Dick Bertell
Encyclopedia
Richard George Bertell was a right-handed professional
baseball
catcher
who played Major League Baseball
for the Chicago Cubs
and San Francisco Giants
from 1960 to 1967. Although he was a light hitter
offensively, he had a strong arm, throwing out 47.74% of the base runners
who tried steal
a base on him, ranking him 4th on the all-time list.
. The Cubs signed him as an undrafted free agent
out of Iowa State University
in . He made his major league debut with the Cubs in the second game of a doubleheader on September 22, 1960
. Though he went hitless, Bertell did knock in a run with a sacrifice fly
in his first at-bat. He recorded his first major league hit three days later, singling off Bob Grim of the St. Louis Cardinals
. He went 2-for-15 in his first season, knocking in two runs in five games.
Bertell found himself in a platoon
role with the Cubs in 1961
, seeing the majority of the playing time (92 games) behind the plate for the hapless Chicago ball club. He hit his first major league home run on July 6 off Pittsburgh's Vinegar Bend Mizell, and, overall, had a decent season at the plate for a catcher. Bertell hit .273 with two home runs and 33 RBI. However, his playing time decreased a bit the next season as the Cubs again stumbled to a ninth-place finish in the National League
. In 77 games, he posted a career-best batting average
of .302 with two home runs and 18 RBIs, and despite playing in fewer than half the team's games, Bertell still played more innings at catcher than anyone else on the 1962
team.
The 1963
season found the Cubs rebounding and posting a winning record for the first time since 1946
. Bertell also saw his playing time increase, his third straight season as the club's starting catcher. He led National League catchers in with a 60.8% baserunners caught stealing
percentage, the twelfth highest single-season total in Major League history. Unfortunately, he could not maintain his previous season's batting prowess, dipping to .233 with 2 home runs and 14 RBI. In 1964
, Bertell had career best totals of doubles (11), triples (3), home runs (4) and RBIs (35), and had a batting average of .238. He also led National League catchers in throwing out
baserunners with 34.
campaign as the Cubs' starting catcher, but fared poorly at the plate, batting just .214 and managing only 2 extra-base hits (both doubles) in 34 games. On May 29, the Cubs traded him along with Len Gabrielson to the San Francisco Giants
in exchange for Harvey Kuenn
, Ed Bailey
, and Bob Hendley
. His playing time significantly decreased with the Giants, as he saw action in just 22 games over the final four months of the season, hitting just .188 as a back up to regular catcher Tom Haller
.
Bertell was under contract with San Francisco in but did not play in the majors. Just prior to the beginning of the 1967
season, the Giants traded him back to the Cubs for Don Bryant
. He played two games with the Cubs, on April 11 and April 12, before being released. His final major league hit was a triple off Hall of Famer Jim Bunning
, Bertell's first triple since 1964.
.
In 2000, Bertell was inducted into the Iowa State Hall of Fame.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
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 Major League Baseball
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...
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...
and 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 1960 to 1967. Although he was a light hitter
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
offensively, he had a strong arm, throwing out 47.74% of the base runners
Baserunning
In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat.In general, baserunning is a tactical part of the game with the goal of eventually reaching home to score a run. In fact, the goal of batting is generally to produce baserunners, or help move...
who tried steal
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
a base on him, ranking him 4th on the all-time list.
Chicago Cubs
Bertell was born in Oak Park, IllinoisOak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb bordering the west side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is the twenty-fifth largest municipality in Illinois. Oak Park has easy access to downtown Chicago due to public transportation such as the Chicago 'L' Blue and Green lines,...
. The Cubs signed him as an undrafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
out of Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
in . He made his major league debut with the Cubs in the second game of a doubleheader on September 22, 1960
1960 Chicago Cubs season
The 1960 Chicago Cubs season involved the Cubs' seventh place finish in the National League with a record of 60-94, 35 games behind the NL and World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates.- Offseason :* October 8, 1959: Randy Jackson was released by the Cubs....
. Though he went hitless, Bertell did knock in a run with a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
in his first at-bat. He recorded his first major league hit three days later, singling off Bob Grim of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He went 2-for-15 in his first season, knocking in two runs in five games.
Bertell found himself in a platoon
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
role with the Cubs in 1961
1961 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season was a season in American baseball. The team finished seventh in the National League with a record of 64-90, 29 games behind the Cincinnati Reds.- The College of Coaches :...
, seeing the majority of the playing time (92 games) behind the plate for the hapless Chicago ball club. He hit his first major league home run on July 6 off Pittsburgh's Vinegar Bend Mizell, and, overall, had a decent season at the plate for a catcher. Bertell hit .273 with two home runs and 33 RBI. However, his playing time decreased a bit the next season as the Cubs again stumbled to a ninth-place finish in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. In 77 games, he posted a career-best batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .302 with two home runs and 18 RBIs, and despite playing in fewer than half the team's games, Bertell still played more innings at catcher than anyone else on the 1962
1962 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 10, 1961: 1961 MLB expansion draft**Don Zimmer was drafted from the Cubs by the New York Mets.**Ed Bouchee was drafted from the Cubs by the New York Mets.* Prior to 1962 season: J. C...
team.
The 1963
1963 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 17, 1962: Don Cardwell, George Altman and Moe Thacker were traded by the Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals for Larry Jackson, Lindy McDaniel, and Jimmie Schaffer....
season found the Cubs rebounding and posting a winning record for the first time since 1946
1946 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* Prior to 1946 season: Hal Jeffcoat was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cubs.- Notable transactions :* June 26, 1946: Heinz Becker was traded by the Cubs to the Cleveland Indians for Mickey Rocco and cash.- Roster :...
. Bertell also saw his playing time increase, his third straight season as the club's starting catcher. He led National League catchers in with a 60.8% baserunners caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
percentage, the twelfth highest single-season total in Major League history. Unfortunately, he could not maintain his previous season's batting prowess, dipping to .233 with 2 home runs and 14 RBI. In 1964
1964 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs finished in eighth place in the National League, as they went 76-86, 17 games behind the NL and World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.- Offseason :...
, Bertell had career best totals of doubles (11), triples (3), home runs (4) and RBIs (35), and had a batting average of .238. He also led National League catchers in throwing out
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
baserunners with 34.
San Francisco Giants
Bertell spent the first two months of the 19651965 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* November 30, 1964: 1964 minor league draft**Bobby Cox was drafted by the Cubs from the Los Angeles Dodgers.**Chris Krug was drafted by the Cubs from the St...
campaign as the Cubs' starting catcher, but fared poorly at the plate, batting just .214 and managing only 2 extra-base hits (both doubles) in 34 games. On May 29, the Cubs traded him along with Len Gabrielson to 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....
in exchange for Harvey Kuenn
Harvey Kuenn
Harvey Edward Kuenn was an American player, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. As a shortstop and outfielder, he played with the Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies . He batted and threw right-handed...
, Ed Bailey
Ed Bailey
Lonas Edgar Bailey, Jr. was an American professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from through . Bailey batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee...
, and Bob Hendley
Bob Hendley
Charles Robert Hendley is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.Born in Macon, Georgia, Hendley was signed by the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1958. After the 1963 season, Hendley was traded to the San Francisco Giants in a six-player deal; one of the three players the Braves...
. His playing time significantly decreased with the Giants, as he saw action in just 22 games over the final four months of the season, hitting just .188 as a back up to regular catcher Tom Haller
Tom Haller
Thomas Frank Haller was an American professional baseball player and baseball executive. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball with the San Francisco Giants , Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers...
.
Bertell was under contract with San Francisco in but did not play in the majors. Just prior to the beginning of the 1967
1967 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs season saw the 87-74 team finish in third place, fourteen games behind the National League and World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.- Offseason :* October 18, 1966: Joey Amalfitano was released by the Cubs....
season, the Giants traded him back to the Cubs for Don Bryant
Don Bryant (baseball)
Donald Ray Bryant was a catcher and coach in Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "Bear" by baseball teammates in homage to University of Alabama football coaching legend Paul "Bear" Bryant...
. He played two games with the Cubs, on April 11 and April 12, before being released. His final major league hit was a triple off Hall of Famer Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
, Bertell's first triple since 1964.
Death
Bertell died on December 20, 1999 in Mission Viejo, CaliforniaMission Viejo, California
Mission Viejo is a city located in southern Orange County, California, U.S. in the Saddleback Valley. Mission Viejo is considered one of the largest master-planned communities ever built under a single project in the United States, and is rivaled only by Highlands Ranch, Colorado, in its size...
.
In 2000, Bertell was inducted into the Iowa State Hall of Fame.