Brad Ausmus
Encyclopedia
Bradley David "Brad" Ausmus (ˈɔːsməs; born April 14, 1969, in New Haven, Connecticut
) is a former All Star catcher
in Major League Baseball
, and currently a special assistant for the San Diego Padres
.
In his 18-year major league playing career with the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers, he was a three-time Gold Glove Award
winner (2001–02, 2006). He was also an All Star in 1999. He won the 2007 Darryl Kile
Award "for integrity and courage," presented annually by local chapters of the Baseball Writers Association of America
(BBWAA) to players on the Astros and St. Louis Cardinals
.
A five-time league-leader at catcher in fielding percentage, he has also led the league twice each in percentage caught stealing and in range factor, and once each in putouts and assists.
He finished his career in 2010 ranked third in major league history with 12,839 putouts as a catcher, trailing only Iván Rodríguez
and Jason Kendall
, seventh in games caught with 1,938, and 10th in both range factor/game (7.12) and fielding percentage (.994). He also ranked first all-time among all Jewish major leaguers in career games played (1,971), fifth in hits
(1,579), and eighth in runs batted in
(607; directly behind Mike Lieberthal
).
, and the author of "A Schopenhauerian Critique of Nietzsche's Thought," which Ausmus calls his "favorite book."
as a basketball guard. He was also a star in baseball; as a freshman he was a teammate of National Hockey League
defenseman Brian Leetch
, who was then a pitcher
on the school's Connecticut state championship team in .
As a sophomore Ausmus played shortstop
and batted
.327, as a junior (when his coach moved him to catcher) he hit .436, and as a senior he hit .411 and was named the Cheshire
Area High School Player of the Year. Was named to the All-State team both his junior and senior years.
after the draft in which the team picked him in the 47th round,
instead choosing to pursue another childhood dream, that of attending Dartmouth College
. The Yankees allowed him to attend classes at the Ivy League
school while playing in the minor leagues during his off terms. (Dartmouth has a unique, quartered academic calendar, giving students more flexibility to do such things.) Given NCAA
rules barring paid professional athletes from playing college sports, Ausmus could not play for the Dartmouth Big Green, and instead served as a volunteer coach and bullpen
catcher.
He graduated in 1991 with an A.B.
in Government, and was a member of Chi Gamma Epsilon
fraternity. While at Dartmouth, the lowest grade he received was a B. In , Ausmus became the first Ivy League catcher to play in the World Series
since Dartmouth's Chief Meyers
in 1916
. Ausmus was also one of six Ivy Leaguers on major league rosters at the beginning of the 2009 season.
Though Ausmus was not drafted until the 48th round of the 1987 draft, he played in MLB longer than any of the 1,150 players drafted ahead of him did.
(1988), Oneonta Yankees (1988–89), Prince William Cannons (1990–91), Albany-Colonie Yankees (1991–92) and Columbus Clippers
(1992). He was subsequently selected by the Colorado Rockies
with the 54th pick of the expansion draft
. He spent less than a year in the Colorado organization (with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
) before he was traded to the San Diego Padres
with Andy Ashby
and Doug Bochtler for Bruce Hurst
and Greg Harris
in July .
, and had a single
in three at bat
s. In he batted .293, a career best, and stole
16 bases (the most by any catcher since Craig Biggio
stole 19 in 1991). Within three years, Ausmus was on the move again. In June 1996, after 149 at bats in which he batted just .181, the Padres traded him, Andújar Cedeño
and minor leaguer Russ Spear to the Detroit Tigers
for John Flaherty
and Chris Gomez
.
As of 2010, Ausmus was second among the Padres' all-time catchers stolen bases, fourth in hits, and fifth in games played.
, Trever Miller
, C. J. Nitkowski
, and Daryle Ward
, to the Houston Astros
for Doug Brocail
, Brian Hunter
, Todd Jones, Orlando Miller
, and cash. This marked the first of three times Ausmus would be exchanged between the two teams.
, Dean Crow, Brian Powell
, and minor leaguers Carlos Villalobos and Mark Persails.
(.365) and slugging percentage (.415), and made the All-Star
team. He was hit by pitch
es 14 times, sixth in the league and a career high. Ausmus batted leadoff
for the Tigers seven times, the first catcher since Bruce Kimm
in to do so.
In December 2000, he was traded by the Tigers with Doug Brocail
and Nelson Cruz
to the Astros for Roger Cedeño
, Chris Holt
and Mitch Meluskey.
with the Astros, and he did the same in December 2005. In he batted .308 against left-handers, and .364 in situations that were "late and close" (in the seventh inning or later, with the score tied or the tying run on base, at the plate, or on deck). In , he had more walks
(51) than strikeout
s (48). He batted .304 with two out and runners in scoring position. In , Ausmus hit .230 and set a career high with nine sacrifice hit
s.
In , Ausmus batted .235, but was tied for second among all National League
catchers with six stolen bases. He recorded his 100th career stolen base on July 27, becoming the 21st catcher all time to record that many steals.
Ausmus, lauded for his baseball smarts and highly regarded by teammates, is widely considered managerial
material when his playing career is over. Ironically, Garner was fired on August 27.
In October 2007, Ausmus accepted a one-year, $2 million (plus incentives based on playing time) contract. The Astros planned for Ausmus to play on a part-time basis and mentor J. R. Towles
, who would catch the majority of the games. Were Towles to struggle, however, the Astros were prepared to turn to Ausmus.
In May 2008, Ausmus (along with Johnny Damon
, Andruw Jones
, and Derek Lowe
) was one of only four active major league players who had played at least 10 years in the majors without ever going on the disabled list
.
On May 13, 2008, Ausmus got his 1,500th career hit. He is one of only eight catchers in major league history to get 1,500 hits and steal at least 100 bases.
In early June, with Towles batting only .145, the Astros optioned him to the minors and re-inserted Ausmus as a starter. Towles was replaced by journeyman minor-leaguer Humberto Quintero
. Towles eventually came back, but during the season Ausmus, at 39, made more starts behind the plate (61) than either Towles or Quintero.
In July, Ausmus played at Nationals Park, appearing in his 44th major league stadium. Among active players, only Chris Gomez
(47), Gary Sheffield
(47), and Ken Griffey, Jr.
(45) had competed in more stadiums.
In August, he scored his 700th career run, becoming the 25th catcher to reach that mark.
Later in the month he said: "This will be my last year in Houston. It’s just time to be closer to home." He has a home in San Diego, which narrowed it down to the Padres (which had expressed interest in him), Dodgers, and Angels. The Red Sox were also tempting, since Ausmus had a home near Boston, in Cape Cod
.
On Sunday, Aug. 24, the Astros played the NY Mets during the Mets International Heritage Week, an annual promotion. It happened to be Jewish Heritage Day, but though Ausmus is Jewish, he did not get to start the game. Ausmus had his only at bat during extra-innings, with the score at 4–4. Ausmus led off the 10th inning with his second homer of the season, and the Astros rallied for a 6–4 win.
Before his final game as an Astro on September 28, the team paid tribute to Ausmus with a humorous video. Ausmus went on to hit a 2-run home run in the 3rd inning of the game.
Ausmus was Houston's all-time leader for catchers as of 2010 with 1,259 games, 1,119 starts, 970 hits, and 415 runs.
"There's no question he can be a manager," Joe Torre
said. "He's a smart cookie, everybody knows that, and he has an engaging personality." At the end of the season Torre had Ausmus manage the Dodgers for a game.
In 2009, Ausmus batted .295, including .333 with runners in scoring position, and .385 with 2 out and runners in scoring position, while limited to a career-low 107 at bats. He had never been on the disabled list in his 17-year career, giving him the most consecutive seasons of not going on the DL among all active players.
Ausmus became a free agent after the 2009 season, and on January 26, 2010, he agreed to a one-year $850,000 salary deal (with total compensation guaranteed at $1 million) to return to the Dodgers for his 18th major league season. The deal also included a mutual option for 2011 worth $1 million; if either Ausmus or the Dodgers declined the option, Ausmus would be paid $150,000.
In 2010, Ausmus was the 5th-oldest player in the NL. On April 10, 2010, he was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his 18-year career in the Majors. He missed most of the season after having surgery in April to repair a lower back herniated disc, playing in only 21 games that season, and hitting .222.
Ausmus announced his retirement on October 3, 2010.
, second base
, third base
, and shortstop
, all of them without making an error
.
He led NL catchers in putouts in 1994, with 683.a Ausmus nabbed a league-leading 39 opposing baserunners (41.9%) in , second in the NL to Florida Marlins
' Charles Johnson, and led the league's catchers with 14 double play
s and 63 assists
. On August 2, 1997, he was the first catcher to wear the FOX
mini-camera, in a Houston-New York Mets
game. In , he had 16 double plays, a career best, and led the league in caught-stealing percentage (49.5%), as he threw out 46 of 93 runners. In , he finished second to Charles Johnson in the NL Gold Glove voting.
In , he led the American League
with a .998 fielding percentage. In , he appeared in 150 games (leading the AL), starting 140 (the most ever by a Detroit catcher). He led the league with 68 assists and 898 putouts, and threw out 30 of 74 baserunners attempting to steal (47.5%), second in the AL in that category. In , he led the NL with a .997 fielding percentage and only one passed ball
, had the second best caught-stealing percentage (47.7%) in the majors, and won the first of two consecutive National League Gold Gloves with the Astros. He led the league again with a .997 fielding percentage and an 8.40 range factor
, while being charged with only two passed balls in . In , Ausmus had a .997 fielding percentage, for the third season in a row. He led the league with a .999 fielding percentage, 884 putouts, and 134 games caught in .
Ausmus led the league again in a league-leading 138 games caught with a .998 fielding percentage (the fifth-best of any catcher ever at the time) and a 7.94 range factor, with a league-leading 929 putouts and only one passed ball, and won his third Gold Glove in . That year he caught the second-most games ever by a catcher at the age of 37 — only Bob Boone
, with 147 games, caught more at that age.
He made his franchise-record eighth Opening Day start at catcher for the Astros in 2007, breaking a tie with Alan Ashby
. On July 22 of that year, Ausmus passed Gary Carter
to move into sole possession of second place in major league career putouts by a catcher. In addition, he passed Ted Simmons
that day to take sole possession of 12th place all-time on the games caught list, with 1,772. In , he had the second-best fielding percentage (.995) and range factor (8.04) of all catchers in the NL, while being charged with only two passed balls.
In , Ausmus was also an "emergency infielder" for the Astros. In April, he played second base in the ninth inning of a game, and later in the season he played first base and third base. In 2005, he even played an inning at shortstop. Through , Ausmus ranked ninth all-time in games caught (1,887) and starts at catcher (1,720).
Ausmus's 1,141 games at catcher in that decade ranked second in the majors. As of July 12, 2009, he was third all-time among catchers in fielding percentage.
Among active catchers with at least 600 games played, he finished the 2009 season ranked tied for fourth with a .994 career fielding percentage behind Mike Redmond
(.996), Joe Mauer
(.996), and A.J. Pierzynski (.995).
He finished his career in 2010 ranked third in major league history with 12,839 putouts as a catcher, trailing only Iván Rodríguez
and Jason Kendall
, seventh in games caught with 1,938, and 10th in both range factor/game (7.12) and fielding percentage (.994). For his career, he threw out 30.2% of potential basestealers.
. In Game 4 of the 2005 National League Division Series
against the Atlanta Braves
, Ausmus homered with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game at 6–6 and send it to extra innings
; the Astros went on to win in the 18th inning, in what was the longest postseason game in history. Ausmus caught all 18 innings.
in 2004. In 2001 he did not play on Yom Kippur
, the Jewish Day of Atonement, quipping that he "was trying to atone for my poor first half."
"I have had quite a few young Jewish boys who will tell me that I am their favorite player, or they love watching me play or they feel like baseball is a good fit for them because it worked for me, or it worked for Shawn Green or other Jewish players at the Major League level," said Ausmus. "It has been a sense of pride. If you can have a positive impact on a kid, I'm all for it."
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
) is a former All Star 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...
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...
, and currently a special assistant for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
.
In his 18-year major league playing career with the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and Los Angeles Dodgers, he was a three-time Gold Glove Award
Rawlings 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...
winner (2001–02, 2006). He was also an All Star in 1999. He won the 2007 Darryl Kile
Darryl Kile
Darryl Andrew Kile was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1991-2002 for three different teams in his career. In his first season for the Cardinals, he won 20 games in 2000 as the team reached the postseason for the first time in four years. They advanced to the...
Award "for integrity and courage," presented annually by local chapters of the Baseball Writers Association of America
Baseball Writers Association of America
The Baseball Writers' Association of America is a professional association for baseball journalists writing for daily newspapers, magazines and qualifying Web sites. The BBWAA was founded on October 14, 1908, to improve working conditions for sportswriters in the early part of the 20th century...
(BBWAA) to players on the Astros and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.
A five-time league-leader at catcher in fielding percentage, he has also led the league twice each in percentage caught stealing and in range factor, and once each in putouts and assists.
He finished his career in 2010 ranked third in major league history with 12,839 putouts as a catcher, trailing only Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...
and Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall
Jason Daniel Kendall is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He is the son of former catcher Fred Kendall, who played in the majors from 1969–1980.-High school:...
, seventh in games caught with 1,938, and 10th in both range factor/game (7.12) and fielding percentage (.994). He also ranked first all-time among all Jewish major leaguers in career games played (1,971), fifth in 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....
(1,579), and eighth in runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(607; directly behind Mike Lieberthal
Mike Lieberthal
Michael Scott "Mike" Lieberthal , nicknamed Lieby, is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He batted and threw right-handed....
).
Personal
Ausmus is Jewish, and was born in New Haven, Connecticut. His mother is Jewish, and his father is Protestant. Ausmus's father, Harry, is a retired professor of European history at Southern Connecticut State UniversitySouthern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
, and the author of "A Schopenhauerian Critique of Nietzsche's Thought," which Ausmus calls his "favorite book."
High school
Ausmus was a standout athlete at Cheshire High SchoolCheshire High School
Cheshire High School is located on Route 10 across from Bartlem Park in Cheshire, Connecticut. It is 15 miles north of New Haven and south of Hartford...
as a basketball guard. He was also a star in baseball; as a freshman he was a teammate of National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
defenseman Brian Leetch
Brian Leetch
Brian Joseph Leetch is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 18 National Hockey League seasons with the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Boston Bruins. He is generally considered one of the top defensemen in NHL history, being particularly noted for his...
, who was then a pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
on the school's Connecticut state championship team in .
As a sophomore Ausmus played shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and batted
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 :...
.327, as a junior (when his coach moved him to catcher) he hit .436, and as a senior he hit .411 and was named the Cheshire
Cheshire, Connecticut
Cheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 28,543 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Connecticut is located in Cheshire. In 2009 Cheshire was ranked 72 in Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live.Likewise, in 2011 Cheshire was ranked 73 in...
Area High School Player of the Year. Was named to the All-State team both his junior and senior years.
Draft and college
Ausmus chose an unusual route to the major leagues. He initially refused to sign with the New York YankeesNew 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...
after the draft in which the team picked him in the 47th round,
instead choosing to pursue another childhood dream, that of attending Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
. The Yankees allowed him to attend classes at the Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
school while playing in the minor leagues during his off terms. (Dartmouth has a unique, quartered academic calendar, giving students more flexibility to do such things.) Given NCAA
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
rules barring paid professional athletes from playing college sports, Ausmus could not play for the Dartmouth Big Green, and instead served as a volunteer coach and bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
catcher.
He graduated in 1991 with an A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Government, and was a member of Chi Gamma Epsilon
Chi Gamma Epsilon
Chi Gamma Epsilon is a fraternity at Dartmouth College. "Chi Gam," as it is commonly known, was formerly part of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, before breaking off for political reasons. On campus, Chi Gam is known for its dance parties, its house pong game known as ship and its commitment to...
fraternity. While at Dartmouth, the lowest grade he received was a B. In , Ausmus became the first Ivy League catcher to play in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
since Dartmouth's Chief Meyers
Chief Meyers
John Tortes "Chief" Meyers was a Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Giants, Boston Braves, and Brooklyn Robins from 1909 to 1917. He played on the early Giants teams under manager John McGraw and was the primary catcher for Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson...
in 1916
1916 World Series
In the 1916 World Series, the Boston Red Sox beat the Brooklyn Robins four games to one.Casey Stengel shone on offense for the Robins in the 1916 Series but the Red Sox pitching core ultimately proved too much for the denizens of Flatbush...
. Ausmus was also one of six Ivy Leaguers on major league rosters at the beginning of the 2009 season.
Though Ausmus was not drafted until the 48th round of the 1987 draft, he played in MLB longer than any of the 1,150 players drafted ahead of him did.
Minor league career
Ausmus spent five years in the Yankees' minor league system with the Gulf Coast YankeesGulf Coast Yankees
The Gulf Coast League Yankees are the Rookie League affiliate of Major League Baseball's New York Yankees. The GCL Yankees play in Tampa, Florida at the Yankee Complex...
(1988), Oneonta Yankees (1988–89), Prince William Cannons (1990–91), Albany-Colonie Yankees (1991–92) and Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
(1992). He was subsequently selected by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
with the 54th pick of the expansion draft
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
. He spent less than a year in the Colorado organization (with 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...
) before he was traded to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
with Andy Ashby
Andy Ashby
Andrew Jason Ashby is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies , Colorado Rockies , San Diego Padres , Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers...
and Doug Bochtler for Bruce Hurst
Bruce Hurst
Bruce Vee Hurst is a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher. He is best remembered for his brilliant performance for the Boston Red Sox in the postseason. He was even named World Series M.V.P...
and Greg Harris
Greg W. Harris
Gregory Wade Harris , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1988 through 1995....
in July .
San Diego Padres (1993–96)
He made his major league debut two days later, when he started for the Padres against the Chicago CubsChicago 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...
, and had a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
in three at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s. In he batted .293, a career best, and stole
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...
16 bases (the most by any catcher since Craig Biggio
Craig Biggio
Craig Alan Biggio is a former Major League Baseball second baseman, catcher, and outfielder. He played his entire 20-year baseball career with the Houston Astros . He ranks 21st all-time with 3,060 career hits, and is the ninth player in the 3000 hit club to get all his hits with the same team. He...
stole 19 in 1991). Within three years, Ausmus was on the move again. In June 1996, after 149 at bats in which he batted just .181, the Padres traded him, Andújar Cedeño
Andújar Cedeño
Andújar Cedeño Donastorg was a Major League Baseball shortstop from to . Born in La Romana, Dominican Republic, he played for the Houston Astros from 1990 to , the San Diego Padres in , and in 1996 played for the Padres, Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros again.He hit for the cycle in and was a...
and minor leaguer Russ Spear to the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
for John Flaherty
John Flaherty
John Timothy Flaherty is a television baseball broadcaster and a retired Major League Baseball player. Flaherty was a catcher, and last played in the major leagues for the New York Yankees.-Early life:...
and Chris Gomez
Chris Gomez
Christopher Cory Gomez is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He bats and throws right-handed.-College career:...
.
As of 2010, Ausmus was second among the Padres' all-time catchers stolen bases, fourth in hits, and fifth in games played.
Detroit Tigers (1996)
Despite bouncing back somewhat in Detroit, hitting .248, Ausmus was again traded in December 1996, along with José LimaJosé Lima
José Desiderio Rodriguez Lima was a Dominican right-handed pitcher who spent thirteen seasons in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers , Houston Astros , Kansas City Royals , Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets...
, Trever Miller
Trever Miller
Trever Douglas Miller is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-High school:...
, C. J. Nitkowski
C. J. Nitkowski
Christopher John "C. J." Nitkowski is a left-handed professional baseball pitcher currently in the Korea Baseball Organization and formerly of Major League Baseball.-Amateur career:...
, and Daryle Ward
Daryle Ward
Daryle Lamar Ward is an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and plays in the Minor League farm system. He has not played in the Majors since 2008. He bats and throws left-handed. The 6-foot-2, 240 pound Ward was drafted by the Detroit Tigers...
, to 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...
for Doug Brocail
Doug Brocail
Douglas Keith Brocail is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently the interim pitching coach for the Houston Astros.-High school years:...
, Brian Hunter
Brian Hunter (outfielder)
Brian Lee Hunter is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. At 6'3" and around 180 lbs, he was known for stealing over 70 bases in 1997.-Minor league career:Hunter was born on March 5, 1971 in Portland, Oregon...
, Todd Jones, Orlando Miller
Orlando Miller
Orlando Miller Salmon , is a former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball primarily as a shortstop from 1994-97.Orlando Miller got his pro career started in the minor leagues in 1991...
, and cash. This marked the first of three times Ausmus would be exchanged between the two teams.
Houston Astros (1997–98)
In January 1999 he was traded by the Astros with C. J. Nitkowski to the Tigers for Paul BakoPaul Bako
Gabor Paul Bako II is a catcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. Bako is an example of a baseball "journeyman", having played for 11 different major league teams during his 12-year career...
, Dean Crow, Brian Powell
Brian Powell
William Brian Powell was a Major League Baseball pitcher from Bainbridge, Georgia, who played in the majors from to for the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants. In , he pitched a no-hitter for the minor league baseball team, New Orleans Zephyrs, then...
, and minor leaguers Carlos Villalobos and Mark Persails.
Detroit Tigers (1999–2000)
Generally considered light-hitting but sure-handed, Ausmus had his best offensive season in at the age of 30, when he batted .275 and set career highs in on base percentageOn base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
(.365) and slugging percentage (.415), and made the All-Star
1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1999 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 70th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
team. He was hit by pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
es 14 times, sixth in the league and a career high. Ausmus batted leadoff
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...
for the Tigers seven times, the first catcher since Bruce Kimm
Bruce Kimm
Bruce Edward Kimm is a retired American professional baseball catcher and manager. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox between 1976 until 1980....
in to do so.
In December 2000, he was traded by the Tigers with Doug Brocail
Doug Brocail
Douglas Keith Brocail is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently the interim pitching coach for the Houston Astros.-High school years:...
and Nelson Cruz
Nelson Cruz (pitcher)
Nelson Cruz is a retired professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and Colorado Rockies, and one season in Korea Professional Baseball for the Taepyeongyang Dolphins...
to the Astros for Roger Cedeño
Roger Cedeño
Roger Leandro Cedeño , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and switch-hitting batter who had an 11-year career playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, and St. Louis Cardinals.Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an undrafted amateur free agent in...
, Chris Holt
Chris Holt (baseball player)
Christopher Michael Holt is a former pitcher for the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers...
and Mitch Meluskey.
Houston Astros (2001–08)
In November 2003, he signed as a free agentFree 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....
with the Astros, and he did the same in December 2005. In he batted .308 against left-handers, and .364 in situations that were "late and close" (in the seventh inning or later, with the score tied or the tying run on base, at the plate, or on deck). In , he had more walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
(51) than strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s (48). He batted .304 with two out and runners in scoring position. In , Ausmus hit .230 and set a career high with nine sacrifice hit
Sacrifice hit
In baseball, a sacrifice bunt is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base. The batter is almost always sacrificed but sometimes reaches base due to an error or fielder's choice...
s.
In , Ausmus batted .235, but was tied for second among all National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
catchers with six stolen bases. He recorded his 100th career stolen base on July 27, becoming the 21st catcher all time to record that many steals.
Ausmus, lauded for his baseball smarts and highly regarded by teammates, is widely considered managerial
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...
material when his playing career is over. Ironically, Garner was fired on August 27.
In October 2007, Ausmus accepted a one-year, $2 million (plus incentives based on playing time) contract. The Astros planned for Ausmus to play on a part-time basis and mentor J. R. Towles
J. R. Towles
Justin Roberts Towles is a Major League Baseball catcher.The Oakland Athletics originally drafted him in the 32nd round and in the 23rd round in the and Major League Baseball drafts, respectively. He did not sign with them either times...
, who would catch the majority of the games. Were Towles to struggle, however, the Astros were prepared to turn to Ausmus.
In May 2008, Ausmus (along with Johnny Damon
Johnny Damon
Johnny David Damon is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter. From 2000–2008, he was third among active players in runs and seventh in hits and stolen bases . He is currently second among active leaders in triples , five behind Carl Crawford...
, Andruw Jones
Andruw Jones
Andruw Rudolf Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is a free agent.Jones made his debut during the 1996 season. In the 1996 World Series, Jones became the youngest player to ever homered in the postseason...
, and Derek Lowe
Derek Lowe
Derek Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He throws and bats right-handed. He is 6'6" and 230 pounds.-Early years:...
) was one of only four active major league players who had played at least 10 years in the majors without ever going on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
.
On May 13, 2008, Ausmus got his 1,500th career hit. He is one of only eight catchers in major league history to get 1,500 hits and steal at least 100 bases.
In early June, with Towles batting only .145, the Astros optioned him to the minors and re-inserted Ausmus as a starter. Towles was replaced by journeyman minor-leaguer Humberto Quintero
Humberto Quintero
Humberto Quintero [oom-BERR-to kin-TAIR-o] is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Houston Astros. Quintero was outrighted to the Round Rock Express in June 2007 after Eric Munson was promoted to the Houston Astros. Previously, Quintero played with the San Diego Padres...
. Towles eventually came back, but during the season Ausmus, at 39, made more starts behind the plate (61) than either Towles or Quintero.
In July, Ausmus played at Nationals Park, appearing in his 44th major league stadium. Among active players, only Chris Gomez
Chris Gomez
Christopher Cory Gomez is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He bats and throws right-handed.-College career:...
(47), Gary Sheffield
Gary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield , nicknamed "Sheff", is an American retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for eight major league ball clubs from 1988 to 2009, primarily as an outfielder.-Biography:...
(47), and Ken Griffey, Jr.
Ken Griffey, Jr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey, Jr. , nicknamed "Junior" and "The Kid", is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and during his final years, designated hitter...
(45) had competed in more stadiums.
In August, he scored his 700th career run, becoming the 25th catcher to reach that mark.
Later in the month he said: "This will be my last year in Houston. It’s just time to be closer to home." He has a home in San Diego, which narrowed it down to the Padres (which had expressed interest in him), Dodgers, and Angels. The Red Sox were also tempting, since Ausmus had a home near Boston, in Cape Cod
Cape Cod
Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...
.
On Sunday, Aug. 24, the Astros played the NY Mets during the Mets International Heritage Week, an annual promotion. It happened to be Jewish Heritage Day, but though Ausmus is Jewish, he did not get to start the game. Ausmus had his only at bat during extra-innings, with the score at 4–4. Ausmus led off the 10th inning with his second homer of the season, and the Astros rallied for a 6–4 win.
Before his final game as an Astro on September 28, the team paid tribute to Ausmus with a humorous video. Ausmus went on to hit a 2-run home run in the 3rd inning of the game.
Ausmus was Houston's all-time leader for catchers as of 2010 with 1,259 games, 1,119 starts, 970 hits, and 415 runs.
Los Angeles Dodgers (2009–10)
On January 26, 2009, Ausmus agreed to a 1-year, $1 million deal (plus incentives) to be a back-up catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers."There's no question he can be a manager," Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
said. "He's a smart cookie, everybody knows that, and he has an engaging personality." At the end of the season Torre had Ausmus manage the Dodgers for a game.
In 2009, Ausmus batted .295, including .333 with runners in scoring position, and .385 with 2 out and runners in scoring position, while limited to a career-low 107 at bats. He had never been on the disabled list in his 17-year career, giving him the most consecutive seasons of not going on the DL among all active players.
Ausmus became a free agent after the 2009 season, and on January 26, 2010, he agreed to a one-year $850,000 salary deal (with total compensation guaranteed at $1 million) to return to the Dodgers for his 18th major league season. The deal also included a mutual option for 2011 worth $1 million; if either Ausmus or the Dodgers declined the option, Ausmus would be paid $150,000.
In 2010, Ausmus was the 5th-oldest player in the NL. On April 10, 2010, he was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his 18-year career in the Majors. He missed most of the season after having surgery in April to repair a lower back herniated disc, playing in only 21 games that season, and hitting .222.
Ausmus announced his retirement on October 3, 2010.
Defense
Known as "a brilliant defensive catcher," "an incredibly smart catcher," and "one of the most respected game-callers and pitching-staff handlers" in the game, Ausmus has exhibited superior range at catcher than the league average each season in his career. He is known for his strong arm, quick release, nimble footwork, framing pitches deftly, and smart handling of pitchers, as well as being able to block pitches very well. While the vast majority of his games have been as a catcher, Ausmus has also played a handful of games at first baseFirst baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
, second base
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
, third base
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
, and shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, all of them without making an error
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
.
He led NL catchers in putouts in 1994, with 683.a Ausmus nabbed a league-leading 39 opposing baserunners (41.9%) in , second in the NL to Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
' Charles Johnson, and led the league's catchers with 14 double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s and 63 assists
Assist (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...
. On August 2, 1997, he was the first catcher to wear the FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
mini-camera, in a Houston-New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
game. In , he had 16 double plays, a career best, and led the league in caught-stealing percentage (49.5%), as he threw out 46 of 93 runners. In , he finished second to Charles Johnson in the NL Gold Glove voting.
In , he led 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...
with a .998 fielding percentage. In , he appeared in 150 games (leading the AL), starting 140 (the most ever by a Detroit catcher). He led the league with 68 assists and 898 putouts, and threw out 30 of 74 baserunners attempting to steal (47.5%), second in the AL in that category. In , he led the NL with a .997 fielding percentage and only one passed ball
Passed ball
In baseball, a catcher is charged with a passed ball when he fails to hold or control a legally pitched ball that, with ordinary effort, should have been maintained under his control. When, as a result of this loss of control, the batter or a runner on base advances, the catcher is thereby charged...
, had the second best caught-stealing percentage (47.7%) in the majors, and won the first of two consecutive National League Gold Gloves with the Astros. He led the league again with a .997 fielding percentage and an 8.40 range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
, while being charged with only two passed balls in . In , Ausmus had a .997 fielding percentage, for the third season in a row. He led the league with a .999 fielding percentage, 884 putouts, and 134 games caught in .
Ausmus led the league again in a league-leading 138 games caught with a .998 fielding percentage (the fifth-best of any catcher ever at the time) and a 7.94 range factor, with a league-leading 929 putouts and only one passed ball, and won his third Gold Glove in . That year he caught the second-most games ever by a catcher at the age of 37 — only Bob Boone
Bob Boone
Robert Raymond Boone is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who was a four-time All-Star. Born in San Diego, California, Bob Boone is the son of a major league player, the late third baseman Ray Boone, and the father of two major leaguers: former second baseman Bret Boone and...
, with 147 games, caught more at that age.
He made his franchise-record eighth Opening Day start at catcher for the Astros in 2007, breaking a tie with Alan Ashby
Alan Ashby
Alan Dean Ashby is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros...
. On July 22 of that year, Ausmus passed Gary Carter
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
to move into sole possession of second place in major league career putouts by a catcher. In addition, he passed Ted Simmons
Ted Simmons
Ted Lyle Simmons is an American former professional baseball player and coach. A switch-hitter, Simmons was a catcher for most of his Major League Baseball career with the St. Louis Cardinals , the Milwaukee Brewers and the Atlanta Braves...
that day to take sole possession of 12th place all-time on the games caught list, with 1,772. In , he had the second-best fielding percentage (.995) and range factor (8.04) of all catchers in the NL, while being charged with only two passed balls.
In , Ausmus was also an "emergency infielder" for the Astros. In April, he played second base in the ninth inning of a game, and later in the season he played first base and third base. In 2005, he even played an inning at shortstop. Through , Ausmus ranked ninth all-time in games caught (1,887) and starts at catcher (1,720).
Ausmus's 1,141 games at catcher in that decade ranked second in the majors. As of July 12, 2009, he was third all-time among catchers in fielding percentage.
Among active catchers with at least 600 games played, he finished the 2009 season ranked tied for fourth with a .994 career fielding percentage behind Mike Redmond
Mike Redmond
Michael Patrick Redmond is a former Major League Baseball catcher.Redmond graduated from Gonzaga Preparatory School in 1989. He attended Gonzaga University. Mike and his wife Michele have two sons.Redmond made his Major League debut with the Florida Marlins on May 31, 1998...
(.996), Joe Mauer
Joe Mauer
Joseph Patrick Mauer is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Minnesota Twins. He is the only catcher in Major League history to win three batting titles...
(.996), and A.J. Pierzynski (.995).
He finished his career in 2010 ranked third in major league history with 12,839 putouts as a catcher, trailing only Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...
and Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall
Jason Daniel Kendall is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He is the son of former catcher Fred Kendall, who played in the majors from 1969–1980.-High school:...
, seventh in games caught with 1,938, and 10th in both range factor/game (7.12) and fielding percentage (.994). For his career, he threw out 30.2% of potential basestealers.
Postseason career
Prior to 2009, Ausmus had played in the postseason five times, all with the Astros, including the 2005 World Series2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
. In Game 4 of the 2005 National League Division Series
2005 National League Division Series
-Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros:-Game 1, October 4:Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriIt was a matchup between Jake Peavy and eventual 2005 Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter. In the bottom of the first, Jim Edmonds's one-out solo homer put the Cardinals up 1–0...
against 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....
, Ausmus homered with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie the game at 6–6 and send it to extra innings
Extra innings
Extra innings is the extension of a baseball or softball game in order to break a tie.Ordinarily, a baseball game consists of nine innings , each of which is divided into halves: the visiting team bats first, after which the home team takes its turn at bat...
; the Astros went on to win in the 18th inning, in what was the longest postseason game in history. Ausmus caught all 18 innings.
San Diego Padres (2010–present)
In November 2010, the San Diego Padres hired Ausmus as Special Assistant to Baseball Operations. Ausmus lives in San Diego.National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
Ausmus was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of FameNational Jewish Museum Sports Hall of Fame
The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, in Commack, New York, is dedicated to honoring American Jewish sports figures who have distinguished themselves in sports....
in 2004. In 2001 he did not play on Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
, the Jewish Day of Atonement, quipping that he "was trying to atone for my poor first half."
"I have had quite a few young Jewish boys who will tell me that I am their favorite player, or they love watching me play or they feel like baseball is a good fit for them because it worked for me, or it worked for Shawn Green or other Jewish players at the Major League level," said Ausmus. "It has been a sense of pride. If you can have a positive impact on a kid, I'm all for it."
Writings
- "You guys just can't get enough", Ausmus, Brad, ESPN The MagazineESPN The MagazineESPN The Magazine is a bi-weekly sports magazine published by the ESPN sports network in Bristol, Connecticut in the United States. The first issue was published on March 11, 1998....
, June 12, 2007
External links
- Behind the Dugout: Brad Ausmus
- Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers — Top 100 Fielding Seasons
- Baseball Library – biography and career highlights
- Baseball Almanac stats
- The Baseball Page
- Jews in Sports bio
- Jewish Sports
- "The Boys of Summer and Seder: Baseball, Passover share openers," 3/12/07
- Jewish major league career leaders
- Brad Ausmus Game Used Equipment