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]
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