Pat Borders

Last updated

Pat Borders
1995 Pat Borders.jpg
Borders with the Kansas City Royals in 1995
Catcher
Born: (1963-05-14) May 14, 1963 (age 61)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 6, 1988, for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
July 27, 2005, for the Seattle Mariners
Men's baseball
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2000 Sydney Team

Patrick Lance Borders (born May 14, 1963) is an American former professional baseball player and current minor league manager. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1988 to 2005. He was the Most Valuable Player of the 1992 World Series as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. Borders also won an Olympic gold medal with the United States baseball team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. He is the current manager of the Williamsport Crosscutters of the New York–Penn League.

Contents

Early years

Borders was born in Columbus, Ohio, but spent the majority of his childhood in Lake Wales, Florida, where he currently resides. [1] He attended Lake Wales High School and was a standout in both football and baseball. He batted .440 as a junior, and as a senior he batted .510 with a school single season record 10 home runs and 36 RBI. Although he was offered a football/baseball scholarship to Mississippi State University, he turned it down to sign with the Blue Jays, who had drafted him in the sixth round of the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft.[ citation needed ]

Professional career

Borders was brought up in the Toronto Blue Jays system and made his major league debut in 1988, playing in 56 games. Initially playing first and third base, he was converted to a catcher as his defense was deemed not strong enough to keep him in the majors. Over the next few seasons, he earned the full-time position behind the plate, and he was a cornerpiece of the 1992 and 1993 World Series champion teams. In the 1992 Series, he hit .450 with one home run and three runs batted in; his batting average led the team among regular hitters and second overall to Deion Sanders (who batted in only four games). [2] When the Jays won the series, Borders was named the World Series MVP, becoming the sixth catcher (and the first since 1983) to win the award along with the last catcher to win it until 2015. [3] On September 2, 1990, while with the Blue Jays, Borders caught Dave Stieb's no-hitter—the only one in franchise history to date. [4]

Borders left the Jays as a free agent after the 1994 season, but never found a permanent home like Toronto had been for him in his seven years there. Over the following decade he played for the Kansas City Royals (1995), Houston Astros (1995), St. Louis Cardinals (1996), California Angels (1996), Chicago White Sox (1996), Cleveland Indians (1997-1999), returned to Toronto in 1999, Seattle Mariners (2001-2004), Minnesota Twins (2004), and again with the Mariners (2005), never playing in more than 55 games for any one team during a season.

Borders was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers to a minor league contract after the 2004 season. On May 19, 2005, he was acquired by Seattle from the Brewers for cash considerations and was assigned to Triple-A Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League. With Seattle's primary catcher Miguel Olivo struggling, and losing backup catcher Dan Wilson to an injury, Borders became Seattle's primary catcher for most of the first half of the 2005 season. Seattle designated him for assignment shortly after the All-Star Break to make room for some younger prospects. During his time in Triple-A Tacoma for the Mariners, Borders stated that he would rather remain in Triple-A, because he was closer to his family, enjoyed the lifestyle, and had enough money.

On January 25, 2006, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Borders to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. On May 27, he announced his retirement. [5] Borders finished his career with a .253 batting average, 69 home runs, and 346 runs batted in in 1,099 games.

Borders is one of only five players to have won both a World Series championship and an Olympic gold medal, along with Doug Mientkiewicz and Cuban players Orlando Hernandez, Jose Contreras and Yuli Gurriel.

Post-retirement

On August 7, 2009, the Blue Jays held a pre-game ceremony at the Rogers Centre recognizing members of the 1992 and 1993 World Series teams, including Borders. As part of the event, Borders caught the ceremonial first pitch from Cito Gaston, then in his second stint as Blue Jays manager after leading the team to both Series titles. [6]

In June 2015, Borders began his first season as manager of the Williamsport Crosscutters, the Philadelphia Phillies’ short-season single A affiliate. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Molitor</span> American baseball player and manager (born 1956)

Paul Leo Molitor, nicknamed "Molly" and "the Ignitor", is an American former professional baseball player and manager. During his 21-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB), he played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1978–1992), Toronto Blue Jays (1993–1995), and Minnesota Twins (1996–1998). He was known for his exceptional hitting and speed. He made seven All-Star Game appearances, and was the World Series Most Valuable Player in 1993. Molitor currently ranks tenth on the all-time MLB career hits list with 3,319. He is one of only five players in history with 3,000+ hits, a lifetime .300+ batting average, and 500+ career stolen bases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Olerud</span> American baseball player (born 1968)

John Garrett Olerud, Jr. is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1989 through 2005, most notably as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays team that won two consecutive World Series championships in 1992 and 1993. He also played for the New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox.

Edward Nelson Sprague Jr. is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman. He played 11 seasons in the major leagues from 1991 to 2001, with six different teams. He later served as the head baseball coach of the NCAA's Pacific Tigers for 12 seasons, from 2004 to 2015. He is now the Oakland Athletics Director of Player Development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernie Whitt</span> American baseball player (born 1952)

Leo Ernest Whitt is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), including twelve for the Toronto Blue Jays, and was the last player from the franchise's inaugural season of 1977 to remain through 1989. Whitt was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie O'Brien</span> American baseball player (born 1960)

Charles Hugh O'Brien is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Oakland Athletics (1985), Milwaukee Brewers (1987–90), New York Mets (1990–93), Atlanta Braves (1994–95), Toronto Blue Jays (1996–97), Chicago White Sox (1998), Anaheim Angels (1998–99) and Montreal Expos (2000).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rich Gedman</span> American baseball player (born 1959)

Richard Leo Gedman is an American professional baseball coach and former catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox (1980–1990), Houston Astros (1990–1991), and St. Louis Cardinals (1991–1992). He currently serves as hitting coach with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox of the International League. Listed at 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) and 210 pounds (95 kg), he batted left-handed and threw right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mickey Morandini</span> American baseball player (born 1966)

Michael Robert "Mickey" Morandini, is an American former professional baseball second baseman and coach, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Toronto Blue Jays. His career highlights include selection as a 1995 National League (NL) All-Star, playing for the Phillies in the 1993 NL Championship Series and World Series, and appearing for the Cubs in the 1998 NL Division Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gene Tenace</span> American baseball player and manager (born 1946)

Fury Gene Tenace, better known as Gene Tenace, is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher and first baseman in Major League Baseball from 1969 through 1983, most notably as a member of the Oakland Athletics dynasty that won three consecutive World Series championships between 1972 and 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Woodward</span> American baseball player and coach (born 1976)

Christopher Michael Woodward is an American former professional baseball utility player, coach and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Seattle Mariners, and Boston Red Sox, from 1999 through 2012. He then served as a coach for the Mariners and Los Angeles Dodgers, from 2014 through 2018 and managed the Texas Rangers from 2019 to 2022. He is currently a special assistant and roving instructor for the Dodgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Burroughs</span> American baseball player (born 1951)

Jeffrey Alan Burroughs is an American former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1970 through 1985, for the Washington Senators / Texas Rangers (1970–76), Atlanta Braves (1977–80), Seattle Mariners (1981), Oakland Athletics (1982–84) and Toronto Blue Jays (1985).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Meacham</span> American baseball player (born 1960)

Robert Andrew Meacham is an American former professional baseball shortstop, who spent his entire six-year big league playing career with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). Since retiring from active play, Meacham has managed and coached for several organizations in the majors and minors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casey Candaele</span> American baseball player (born 1961)

Casey Todd Candaele is an American former utility player and professional baseball coach. His mother, Helen Callaghan St. Aubin and her sister, Marge Callaghan, played for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, which was depicted in the movie A League of Their Own. Candaele and his mother represent the only mother/son combination to have both played professional baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John McLaren (baseball)</span> American baseball coach and manager

John Lowell McLaren is an American former professional baseball coach and manager. He is best known for his brief tenure as manager of the Seattle Mariners, from July 1, 2007 to June 19, 2008. A native of the Houston, Texas area, McLaren was a catcher in the Houston Astros minor league system from 1970 to 1976, and later managed in the Toronto Blue Jays minor league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Hassey</span> American baseball player and coach (born 1953)

Ronald William Hassey is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher for the Cleveland Indians (1978–1984), Chicago Cubs (1984), New York Yankees (1985–1986), Chicago White Sox (1986–1987), Oakland Athletics (1988–1990), and Montreal Expos (1991). Hassey is notable for being the only catcher in MLB history to have caught more than one perfect game. Hassey joined Gus Triandos as the only catchers in MLB history to have caught a no-hitter in both leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Stinson (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1945)

Gorrell Robert Stinson III is a former switch-hitting catcher in Major League Baseball from 1969-1980. Stinson played for six major league franchises, most notably the Seattle Mariners.

The 1992 Major League Baseball season saw the Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Atlanta Braves in the World Series, becoming the first team outside the United States to win the World Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dusty Wathan</span> American baseball player and coach (born 1973)

Dustin James Wathan is an American former professional catcher who played for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 2002, and who is currently the third base coach for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a former manager of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Phillies in the International League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Williamsport Bills</span> Minor league baseball team

The Williamsport Bills were a Class AA Eastern League baseball affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, and New York Mets from 1987 to 1991 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in the United States. They played their games in Bowman Field, which is currently home to the Williamsport Crosscutters, a charter member of the MLB Draft League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Halman</span> Dutch baseball player (1987–2011)

Gregory Anthony Halman was a Dutch professional baseball outfielder. He played with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB) during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. He also played internationally with the Netherlands national team in the 2007 European Baseball Championship and 2009 World Baseball Classic (WBC). He died in Rotterdam in November 2011 after being stabbed at his brother's house. His brother, Jason Halman, was arrested in connection with the stabbing but was acquitted on the grounds of temporary insanity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rafael Marchán</span> Venezuelan baseball catcher (born 1999)

Rafael Alejandro Marchán is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Marchan signed with the Phillies organization as an amateur free agent in 2015, at age 16. Originally an infielder, he converted to catcher and impressed scouts and coaches early in his minor league career with his prowess on defense.

References

  1. ↑ "Portsmouth Daily Times - Murals welcome newest addition". Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  2. ↑ https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1992_WS.shtml
  3. ↑ Kahrl, Christina (November 2, 2016). "Royals catcher Salvador Pérez named World Series MVP". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Toronto Blue Jays 3, Cleveland Indians 0". www.retrosheet.org.
  5. ↑ "Pat Borders transactions". thebaseballcube.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2009.
  6. ↑ "Blue Jays' reunion ends on sour note". CBC News. August 8, 2009.
  7. ↑ Jake Kaplan (January 27, 2015). "As manager of Phils' Williamsport affiliate, '92 World Series MVP Pat Borders to impart experience". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.