Jerry Willard
Encyclopedia
Gerald Duane Willard was a Major League Baseball
catcher.
Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies
as an amateur free agent in 1979, Willard would make his Major League Baseball
debut with the Cleveland Indians
on April 11, 1984, and appeared in his final game on May 19, 1994.
Willard's career was spent mostly in obscurity, however he did experience one significant moment of fame. On October 23, 1991, playing for the Atlanta Braves
in the 1991 World Series
against the Minnesota Twins
, Willard would make his only series plate appearance in the bottom of the 9th of a 2-2 game, having been sent up to pinch-hit for Francisco Cabrera after a Minnesota pitching change with Mark Lemke
on 3rd Base. Facing top reliever Steve Bedrosian
with one out, Willard would loft a high fly out to Right Fielder Shane Mack
, which proved to be just barely deep enough to score Lemke with the winning run that won the game for the Braves.
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.
Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
as an amateur free agent in 1979, Willard would make his 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...
debut with 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...
on April 11, 1984, and appeared in his final game on May 19, 1994.
Willard's career was spent mostly in obscurity, however he did experience one significant moment of fame. On October 23, 1991, playing 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 the 1991 World Series
1991 World Series
The 1991 World Series pitted the Minnesota Twins of the American League against the Atlanta Braves of the National League. The series was played from Saturday, October 19 to Sunday, October 27....
against 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...
, Willard would make his only series plate appearance in the bottom of the 9th of a 2-2 game, having been sent up to pinch-hit for Francisco Cabrera after a Minnesota pitching change with Mark Lemke
Mark Lemke
Mark Alan Lemke is a former Major League Baseball player. Nicknamed "The Lemmer", he was a popular second baseman for the Atlanta Braves from to .-Biography:...
on 3rd Base. Facing top reliever Steve Bedrosian
Steve Bedrosian
Stephen Wayne Bedrosian, is an American former baseball player. Nicknamed "Bedrock", he played from 1981 to 1995 with the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Minnesota Twins...
with one out, Willard would loft a high fly out to Right Fielder Shane Mack
Shane Mack (baseball player)
Shane Lee Mack is a former left and center fielder in Major League Baseball.Mack played for Richard Gahr High School in Cerritos, California from 1978-1982. Upon graduation, he accepted an athletic scholarship to play for the UCLA Bruins baseball team where he starred from 1982-1984...
, which proved to be just barely deep enough to score Lemke with the winning run that won the game for the Braves.