan former professional baseball first baseman,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Montreal Expos,St. Louis Cardinals (1992),Colorado Rockies (1993–1997),Atlanta Braves (1998–2000),Texas Rangers (2001),San Francisco Giants and Anaheim Angels (2004). He batted and threw right-handed. During his playing days,Galarraga stood 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall,weighing 235 pounds (107 kg).
Gerald Wayne Grote was an American professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball from 1963 through 1981 for the Houston Colt .45s,New York Mets,Los Angeles Dodgers,and Kansas City Royals.
Charles Edward Johnson Jr. is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball with the Florida Marlins,the Los Angeles Dodgers (1998),the Baltimore Orioles (1999–2000),the Chicago White Sox (2000),the Colorado Rockies (2003–2004),and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2005).
Guillermo Montañez Naranjo is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball first baseman,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the California Angels (1966),Philadelphia Phillies,San Francisco Giants (1975–1976),Atlanta Braves (1976–1977),New York Mets (1978–1979),Texas Rangers (1979),San Diego Padres (1980),Montreal Expos (1980–1981),and Pittsburgh Pirates (1981-1982). He batted and threw left-handed.
Brian Duncan Schneider,nicknamed "Hoops",is an American former professional baseball catcher and coach,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals,New York Mets,and Philadelphia Phillies. Schneider was the Miami Marlins catching coach from 2016 through 2019,and the quality control coach for the Mets from 2020 through 2021.
Jody Richard Davis is an American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. He was a catcher in Major League Baseball with the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves from 1981 to 1990. A two-time National League All-Star,Davis won the 1986 National League Gold Glove Award.
Ted Lyle Simmons is an American former professional baseball player and coach. A switch-hitter,Simmons was a catcher for most of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the St. Louis Cardinals (1968–1980),the Milwaukee Brewers (1981–1985) and the Atlanta Braves (1986–1988). Although he was often overshadowed by his contemporary,Johnny Bench,Simmons is considered one of the best hitting catchers in MLB history. While his power numbers paled in comparison to Bench,Simmons still managed to hit for a higher batting average despite playing home games in a notoriously tough hitter's park.
James Howard Sundberg is an American former professional baseball player,television sports analyst and executive. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1974 to 1989,most prominently as a member of the Texas Rangers where he established himself as one of the top defensive catchers of his era. A three-time All-Star player,Sundberg won six consecutive Gold Glove Awards during his tenure with the Rangers. Later in his career,he won a World Series championship as a member of the Kansas City Royals in 1985. He also played for the Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs. Sundberg was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2003.
Gus Triandos was an American professional baseball player and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher and a first baseman,most prominently as a member of the Baltimore Orioles where he was a four-time All-Star player. He also played for the New York Yankees,Baltimore Orioles,and the Detroit Tigers of the American League (AL) and the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros of the National League (NL). In 1981,he was inducted into the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame.
Manuel De Jesus Sanguillén Magan is a Panamanian former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher in 1967 and from 1969 through 1980,most notably as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates teams that won five National League Eastern Division titles in six years between 1970 and 1975 and won the World Series in 1971 and 1979,twice over the Baltimore Orioles. He also played one season for the Oakland Athletics.
Harold Delano "Butch" Wynegar Jr. is an American former professional baseball catcher who played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Minnesota Twins,New York Yankees and California Angels,and was a two-time All Star.
Barry Clifton Foote is an American former professional baseball player,scout,coach,and minor league manager. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Montreal Expos (1973–1977),Philadelphia Phillies (1977–1978),Chicago Cubs (1979–1981),and New York Yankees (1981–1982). Although he was highly regarded as a younger player,he suffered numerous injuries and played most of his baseball career as a reserve player.
Edward Martin Herrmann was an American professional baseball player born in San Diego,California. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago White Sox,the New York Yankees,the California Angels,the Houston Astros and the Montreal Expos from 1967 through 1978. He batted left and threw right handed.
David Martin Rader is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1971 through 1980,with the San Francisco Giants (1971–1976),St. Louis Cardinals (1977),Chicago Cubs (1978),Philadelphia Phillies (1979) and Boston Red Sox (1980). He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
Timothy P. Blackwell is an American former professional baseball player,coach,and minor league manager. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1983 for the Boston Red Sox,Philadelphia Phillies,Chicago Cubs,and Montreal Expos. He was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed. Blackwell was known as a light-hitting,defensive specialist with good pitch-calling skills and possessed a strong,accurate throwing arm.