Damon Berryhill
Encyclopedia
Damon Scott Berryhill is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
who played ten seasons for the Chicago Cubs
, the Atlanta Braves
, the Boston Red Sox
, the Cincinnati Reds
, and the San Francisco Giants
from to . He threw right and was a switch hitter
. He is currently the manager of the Ogden Raptors
.
Berryhill went to high school at Laguna Beach High School
, and went to college at Orange Coast Community College. He was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox
in the 13th round of the January 1983 amateur draft, but did not sign with them. He played another year at Orange County and was drafted in 1984 by the Chicago Cubs with the 4th pick of the January 1984 amateur draft. He signed with the Cubs on June 2 and began his professional career.
Berryhill began his minor league career in 1984 with the Quad City Cubs, and played 62 games with them. The following season, he played for the Winston-Salem Spirits, Chicago's high A-class affiliate. He continued to move up the ranks in the following seasons, playing for the Pittsfield Cubs in 1986 and the Iowa Cubs
in 1987. He was named to the American Association All-Star team for Iowa after batting .287 and hitting 18 home run
s.
Berryhill was called up to the major leagues at the end of the 1987 minor league season, and made his major league debut on September 5 against the Cincinnati Reds
.
Berryhill was a backup for most of his career. He was selected to the 1988 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster
. He was the most commonly used starting catcher for the division-winning 1989 Chicago Cubs.
He is best known for hitting the winning three-run home run
for the Atlanta Braves
in Game 1 of the 1992 World Series
. The Braves would later lose the series in six games.
In 2008 he managed the Bakersfield Blaze
of the California League
. In 2009 he is the manager of the Ogden Raptors
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
who played ten seasons for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, and the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
from to . He threw right and was a switch hitter
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
. He is currently the manager of the Ogden Raptors
Ogden Raptors
The Ogden Raptors are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League based in Ogden, Utah, United States. The club plays at Lindquist Field, whose view beyond the outfield fence was named the best in professional baseball by a staff writer for Grand Slam Enterprises, INC.The Raptors are one of...
.
Berryhill went to high school at Laguna Beach High School
Laguna Beach High School
Laguna Beach High School is a 4-year public high school located in Laguna Beach, California, United States. It is the only high school in the Laguna Beach Unified School District. It was established in 1934 and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and as well as being...
, and went to college at Orange Coast Community College. He was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the 13th round of the January 1983 amateur draft, but did not sign with them. He played another year at Orange County and was drafted in 1984 by the Chicago Cubs with the 4th pick of the January 1984 amateur draft. He signed with the Cubs on June 2 and began his professional career.
Berryhill began his minor league career in 1984 with the Quad City Cubs, and played 62 games with them. The following season, he played for the Winston-Salem Spirits, Chicago's high A-class affiliate. He continued to move up the ranks in the following seasons, playing for the Pittsfield Cubs in 1986 and the Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
in 1987. He was named to the American Association All-Star team for Iowa after batting .287 and hitting 18 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s.
Berryhill was called up to the major leagues at the end of the 1987 minor league season, and made his major league debut on September 5 against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
Berryhill was a backup for most of his career. He was selected to the 1988 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster
Topps All-Star Rookie Rosters
This is a year-by-year list of the Topps All-Star Rookie teams. Note that players selected for a particular team appear in the following year's set release...
. He was the most commonly used starting catcher for the division-winning 1989 Chicago Cubs.
He is best known for hitting the winning three-run home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in Game 1 of the 1992 World Series
1992 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 17, 1992 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaBraves fans had plenty to worry about in regard to both starting pitchers. Tom Glavine's post-season career had been less than stellar, including giving up eight runs in the second inning of Game 6 of the NLCS...
. The Braves would later lose the series in six games.
In 2008 he managed the Bakersfield Blaze
Bakersfield Blaze
The Bakersfield Blaze are a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and are a farm team of the Cincinnati Reds. The Bakersfield Blaze play their home games at Historic Sam Lynn Ballpark...
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. In 2009 he is the manager of the Ogden Raptors
Ogden Raptors
The Ogden Raptors are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League based in Ogden, Utah, United States. The club plays at Lindquist Field, whose view beyond the outfield fence was named the best in professional baseball by a staff writer for Grand Slam Enterprises, INC.The Raptors are one of...
.