- Mike Fitzgerald (catcher)
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For other people of the same name, see Mike Fitzgerald (disambiguation).
Mike Fitzgerald Catcher Born: July 13, 1960
Long Beach, CaliforniaBatted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut September 13, 1983 for the New York Mets Last MLB appearance October 4, 1992 for the California Angels Career statistics Batting average .235 Home runs 48 Runs batted in 293 Teams - New York Mets (1983–1984)
- Montreal Expos (1985–1991)
- California Angels (1992)
Career highlights and awards - 1984 Baseball Digest Rookie All-Star team
Michael Roy Fitzgerald (born July 13, 1960 in Long Beach, California), is a former professional baseball player.[1] He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1983 to 1992 for the New York Mets, the Montreal Expos and the California Angels.[1]
Contents
Major League career
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 1986 with a .282 batting average, 6 home runs and 37 runs batted in.[1] In October 1991, the Expos granted Fitzgerald free agency and in February of 1992, he signed a contract to play for the California Angels.[8] After one year as the Angels starting catcher, he retired as a player.[1]
Career statistics
In a 10 year 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 career with a .988 fielding percentage.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Mike Fitzgerald at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1978 Major League Baseball Draft 6th Round at www.thebaseballcube.com
- ^ Home Run In First At Bat at Baseball Almanac
- ^ Homered in First At Bat at The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers
- ^ 1984 National League Fielding Leaders at Baseball Reference
- ^ Baseball Digest May 2007, Vol. 99, No. 6, ISSN 0005-609X
- ^ Rookie of the Year Winners at The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers
- ^ a b Mike Fitzgerald Trades and Transactions at Baseball Almanac
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
- Baseball Almanac
- Retrosheet
Categories:- People from Long Beach, California
- Major League Baseball catchers
- Baseball players from California
- New York Mets players
- Montreal Expos players
- California Angels players
- Little Falls Mets players
- Lynchburg Mets players
- Alexandria Dukes players
- Tidewater Tides players
- Indianapolis Indians players
- New Orleans Zephyrs players
- 1960 births
- Living people
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