Alan Ashby
Encyclopedia
Alan Dean Ashby is a former catcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Cleveland Indians
, Toronto Blue Jays
, and Houston Astros
. He made his MLB debut 4 years after graduating from San Pedro High School
in Los Angeles
.
Ashby is a Latter-day Saint.
s during his career: Ken Forsch
's (April 7, 1979), Nolan Ryan
's fifth (September 26, 1981), and Mike Scott
's division title clincher (September 25, 1986).
He owns the distinction of being the first ever player acquired via trade for the Toronto Blue Jays when he was traded from Cleveland to Toronto on November 5, 1976 along with 1B/OF Doug Howard
in exchange for RHP Al Fitzmorris
. He was then traded from Toronto to Houston on November 17, 1978 for P Mark Lemongello, OF Jose Cannon and IF Pedro Hernandez.
Ashby was also the first Astro to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game (September 27, 1982).
After his playing career, Ashby worked as the Astros' bullpen coach in 1997. He later worked alongside Milo Hamilton
as a radio broadcaster for the Astros from 1998-2005.
He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame
in 2000. Before the Astros moved into their new stadium, Ashby was named as the catcher on the Houston Astros All Time Team.
for KHTV Channel 39 Houston from 1990 to 1992. He was the host of the Houston Rockets
Show and the Houston Cougars
Football's John Jenkins Show. He then served as the co-host of Inside Houston, a televised business magazine in 1994 & 1995.
Along with his broadcasting career he returned to baseball as a Minor League Manager for the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
in the Texas-Louisiana League in 1994 and 1995. He served as Manager of the Houston Astros
' Florida State League (A) affiliate, the Kissimmee Cobras in 1996. He went on to join the Major League coaching staff for the Astros in 1997 as Bullpen Coach. In 1998 began working as the colour commentator for Astros' radio broadcasts. He served in that capacity until the 2006 season when the Astros let him go. Speculation suggests that his forthright broadcasting style may have found disfavor with ownership.
In 2007, Ashby signed a three-year contract to become the color man and secondary play-by-play man on the Toronto Blue Jays
radio broadcasts, and has since been signed for another three-year term. He is teamed alongside incumbent play-by-play man Jerry Howarth
.
In 2011, Ashby has also served on occasion as the Blue Jays' announcer on their Rogers Sportsnet
telecasts.
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...
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...
who played for 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...
, Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, and Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. He made his MLB debut 4 years after graduating from San Pedro High School
San Pedro High School
San Pedro High School is a public high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District and is located in the San Pedro portion of the city of Los Angeles, California. In 2003, the school celebrated its 100th Anniversary....
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Ashby is a Latter-day Saint.
Playing career
Ashby tied an NL record by catching three no-hitterNo-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"...
s during his career: Ken Forsch
Ken Forsch
Kenneth Roth Forsch is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Forsch graduated from Hiram Johnson High School and played in college ball at Oregon State University through the 1967-1968 seasons. While at Oregon State University, he was an active member in Beta Theta Pi fraternity...
's (April 7, 1979), Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
's fifth (September 26, 1981), and Mike Scott
Mike Scott (baseball)
Michael Warren "Mike" Scott is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets and the Houston Astros. He won the National League Cy Young Award in...
's division title clincher (September 25, 1986).
He owns the distinction of being the first ever player acquired via trade for the Toronto Blue Jays when he was traded from Cleveland to Toronto on November 5, 1976 along with 1B/OF Doug Howard
Doug Howard
Douglas Lynn Howard is a former professional baseball player who played five seasons for the California Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, and Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball....
in exchange for RHP Al Fitzmorris
Al Fitzmorris
Alan James Fitzmorris , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1969 to 1978.-Drafts:...
. He was then traded from Toronto to Houston on November 17, 1978 for P Mark Lemongello, OF Jose Cannon and IF Pedro Hernandez.
Ashby was also the first Astro to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game (September 27, 1982).
After his playing career, Ashby worked as the Astros' bullpen coach in 1997. He later worked alongside Milo Hamilton
Milo Hamilton
Leland Milo Hamilton is an American sportscaster, best known for calling play-by-play for seven different Major League Baseball teams since 1953...
as a radio broadcaster for the Astros from 1998-2005.
He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame
Texas Sports Hall of Fame
The Texas Sports Hall of Fame recognizes athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made "lasting fame and honor to Texas sports". It was established in 1951 by the Texas Sports Writers Association. Once it made its first induction in 1951, Texas became the first U.S...
in 2000. Before the Astros moved into their new stadium, Ashby was named as the catcher on the Houston Astros All Time Team.
Broadcasting career and Managing career
Following his playing career, he moved into broadcasting as he telecast HSE Southwestern Conference Baseball in 1990 and served as Sports Director and AnchorAnchor
An anchor is a device, normally made of metal, that is used to connect a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the vessel from drifting due to wind or current. The word derives from Latin ancora, which itself comes from the Greek ἄγκυρα .Anchors can either be temporary or permanent...
for KHTV Channel 39 Houston from 1990 to 1992. He was the host of the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
Show and the Houston Cougars
Houston Cougars
Houston Cougars is the name given to the sports teams of the University of Houston. Informally, the Houston Cougars have also been referred to as the Coogs, UH, or simply Houston. Houston's nickname was created by early physical education instructor of the university and former head football...
Football's John Jenkins Show. He then served as the co-host of Inside Houston, a televised business magazine in 1994 & 1995.
Along with his broadcasting career he returned to baseball as a Minor League Manager for the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings are a professional baseball team based in Harlingen, Texas, in the United States. The WhiteWings are a member of United League Baseball, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
in the Texas-Louisiana League in 1994 and 1995. He served as Manager of the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
' Florida State League (A) affiliate, the Kissimmee Cobras in 1996. He went on to join the Major League coaching staff for the Astros in 1997 as Bullpen Coach. In 1998 began working as the colour commentator for Astros' radio broadcasts. He served in that capacity until the 2006 season when the Astros let him go. Speculation suggests that his forthright broadcasting style may have found disfavor with ownership.
In 2007, Ashby signed a three-year contract to become the color man and secondary play-by-play man on the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
radio broadcasts, and has since been signed for another three-year term. He is teamed alongside incumbent play-by-play man Jerry Howarth
Jerry Howarth
Jerry Howarth is an American Canadian recognized as the voice of the Toronto Blue Jays as a play-by-play announcer for the team's radio broadcasts, a position he has held for the Major League Baseball team since 1981.- Early career :...
.
In 2011, Ashby has also served on occasion as the Blue Jays' announcer on their Rogers Sportsnet
Rogers Sportsnet
Sportsnet was launched on October 9, 1998 as CTV Sportsnet. The name was chosen to match the regional "Fox Sports Net" operations across the United States...
telecasts.