Don Werner
Encyclopedia
Donald Paul Werner is a retired Major League Baseball
catcher
. He played during seven seasons at the major league level, playing for the Cincinnati Reds
and Texas Rangers (baseball)
. In 1978, the Reds starting catcher, Johnny Bench
, sat out 20 plus games with an injury which gave Don a starting role. On June 16 of the same year he was fortunate enough to catch the only no-hitter of Hall of Famer Tom Seaver
's career. He was drafted by the Reds in the 5th round of the amateur draft. Werner played his first professional season with their Rookie League Gulf Coast Reds
in , and his last with Texas' Triple-A club, the Oklahoma RedHawks
in .
chain for seven seasons. He joined the Baltimore Orioles
organization as coach of the Delmarva Shorebirds
in 2003-2004. He was the skipper of the Bowie Baysox
in 2005-2006. After the 2006 season he was named minor league catching instructor for the Orioles. On June 20. 2011, he was namedbullpen coach for the Baltimore Orioles, replacing Rick Adair, who had been promoted to pirching coach.
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...
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...
. He played during seven seasons at the major league level, playing for 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....
and Texas Rangers (baseball)
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. In 1978, the Reds starting catcher, 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...
, sat out 20 plus games with an injury which gave Don a starting role. On June 16 of the same year he was fortunate enough to catch the only no-hitter of Hall of Famer 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...
's career. He was drafted by the Reds in the 5th round of the amateur draft. Werner played his first professional season with their Rookie League Gulf Coast Reds
Gulf Coast Reds
The Arizona League Reds, formerly the Gulf Coast League Reds, are a minor league baseball team in Goodyear, Arizona. They are a Rookie-level team in the Arizona League that begin play as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate in the summer of 2010. The AZL Reds play home games at the Goodyear Ballpark...
in , and his last with Texas' Triple-A club, the Oklahoma RedHawks
Oklahoma RedHawks
The Oklahoma City RedHawks are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
in .
Coaching
Since retiring as a player, he has been a minor league manager and coach. Werner was in the San Diego PadresSan 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...
chain for seven seasons. He joined the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
organization as coach of the Delmarva Shorebirds
Delmarva Shorebirds
The Delmarva Shorebirds are a minor league baseball team based in Salisbury, Maryland. They are one of three Single-A affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles and a member of the South Atlantic League. The Shorebirds play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.The "Shorebirds" name refers to the marine waterfowl...
in 2003-2004. He was the skipper of the Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
in 2005-2006. After the 2006 season he was named minor league catching instructor for the Orioles. On June 20. 2011, he was namedbullpen coach for the Baltimore Orioles, replacing Rick Adair, who had been promoted to pirching coach.