Earl Battey
Encyclopedia
Earl Jesse Battey, Jr. was an American
professional
baseball
player. He played in Major League Baseball
as a catcher
for the Chicago White Sox
(1955–1959), the Washington Senators (1960) and the Minnesota Twins
(1961–1967). In the early 1960s, Battey was one of the top catchers in the American League
, winning three consecutive Gold Glove Award
s between and .
, Battey attended Jordan High School in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was signed as an amateur free agent
by the Chicago White Sox prior to the 1953
season. Battey was assigned to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
in the Single-A Western League
where he began his baseball career by hitting only a .158 batting average
in 26 games. The White Sox demoted him to the Waterloo White Hawks
in the B-level Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League
and Battey responded with a .292 average and 11 home run
s in 129 games. In , Battey was promoted to the Triple-A
Charleston Senators
in the American Association
where, he hit for a .269 batting average along with 8 home runs and 71 runs batted in. His performance earned him a promotion to the major leagues where he made his debut with the White Sox on September 10, 1955
at the age of 20.
Battey returned to the minor leagues in 1956
, playing in 36 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite hitting only .178, he played well defensively. The White Sox called him back to the major leagues to backup starting catcher, Sherm Lollar
, for the remainder of the season although, he spent the time on the bench and would only play in four games. Battey continued to learn from the perrenial All-Star, Lollar during the 1957
season but struggled offensively. He was sent back to the minor leagues in August where he would hit 9 home runs and 20 runs batted in for the Triple-A Los Angeles Angels
of the Pacific Coast League
. The White Sox recalled Battey to the major leagues in September - this time to stay.
Battey would hit .226 along with 8 home runs in 1958
as, the White Sox would battle back from being in last place on June 14 to finish the season in second place behind the New York Yankees
. In 1959
he was overtaken by rookie Johnny Romano
as the second string catcher, ending the year hitting .219 in 26 games. Although the White Sox won the American League pennant, Battey wouldn't appear in the post-season as the White Sox lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 1959 World Series
.
Realizing they had a logjam at catcher with the veteran, and still productive, Lollar, the impressive rookie Romano, and the still valuable as a defensive backup Battey, White Sox owner and general manager, Bill Veeck
, would solve his problem in two deals that would show immediate dividends for the White Sox, but would be long term disasters. On December 6, 1959, Veeck traded Romano, rookie first baseman Norm Cash
, and utility man Bubba Phillips
to the Cleveland Indians
for outfielder Minnie Minoso, catcher Dick Brown
, pitcher Don Ferrarese
, and minor league pitcher Jake Striker
. Then on April 4, 1960, Veeck would ship Battey, first baseman Don Mincher
, and $150,000 to the Washington Senators for veteran first baseman Roy Sievers
. Although both Sievers and Minoso would combine for three 20-homerun seasons, two All-Star
appearances, one Gold Glove award in 1960
and 1961
with the White Sox, the rest of the players the team received in trade were largely of the replacement level. Conversely the young players that the Sox parted with to get these veteran, namely Battey, Mincher, Romano, and Cash, would all sparkle, and account for 17 20-homerun seasons, four 30-homerun seasons, one 40-homerun season, 12 all-star team selections, three Gold Gloves (all by Battey), and would garner Most Valuable Player support in numerous seasons. Meanwhile the catcher that the White Sox chose to keep, Lollar, would go into decline after 1959, be relegated to a backup role in 1962
, and would retire after the 1963
season, leaving the White Sox with an underwhelming starter catcher, including a two-year return of an aging Romano in 1965
, before regaining some form of stability behind the plate in 1969
with Ed Herrmann
(who would go on to lead the American League in passed balls in four of his six full season with the Sox).
and putout
s for four consecutive years from to but, it would be offensively where Battey would shine and start hitting as he had done in the minor leagues. Battey would go on to play in a then-career high 137 games and hit .270, with 15 homeruns and 60 RBI. He would also earn his first Gold Glove Award and finish eighth in the 1960 American League Most Valuable Player Award. In October, Battey was named to the United Press International's American League All-Star team.
Prior to the 1961
season, the Senators relocated to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area and were renamed the Minnesota Twins. Battey would team with future Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew
, future MVP Zoilo Versalles
, and All-Stars Bob Allison
, Camilo Pascual
, and Jim Kaat
to form the nucleus of a pennant-winning team in Minnesota. Building on his breakout 1960 season, Battey ended 1961 with a .302 batting average, sixth best in the American League, and won his second Gold Glove Award.
Battey was recognized as one of the top catchers in the major leagues when he was selected to be the starting catcher for the American League in the 1962 All-Star Games. He was the Twins catcher on August 26, 1962
, when pitcher Jack Kralick
threw a no-hitter
. Battey appeared in a career-high 148 games and ended the season with a .280 batting average, highest among major league catchers. He also set a record for major league catchers by picking off 15 base runners
as he won his third consecutive Gold Glove Award. The Twins, long an American League doormat while in Washington, would finish a surprising second in the American League standings with 91 wins (5 games behind the World Series winning New York Yankees
.
Battey would have his finest season at the plate in 1963
, hitting .285 while setting career highs in home runs (26), RBI (84), and slugging percentage (.476). He would also be voted to his second straight All-Star team (where he would collect his only all-star hit, a third inning single that scored Boston Red Sox
third baseman Frank Malzone
from secondbase to tie the game at 3-3), and finish seventh in the American League Most Valuable Player Award balloting (behind Killebrew and winner and fellow catcher Elston Howard
). The Twins would again finish with 91 wins but, this time it would put them no better than third place, 15½ games behind the World Series runner-up Yankees. Both Battey and the Twins would take a step backward in 1964
with the team struggling to a 79 win, sixth-place finish in the American League while Battey would hit .272 with 12 home runs and 51 RBI in 131 games.
Battey recovered in 1965
and was hitting near .300 at mid-season when he received the most All-Star votes by an American League player for the 1965 All-Star Game
which was played in his home ball park, Metropolitan Stadium
. He was one of six Twins to appear in the 1965 mid-season classic (with Versalles, Killebrew, Jimmie Hall
, Mudcat Grant
, and Tony Oliva
). Battey was an integral member of the Twins team that went on to clinch the American League pennant, hitting for a .297 batting average and finished in tenth place in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award (with teammate Versalles winning and six Twins finishing in the top 15). He started every game in the 1965 World Series
but only hit for a .120 average with 2 RBI and only one extra base hit as the Twins lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers
in a seven-game series.
With 1965 showing Battey in decline in every offensive category besides batting average, the 1966
season would confirm that the rigors of catching were taking a toll as Battey would hit .255 with 4 home runs and 31 RBI while playing in only 115 games, his lowest total since his backup days in Chicago. Despite this, Battey would be voted to his fourth and last All-Star game, coming into the game in the bottom of the sixth inning for starter, Tiger catcher Bill Freehan
.
The 1967
season would be Battey's last as he battled a thyroid condition that caused him to gain weight. He would appear in only 48 games and hit for just a .165 average. The Twins could probably have used his bat that season as the team's three catchers, Battey, Jerry Zimmerman
, and Russ Nixon
, combined to only hit .176 and the Twins went 2-5 in late September and lost the pennant to the Red Sox in the last game of the season.
, accumulating 969 hits
in 3,586 at bats for a .270 career batting average along with 104 homeruns and 449 RBI. He led the American League four times in assists and putouts, three times in baserunners caught stealing
and twice in caught stealing percentage, with a career fielding percentage
of .990. A four-time All-Star, Battey won three Gold Glove Awards. Over his career, he threw out 43.44% of the base runners who tried to steal
a base on him, 15th on the all-time list. In , the reigning American League stolen base champion, Luis Aparicio
, rated Battey as the toughest catcher on which to attempt a stolen base.
Richard Kendall of the Society for American Baseball Research
devised an unscientific study that ranked Battey as the seventh most dominating fielding catcher in major league history. Battey played more games at catcher than any other player in Twins history (831). He was named to the Twins' 40th anniversary team in 2000. Battey was one of the first Major League players to wear an earflap on his batting helmet in 1961 after twice suffering broken cheekbones when hit by pitches.
.
Battey was also part of a charity program sponsored by Consolidated Edison
whereby children were given free bleacher tickets to New York Yankee
games. He talked baseball and was a "big brother" to all the kids who were lucky enough to benefit from the program. Battey died of cancer
at the age of 68 in Ocala, Florida.
In , Battey was post-humously elected to the Twins Hall of Fame. In , the Twins celebrated their 50th season in Minnesota and Battey was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Twins Players.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
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...
player. He played in 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...
as a 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...
for 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...
(1955–1959), the Washington Senators (1960) and the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1961–1967). In the early 1960s, Battey was one of the top catchers in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, winning three consecutive Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
s between and .
White Sox
Born in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, Battey attended Jordan High School in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was signed as an amateur 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....
by the Chicago White Sox prior to the 1953
1953 Chicago White Sox season
The 1953 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 53rd season in the major leagues, and its 54th season overall. They finished with a record 89-65, good enough for third place in the American League, 11.5 games behind the first place New York Yankees....
season. Battey was assigned to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
in the Single-A Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
where he began his baseball career by hitting only a .158 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 :...
in 26 games. The White Sox demoted him to the Waterloo White Hawks
Waterloo White Hawks
Based in Waterloo, Iowa, the Waterloo White Hawks were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1946 to 1956. They played in the Three-I League and were affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. They played their home games at Riverfront Stadium....
in the B-level Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League
Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League
The Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League was a minor league baseball organization that operated for the better part of 60 years, mostly in those three states. It was popularly known as the Three-I League and also sometimes jokingly as the Three-Eye League....
and Battey responded with a .292 average and 11 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 in 129 games. In , Battey was promoted to the Triple-A
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Charleston Senators
Charleston Senators
The Charleston Senators were an American minor league baseball team based in Charleston, West Virginia. They were the first professional baseball team to play in Charleston, beginning play in 1910. The team was inactive during a few periods, playing their last game in 1960....
in the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
where, he hit for a .269 batting average along with 8 home runs and 71 runs batted in. His performance earned him a promotion to the major leagues where he made his debut with the White Sox on September 10, 1955
1955 Chicago White Sox season
The 1955 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 55th season in the major leagues, and its 56th season overall. They finished with a record 91-63, good enough for third place in the American League, 5 games behind the first place New York Yankees....
at the age of 20.
Battey returned to the minor leagues in 1956
1956 Chicago White Sox season
The 1956 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 56th season in the major leagues, and its 57th season overall. They finished with a record 85-69, good enough for third place in the American League, 12 games behind the first place New York Yankees....
, playing in 36 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Despite hitting only .178, he played well defensively. The White Sox called him back to the major leagues to backup starting catcher, Sherm Lollar
Sherm Lollar
John Sherman Lollar was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , St. Louis Browns , and the Chicago White Sox...
, for the remainder of the season although, he spent the time on the bench and would only play in four games. Battey continued to learn from the perrenial All-Star, Lollar during the 1957
1957 Chicago White Sox season
The 1957 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 57th season in the major leagues, and its 58th season overall. They finished with a record 90-64, good enough for second place in the American League, 8 games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
season but struggled offensively. He was sent back to the minor leagues in August where he would hit 9 home runs and 20 runs batted in for the Triple-A Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels (PCL)
The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. The White Sox recalled Battey to the major leagues in September - this time to stay.
Battey would hit .226 along with 8 home runs in 1958
1958 Chicago White Sox season
The 1958 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 58th season in the major leagues, and its 59th season overall. They finished with a record 82-72, good enough for second place in the American League, 10 games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
as, the White Sox would battle back from being in last place on June 14 to finish the season in second place behind the New York Yankees
1958 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 56th season for the team in New York, and its 58th season overall. The team finished with a record of 92-62, winning their 24th pennant, finishing 10 games ahead of the Chicago White Sox. In the World Series, they defeated the Milwaukee Braves in 7 games. New...
. In 1959
1959 Chicago White Sox season
The Chicago White Sox season was the team's 59th season in the major leagues, and its 60th season overall. They finished with a record 94-60, good enough to win the American League championship, five games ahead of the second place Cleveland Indians...
he was overtaken by rookie Johnny Romano
Johnny Romano
John Anthony Romano Jr. is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Cardinals . He threw and batted right-handed...
as the second string catcher, ending the year hitting .219 in 26 games. Although the White Sox won the American League pennant, Battey wouldn't appear in the post-season as the White Sox lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers
1959 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished in a first-place tie with the Milwaukee Braves, then won the pennant as they swept the Braves in a best-of-three playoff series. They went on to defeat the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series in just their second season since leaving Brooklyn.- Offseason :*...
in the 1959 World Series
1959 World Series
The 1959 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers beating the American League champion Chicago White Sox, four games to two. It was the first pennant for the White Sox in 40 years . They would have to wait until 2005 to win another championship...
.
Realizing they had a logjam at catcher with the veteran, and still productive, Lollar, the impressive rookie Romano, and the still valuable as a defensive backup Battey, White Sox owner and general manager, Bill Veeck
Bill Veeck
William Louis Veeck, Jr. , also known as "Sport Shirt Bill", was a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a franchise owner and promoter in Major League Baseball. He was best known for his publicity stunts to raise attendance. Veeck was at various times the owner of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis...
, would solve his problem in two deals that would show immediate dividends for the White Sox, but would be long term disasters. On December 6, 1959, Veeck traded Romano, rookie first baseman Norm Cash
Norm Cash
Norman Dalton Cash was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Detroit Tigers...
, and utility man Bubba Phillips
Bubba Phillips
John Melvin "Bubba" Phillips was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball who attended the University of Southern Mississippi...
to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for outfielder Minnie Minoso, catcher Dick Brown
Dick Brown (baseball)
Richard Ernest Brown was a catcher in American Major League Baseball during the 1950s and 1960s. The native of Shinnston, West Virginia, attended Florida State University and batted and threw right-handed...
, pitcher Don Ferrarese
Don Ferrarese
Donald Hugh "Midget" Ferrarese is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1955 to 1962 with the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals. A left-handed thrower, he threw right-handed. An attendant of St...
, and minor league pitcher Jake Striker
Jake Striker
Wilbur Scott "Jake" Striker is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played in and with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox....
. Then on April 4, 1960, Veeck would ship Battey, first baseman Don Mincher
Don Mincher
-External links:***...
, and $150,000 to the Washington Senators for veteran first baseman Roy Sievers
Roy Sievers
Roy Edward Sievers is a former first baseman/left fielder in Major League Baseball. From through , Sievers played for the St. Louis Browns , the original Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Phillies , and finally the new Senators...
. Although both Sievers and Minoso would combine for three 20-homerun seasons, two All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
appearances, one Gold Glove award in 1960
1960 Chicago White Sox season
The 1960 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 60th season in the major leagues, and its 61st season overall. They finished with a record 87-67, good enough for third place in the American League, 10 games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
and 1961
1961 Chicago White Sox season
The 1961 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 61st season in the major leagues, and its 62nd season overall. They finished with a record 86-76, good enough for fourth place in the American League, 23 games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
with the White Sox, the rest of the players the team received in trade were largely of the replacement level. Conversely the young players that the Sox parted with to get these veteran, namely Battey, Mincher, Romano, and Cash, would all sparkle, and account for 17 20-homerun seasons, four 30-homerun seasons, one 40-homerun season, 12 all-star team selections, three Gold Gloves (all by Battey), and would garner Most Valuable Player support in numerous seasons. Meanwhile the catcher that the White Sox chose to keep, Lollar, would go into decline after 1959, be relegated to a backup role in 1962
1962 Chicago White Sox season
The 1962 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 62nd season in the major leagues, and its 63rd season overall. They finished with a record 85-77, good enough for fifth place in the American League, 11 games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
, and would retire after the 1963
1963 Chicago White Sox season
The 1963 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 63rd season in the major leagues, and its 64th season overall. They finished with a record 94-68, good enough for second place in the American League, 10½ games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
season, leaving the White Sox with an underwhelming starter catcher, including a two-year return of an aging Romano in 1965
1965 Chicago White Sox season
The 1965 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 65th season in the major leagues, and its 66th season overall. They finished with a record 95-67, good enough for second place in the American League, 7 games behind the first-place Minnesota Twins....
, before regaining some form of stability behind the plate in 1969
1969 Chicago White Sox season
The 1969 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 69th season in the major leagues, and its 70th season overall. They finished with a record 68-94, good enough for fifth place in the newly-established American League West, 29 games behind the first-place Minnesota Twins.The White Sox nearly left...
with Ed Herrmann
Ed Herrmann
Edward Martin Herrmann is a former American professional baseball player. He played in the Major Leagues as a catcher for the Chicago White Sox, the New York Yankees, the California Angels, the Houston Astros and the Montreal Expos from 1967 to 1978...
(who would go on to lead the American League in passed balls in four of his six full season with the Sox).
Senators/Twins
Battey became the starting catcher for the Senators and began to show his defensive abilities, leading the American League in assistsAssist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s for four consecutive years from to but, it would be offensively where Battey would shine and start hitting as he had done in the minor leagues. Battey would go on to play in a then-career high 137 games and hit .270, with 15 homeruns and 60 RBI. He would also earn his first Gold Glove Award and finish eighth in the 1960 American League Most Valuable Player Award. In October, Battey was named to the United Press International's American League All-Star team.
Prior to the 1961
1961 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins season was a season in American baseball. The team finished with a record of 70-90, seventh in the American League, which had expanded from 8 to 10 teams during the 1960-61 offseason. It was the franchise's first season in Minnesota after 60 seasons in Washington, D.C....
season, the Senators relocated to the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area and were renamed the Minnesota Twins. Battey would team with future Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Killebrew
Harmon Clayton Killebrew , nicknamed "Killer" and "Hammerin' Harmon", was an American professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. During his 22-year career in Major League Baseball , he played for the Washington Senators, a team which later became the Minnesota Twins, and...
, future MVP Zoilo Versalles
Zoilo Versalles
Zoilo Casanova Versalles Rodriguez , nicknamed "Zorro", was a Cuban shortstop in Major League Baseball, who was considered a solid leadoff man, and a good baserunner whose speed helped him to cover a huge area at shortstop...
, and All-Stars Bob Allison
Bob Allison
William Robert "Bob" Allison was born in Raytown, Missouri and was a Major League Baseball outfielder and right-handed batter who played in the American League for the Washington Senators / Minnesota Twins from to ....
, Camilo Pascual
Camilo Pascual
Camilo Alberto Pascual is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During an 18-year baseball career , he played for the Washington Senators , the second Washington Senators franchise, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Cleveland Indians...
, and Jim Kaat
Jim Kaat
James Lee "Jim" Kaat , nicknamed "Kitty", is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins , Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Phillies , New York Yankees , and St...
to form the nucleus of a pennant-winning team in Minnesota. Building on his breakout 1960 season, Battey ended 1961 with a .302 batting average, sixth best in the American League, and won his second Gold Glove Award.
Battey was recognized as one of the top catchers in the major leagues when he was selected to be the starting catcher for the American League in the 1962 All-Star Games. He was the Twins catcher on August 26, 1962
1962 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins improved to 91-71, finishing second in the American League. 1,433,116 fans attended Twins games, the second highest total in the American League.- Offseason :...
, when pitcher Jack Kralick
Jack Kralick
John Francis Kralick , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1959 to 1967. He participated in 235 games in the course of an eight-year career that included stints with the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians...
threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
. Battey appeared in a career-high 148 games and ended the season with a .280 batting average, highest among major league catchers. He also set a record for major league catchers by picking off 15 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...
as he won his third consecutive Gold Glove Award. The Twins, long an American League doormat while in Washington, would finish a surprising second in the American League standings with 91 wins (5 games behind the World Series winning New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
.
Battey would have his finest season at the plate in 1963
1963 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins finished 91-70, third in the American League. 1,406,652 fans attended Twins games, the highest total in the American League.-Offseason:* November 5, 1962: Rudy May was signed as an amateur free agent by the Twins....
, hitting .285 while setting career highs in home runs (26), RBI (84), and slugging percentage (.476). He would also be voted to his second straight All-Star team (where he would collect his only all-star hit, a third inning single that scored 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"...
third baseman Frank Malzone
Frank Malzone
Frank James Malzone is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and right-handed slugger who played for the Boston Red Sox and California Angels ....
from secondbase to tie the game at 3-3), and finish seventh in the American League Most Valuable Player Award balloting (behind Killebrew and winner and fellow catcher Elston Howard
Elston Howard
Elston Gene Howard was an American Negro League and Major League Baseball catcher, left fielder and coach. During a 14-year baseball career, he played from 1955–1968, primarily for the New York Yankees...
). The Twins would again finish with 91 wins but, this time it would put them no better than third place, 15½ games behind the World Series runner-up Yankees. Both Battey and the Twins would take a step backward in 1964
1964 Minnesota Twins season
After winning 91 games the previous two seasons, the Minnesota Twins slumped to 79-83, a disappointing tie for sixth with the Cleveland Indians in the American League, 20 games behind the AL champion New York Yankees.- Offseason :...
with the team struggling to a 79 win, sixth-place finish in the American League while Battey would hit .272 with 12 home runs and 51 RBI in 131 games.
Battey recovered in 1965
1965 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins won the 1965 American League pennant with a 102-60 record. It was the team's first pennant since moving to Minnesota, and the 102 wins was a team record.- Regular season :...
and was hitting near .300 at mid-season when he received the most All-Star votes by an American League player for the 1965 All-Star Game
1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1965 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 36th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 13, 1965 at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota...
which was played in his home ball park, Metropolitan Stadium
Metropolitan Stadium
Metropolitan Stadium was a sports stadium that once stood in Bloomington, Minnesota, just outside Minneapolis. The area where the stadium once stood is now the site of the Mall of America...
. He was one of six Twins to appear in the 1965 mid-season classic (with Versalles, Killebrew, Jimmie Hall
Jimmie Hall
Jimmie Randolph Hall is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and left-handed batter who played for the Minnesota Twins , California Angels , Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves .-Minor league career:After attending Belmont High School and playing...
, Mudcat Grant
Mudcat Grant
James Timothy "Mudcat" Grant is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Los Angeles Dodgers , Montreal Expos , St. Louis Cardinals , Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates...
, and Tony Oliva
Tony Oliva
Tony Pedro Oliva is a former Major League Baseball right fielder and designated hitter. He played his entire 15-year baseball career for the Minnesota Twins . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
). Battey was an integral member of the Twins team that went on to clinch the American League pennant, hitting for a .297 batting average and finished in tenth place in voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award (with teammate Versalles winning and six Twins finishing in the top 15). He started every game in the 1965 World Series
1965 World Series
The 1965 World Series featured the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers against the American League champion Minnesota Twins, who had won their first pennant since 1933 when the team was known as the Washington Senators...
but only hit for a .120 average with 2 RBI and only one extra base hit as the Twins lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers
1965 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished the regular-season with a 97–65 record, which earned them the NL pennant by just two games over their arch-rivals, the San Francisco Giants...
in a seven-game series.
With 1965 showing Battey in decline in every offensive category besides batting average, the 1966
1966 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins finished 89-73, second in the American League. 1,259,374 fans attended Twins games, the second highest total in the American League.-Regular season:...
season would confirm that the rigors of catching were taking a toll as Battey would hit .255 with 4 home runs and 31 RBI while playing in only 115 games, his lowest total since his backup days in Chicago. Despite this, Battey would be voted to his fourth and last All-Star game, coming into the game in the bottom of the sixth inning for starter, Tiger catcher Bill Freehan
Bill Freehan
William Ashley Freehan is a former professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers...
.
The 1967
1967 Minnesota Twins season
The Minnesota Twins finished 91-73, tied for second in the American League with the Detroit Tigers. The Twins had a one-game lead with two games remaining, but lost both games to the Boston Red Sox in the season's final days...
season would be Battey's last as he battled a thyroid condition that caused him to gain weight. He would appear in only 48 games and hit for just a .165 average. The Twins could probably have used his bat that season as the team's three catchers, Battey, Jerry Zimmerman
Jerry Zimmerman
Gerald Robert Zimmerman was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds and the Minnesota Twins from 1961 to 1968...
, and Russ Nixon
Russ Nixon
Russell Eugene Nixon is a former catcher, coach and manager in American Major League Baseball. A veteran of 55 years in professional baseball, Nixon has managed at virtually every level of the sport, from the lowest minor league to MLB assignments with the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves...
, combined to only hit .176 and the Twins went 2-5 in late September and lost the pennant to the Red Sox in the last game of the season.
Career statistics
In a 13 year career, Battey played in 1,141 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 969 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 3,586 at bats for a .270 career batting average along with 104 homeruns and 449 RBI. He led the American League four times in assists and putouts, three times in 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...
and twice in caught stealing percentage, with a career fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
of .990. A four-time All-Star, Battey won three Gold Glove Awards. Over his career, he threw out 43.44% of the base runners who tried to 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, 15th on the all-time list. In , the reigning American League stolen base champion, Luis Aparicio
Luis Aparicio
Luis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel is a former shortstop in professional baseball. His career in Major League Baseball spanned three decades, from through . Aparicio played for the Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
, rated Battey as the toughest catcher on which to attempt a stolen base.
Richard Kendall of the Society for American Baseball Research
Society for American Baseball Research
The Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
devised an unscientific study that ranked Battey as the seventh most dominating fielding catcher in major league history. Battey played more games at catcher than any other player in Twins history (831). He was named to the Twins' 40th anniversary team in 2000. Battey was one of the first Major League players to wear an earflap on his batting helmet in 1961 after twice suffering broken cheekbones when hit by pitches.
Post-retirement
After his playing career, he next spent 12 years working in New York City as a recreation specialist with young disturbed boys. Fulfilling a promise he had made to his mother, Battey enrolled at Bethune-Cookman University in 1980. Taking 34 credits a semester, he finished his undergraduate degree in Education in 2½ years, while coaching the boys basketball team, and was accorded the distinction of Summa Cum Laude honors. After graduating from Bethune-Cookman, he became a high school teacher and baseball coach in Ocala, FloridaOcala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
.
Battey was also part of a charity program sponsored by Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison
Consolidated Edison, Inc. is one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the United States, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $36 billion in assets...
whereby children were given free bleacher tickets to New York Yankee
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
games. He talked baseball and was a "big brother" to all the kids who were lucky enough to benefit from the program. Battey died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
at the age of 68 in Ocala, Florida.
In , Battey was post-humously elected to the Twins Hall of Fame. In , the Twins celebrated their 50th season in Minnesota and Battey was voted as one of the 50 Greatest Twins Players.
External links
- TheDeadBallEra.com - Battey's obituary
- The African American Registry
- FindAGrave.com
- Battey Biography