Dan Norman
Encyclopedia
Daniel Edmund Norman is a former right fielder
in Major League Baseball
who played for the New York Mets
(1977–80) and Montreal Expos
(1982). His professional career started in the Cincinnati Reds
organization but he never played a major league game for the Reds.
in the 15th round of the 1974 amateur draft. He was the 357th overall selection.
After signing with the Reds, Norman joined the Billings Mustangs
of the Pioneer League, the Reds' rookie league
affiliate. One of his teammates on the Mustangs was the Reds 5th round draft choice, left fielder Steve Henderson
, whose career often intersected Norman's. In 68 games for the Mustangs in 1974, Norman put up an impressive batting average
of .297 and a slugging percentage of .441.
In 1975 Norman was promoted to the Reds' class A affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons
of the Florida State League
. Playing again alongside Henderson, Norman played 129 games with a batting average of .273 and a slugging percentage of .393.
In 1976 Norman was promoted to the Reds' class AA affiliate, the Trois-Rivières (Three Rivers) Aigles of the Eastern League. There (once again playing alongside Henderson) Norman played 134 games, repeating his batting average from 1975 of .273, and putting up a slugging percentage of .454.
This earned Norman a promotion to the Reds' AAA affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians
of the American Association
for the 1977 season. Through June 15, 1977, Norman, again playing alongside Henderson, played 60 games for the Indians, with a batting average of .249 and a slugging percentage of .411. On June 15, 1977, Norman and Henderson were traded from the Reds to the New York Mets
, along with infielder
Doug Flynn
and pitcher
Pat Zachry
in exchange for star pitcher Tom Seaver
. Met fans still refer to events of that night as "The Midnight Massacre", mourning the loss of both Hall of Fame
pitcher Seaver and home run leader Dave Kingman
in trades that night.
. In 80 games with the Tides Norman posted a batting average of .264, and on-base percentage of .344 and a slugging percentage of .435. Norman was called up to the Mets late in the season, making his Major League debut with the Mets on September 27, 1977 against the Pittsburgh Pirates
. In total he played 7 games for the Mets in 1977, getting 4 hits in 16 at bats for a .250 batting average. He also drew 4 walks
, giving him an on-base percentage of .400.
Norman spent the 1978 and 1979 seasons alternating between Tidewater and the Mets. In 1978 he played 19 games for the Mets, getting his first Major League home run
, and posting a batting average of .266, an on-base percentage of .284 and a slugging percentage of .484. In 1979 he played 44 games with the Mets, with a batting average of .245, an on-base percentage of .311 and a slugging percentage of .373.
1980 was Norman's only complete season in the Major Leagues. He played in 69 games for the Mets, but his batting average was a poor .185. With just 2 home runs and 6 walks, both his on-base percentage and slugging percentage were under .300. He was demoted back to Tidewater for the 1981 season.
Norman played 40 games for Tidewater in 1981, with a batting average of .247. On May 29, 1981 he was traded along with pitcher Jeff Reardon
to the Montreal Expos
in exchange for right fielder Ellis Valentine
.
. He played in 73 games for Denver with 11 home runs, a batting average of .272, an on-base percentage of .348 and a slugging percentage of .490.
In 1982 Norman split his time between the Expos Major League team and their new AAA affiliate, the Wichita Aeros
. He played in 53 games for the Expos, getting 66 at bats. With a batting average of just .212, that was Norman's last season in the Major Leagues. He continued to bounce around the minor leagues through the 1987 season, ending his professional career at age 32.
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
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 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...
(1977–80) and Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
(1982). His professional career started in the 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....
organization but he never played a major league game for the Reds.
Cincinnati Reds career
After playing at Barstow College, Norman was drafted by the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati 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....
in the 15th round of the 1974 amateur draft. He was the 357th overall selection.
After signing with the Reds, Norman joined the Billings Mustangs
Billings Mustangs
The Billings Mustangs are a minor league baseball team based in Billings, Montana. The Mustangs are the Pioneer League Rookie affiliate of the Major League Cincinnati Reds. The team has been a part of the Pioneer League since 1948 with a five-year gap between 1964 and 1968, and has been affiliated...
of the Pioneer League, the Reds' rookie league
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...
affiliate. One of his teammates on the Mustangs was the Reds 5th round draft choice, left fielder Steve Henderson
Steve Henderson
Steven Curtis Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."-Cincinnati Reds:...
, whose career often intersected Norman's. In 68 games for the Mustangs in 1974, Norman put up an impressive batting average
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 :...
of .297 and a slugging percentage of .441.
In 1975 Norman was promoted to the Reds' class A affiliate, the Tampa Tarpons
Tampa Tarpons
The Tampa Tarpons were a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They played in the Class A Florida State League from 1957–1988, when they were sold, relocated, and renamed the Sarasota White Sox...
of the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. Playing again alongside Henderson, Norman played 129 games with a batting average of .273 and a slugging percentage of .393.
In 1976 Norman was promoted to the Reds' class AA affiliate, the Trois-Rivières (Three Rivers) Aigles of the Eastern League. There (once again playing alongside Henderson) Norman played 134 games, repeating his batting average from 1975 of .273, and putting up a slugging percentage of .454.
This earned Norman a promotion to the Reds' AAA affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
of the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
for the 1977 season. Through June 15, 1977, Norman, again playing alongside Henderson, played 60 games for the Indians, with a batting average of .249 and a slugging percentage of .411. On June 15, 1977, Norman and Henderson were traded from the Reds to the 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...
, along with infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
Doug Flynn
Doug Flynn
Robert Douglas Flynn Jr. is a former Major League Baseball infielder from -. He is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."-Cincinnati Reds:...
and 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...
Pat Zachry
Pat Zachry
Patrick Paul Zachry is a former Major League baseball pitcher who had a ten year career from to .-Cincinnati Reds:...
in exchange for star pitcher Tom Seaver
Tom Seaver
George Thomas "Tom" Seaver , nicknamed "Tom Terrific" and "The Franchise", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1967-1986 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the New York Mets...
. Met fans still refer to events of that night as "The Midnight Massacre", mourning the loss of both Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
pitcher Seaver and home run leader Dave Kingman
Dave Kingman
David Arthur Kingman , nicknamed "Kong" and "Sky King", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter. The towering 6' 6" Kingman was one of the most feared sluggers of the 1970s and 1980s...
in trades that night.
New York Mets career
Although Henderson was immediately promoted to the Mets major league team, Norman was sent to the Mets AAA affiliate, the Tidewater Tides of the International LeagueInternational League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. In 80 games with the Tides Norman posted a batting average of .264, and on-base percentage of .344 and a slugging percentage of .435. Norman was called up to the Mets late in the season, making his Major League debut with the Mets on September 27, 1977 against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. In total he played 7 games for the Mets in 1977, getting 4 hits in 16 at bats for a .250 batting average. He also drew 4 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...
, giving him an on-base percentage of .400.
Norman spent the 1978 and 1979 seasons alternating between Tidewater and the Mets. In 1978 he played 19 games for the Mets, getting his first Major League home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, and posting a batting average of .266, an on-base percentage of .284 and a slugging percentage of .484. In 1979 he played 44 games with the Mets, with a batting average of .245, an on-base percentage of .311 and a slugging percentage of .373.
1980 was Norman's only complete season in the Major Leagues. He played in 69 games for the Mets, but his batting average was a poor .185. With just 2 home runs and 6 walks, both his on-base percentage and slugging percentage were under .300. He was demoted back to Tidewater for the 1981 season.
Norman played 40 games for Tidewater in 1981, with a batting average of .247. On May 29, 1981 he was traded along with pitcher Jeff Reardon
Jeff Reardon
Jeffrey James Reardon , nicknamed "The Terminator" for his intimidating presence on the mound and 98 mph fastball, is a former professional baseball relief pitcher from 1979-1994 who played for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Minnesota Twins, and Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati...
to the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
in exchange for right fielder Ellis Valentine
Ellis Valentine
Ellis Clarence Valentine is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1972; playing for the Expos, he was elected a National League All-Star in 1977 and received a Gold Glove Award in 1978...
.
Montreal Expos career
Norman spent the latter part of the 1981 season playing for the Montreal Expos AAA affiliate, the Denver Bears of the American AssociationAmerican Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
. He played in 73 games for Denver with 11 home runs, a batting average of .272, an on-base percentage of .348 and a slugging percentage of .490.
In 1982 Norman split his time between the Expos Major League team and their new AAA affiliate, the Wichita Aeros
Wichita Aeros
The Wichita Aeros was a minor league baseball franchise based in Wichita, Kansas, that played in the AAA American Association from 1970 through 1984....
. He played in 53 games for the Expos, getting 66 at bats. With a batting average of just .212, that was Norman's last season in the Major Leagues. He continued to bounce around the minor leagues through the 1987 season, ending his professional career at age 32.