Mike Compton (catcher)
Encyclopedia
Michael Lynn Compton was a Major League Baseball
player, who played catcher
for the Philadelphia Phillies
in 1970.
Compton attended Sul Ross State University
. In 1965 he was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.
On May 2, 1970, Philadelphia Phillies catchers Mike Ryan and Tim McCarver
both had a hand broken in a game against the San Francisco Giants
. With their catching corps depleted, the Phillies had to use Jim Hutto
, Del Bates
, Doc Edwards
, and Compton at the position. Bates and Compton had never played in the Major Leagues before 1970. Edwards was the Phillies bullpen coach and had last played in the majors in 1965.
Compton batted .165 in 110 at bats with one home run. Before the 1970 season was over, Compton was demoted to the Eugene Emeralds
of the Pacific Coast League
. Compton would spend the rest of his professional career playing for the Emeralds.
After his playing career was over, Compton managed and coached in the farm systems of the Phillies and Cincinnati Reds
. More recently Compton has been a minor league catching coordinator and is credited with inventing a ball retrieval tool known as The Ball Hawg.
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...
player, who played 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 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...
in 1970.
Compton attended Sul Ross State University
Sul Ross State University
Sul Ross State University , a public university in Alpine, Texas, is named for former Texas governor, Civil War general Lawrence Sullivan Ross. It was founded in 1917 as Sul Ross Normal College and was made a university in 1969....
. In 1965 he was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.
On May 2, 1970, Philadelphia Phillies catchers Mike Ryan and Tim McCarver
Tim McCarver
James Timothy "Tim" McCarver is an American former Major League Baseball catcher, and a current sportscaster in residence for Fox Sports.-Playing career:...
both had a hand broken in a game against 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....
. With their catching corps depleted, the Phillies had to use Jim Hutto
Jim Hutto
James Neamon "Jim" Hutto was a Major League Baseball player. Hutto played for the Philadelphia Phillies in and the Baltimore Orioles in .-External links:...
, Del Bates
Del Bates
Delbert Oakley "Del" Bates was a Major League Baseball catcher. Bates played for the Philadelphia Phillies in the season. In 22 career games, he had 8 hits in 60 at-bats. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed....
, Doc Edwards
Doc Edwards
Howard Rodney Edwards was a backup catcher with the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees, and the Philadelphia Phillies over parts of five seasons spanning eight years...
, and Compton at the position. Bates and Compton had never played in the Major Leagues before 1970. Edwards was the Phillies bullpen coach and had last played in the majors in 1965.
Compton batted .165 in 110 at bats with one home run. Before the 1970 season was over, Compton was demoted to the Eugene Emeralds
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds is a minor league baseball team in Eugene, Oregon, United States. They are a short-season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been a farm team of the San Diego Padres since 2001....
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...
. Compton would spend the rest of his professional career playing for the Emeralds.
After his playing career was over, Compton managed and coached in the farm systems of the Phillies and 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....
. More recently Compton has been a minor league catching coordinator and is credited with inventing a ball retrieval tool known as The Ball Hawg.