Bill Plummer
Encyclopedia
William Francis Plummer (born March 21, 1947 in Oakland, California
) was a catcher
for the Chicago Cubs
, Cincinnati Reds
, and the Seattle Mariners
. While never a regular player (he was Johnny Bench
's backup catcher during the Big Red Machine
years), he did play solid defense. He was a lifetime .188
hitter (he only batted above .200 three times in his career).
After he retired, he stayed in the Mariners system. He managed the Wausau Timbers
in 1981. He was the Mariners' third base coach
, and when Jim Lefebvre
was fired after the season, he was hired as manager
. The Mariners finished in last place in his only season in Seattle, going 64-98.
Prior to a game on April 16, 1992 against the Chicago White Sox
, Plummer presented to the umpires a lineup card
that listed two first basemen and no designated hitter
; when the error was discovered, the team was forced to insert its pitchers into the batting lineup, instead of using a designated hitter, for the remainder of the game. The Mariners went on to lose the game 5-4.
Plummer has managed in both independent and minor league baseball having managed the Western Baseball League
's Chico Heat
from 1997–1999. In 2000, he joined the Arizona Diamondbacks
' minor-leagues system, eventually working his way up to their Triple-A affiliate
, the Tucson Sidewinders
, whom he managed in 2007-2008. The team moved to Reno
and became the Reno Aces
in 2009, with Plummer being replaced as manager by Brett Butler. Plummer served as the minor league catching coordinatoor for the Diamondbacks in 2009, but has been out of baseball since.
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
) was 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 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...
, 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....
, and the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. While never a regular player (he was Johnny Bench
Johnny Bench
Johnny Lee Bench is a former professional baseball catcher who played in the Major Leagues for the Cincinnati Reds from 1967 to 1983 and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame...
's backup catcher during the Big Red Machine
The Big Red Machine
The Big Red Machine is the nickname given to the Cincinnati Reds baseball team which dominated the National League from 1970 to 1976, recognized as among the best in baseball. Over that span, the team won five National League Western Division titles, four National League pennants, and two World...
years), he did play solid defense. He was a lifetime .188
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 :...
hitter (he only batted above .200 three times in his career).
After he retired, he stayed in the Mariners system. He managed the Wausau Timbers
Wausau Timbers
The Wausau Timbers were a minor league baseball team.The team began as the Wausau Mets in 1978, but left the affiliation with the New York Mets and went co-op...
in 1981. He was the Mariners' third base coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
, and when Jim Lefebvre
Jim Lefebvre
James Kenneth Lefebvre is a former second baseman, third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. Lefebvre, the 1965 National League Rookie of the Year, was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1962. In 1965, his rookie year, he hit .250 with 12 home runs and 69 RBI...
was fired after the season, he was hired as manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
. The Mariners finished in last place in his only season in Seattle, going 64-98.
Prior to a game on April 16, 1992 against 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...
, Plummer presented to the umpires a lineup card
Batting order (baseball)
The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...
that listed two first basemen and no designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
; when the error was discovered, the team was forced to insert its pitchers into the batting lineup, instead of using a designated hitter, for the remainder of the game. The Mariners went on to lose the game 5-4.
Plummer has managed in both independent and minor league baseball having managed the Western Baseball League
Western Baseball League
The Western Baseball League was an independent baseball league based in the Western United States and Western Canada. It's member teams were not associated with any Major League Baseball teams. It operated from 1995 to 2002....
's Chico Heat
Chico Heat
The Chico Heat were a professional independent baseball team operating in Chico, California in the Western Baseball League. They had no operating agreement with any Major League Baseball team. They were created by Chico Heat Professional Baseball LLC, with former supermarket entrepreneur Steve...
from 1997–1999. In 2000, he joined the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
' minor-leagues system, eventually working his way up to their Triple-A affiliate
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...
, the Tucson Sidewinders
Tucson Sidewinders
The Tucson Sidewinders were a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. The team, which played in the Pacific Coast League, was the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club....
, whom he managed in 2007-2008. The team moved to Reno
Reno
Reno is the fourth most populous city in Nevada, US.Reno may also refer to:-Places:Italy*The Reno River, in Northern ItalyCanada*Reno No...
and became the Reno Aces
Reno Aces
The Reno Aces are a minor league baseball franchise based in Reno, Nevada, in the United States. The team is a member of the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks....
in 2009, with Plummer being replaced as manager by Brett Butler. Plummer served as the minor league catching coordinatoor for the Diamondbacks in 2009, but has been out of baseball since.