Gene Tenace
Encyclopedia
Fury Gene Tenace better known as Gene Tenace, is a former Italian-American professional
baseball
player and current coach
in Major League Baseball
. He was a catcher
and first baseman
from through . Tenace was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics from Valley High School
in Lucasville, OH and played for the Oakland Athletics
, San Diego Padres
, St. Louis Cardinals
and the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He batted and threw right-handed. Tenace was one of the top catchers of his era and won the 1972
World Series Most Valuable Player Award. He was known for his power, especially versus right-handed pitching.
by the then Kansas City Athletics
. Tenace made his major league debut for Oakland on May 29, 1969
against the Detroit Tigers
at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum where he went 0-4 with 2 strikeout
s in a 8-4 Oakland loss. He hit the first home run
of his career on June 6, 1969 at Tiger Stadium against Earl Wilson of the Detroit Tigers. He finished the season with a .158 batting average
, 1 home run and 2 runs batted in, appearing in just 38 games as a third-string catcher.
He continued to play the next two years as the third-string catcher before serving as Dave Duncan
's backup in 1971
. Tenace entered the 1972
season backing up Duncan, but was given a chance to show his abilities by being made the team's regular catcher in the post-season. Tenace took full advantage of this opportunity, excelling in the 1972 playoffs and World Series. In the 1972 American League Championship Series
against the Detroit Tigers
, he drove in the clinching run
in Oakland's 2-1 victory in game 5; it was his only hit of the series.
He put himself in the spotlight once again in Game 1 of the 1972 World Series
when the Athletics faced the Cincinnati Reds
. He became the first player to hit home runs in his first two World Series at bat
s and drove in all three runs in the A's 3-2 victory. In Game 4, the A's were losing 2-1, with their only run to that point coming on Tenace's solo home run. A ninth-inning
one-out
rally consisting of four singles
, with Tenace's the second and the rest coming from pinch hitter
s, won the game against Cincinnati's ace relief pitcher
, Clay Carroll
. He hit a three-run home run
in the A's Game 5 loss. Before Game 6 of the 1972 Series, he was the target of a death threat. In Game 7, he was once again the hero, driving in two runs in a 3-2 victory for Oakland. In total, he went 8 for 23 in the Series, with 4 home run
s and nine RBI to earn the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
Tenace's heroics helped him earn a full-time job in Oakland's lineup. He served as the team's starting first baseman
for two seasons, while still serving as the backup catcher to Ray Fosse
. He had his roles reversed in , starting at catcher while backing up first base. As a regular starter for the A's, Tenace had a low batting average
but a fair amount of power, hitting 20 home runs in four consecutive years in Oakland, finishing among the top 10 home run hitters in the American League
each year. He further made up for his lack of a high batting average by sporting a tremendous batting eye. He drew over 100 walks
in a season three times for Oakland, and led the American League in walks in 1974, making up for a career-low .211 average that year. Statistically, his best year with Oakland was in 1975
, when he hit a career-best 29 home runs and drove in 83 runs, drew 106 walks, finished 18th in the American League Most Valuable Player Award balloting and was selected to be the starting first baseman for the American League in the 1975 All-Star Game
.
s after the 1976
season and participated in a newly created re-entry draft, in which teams acquired the rights to negotiate with veteran free agents. Tenace and teammate Rollie Fingers
were the first players from that draft to sign, with both joining the San Diego Padres
in December of that year. In four years as a starter with the Padres, his power numbers dropped in part due to the cavernous dimensions of San Diego Stadium, only reaching 20 home runs once; but his batting eye remained, recording three more seasons of 100 walks, with a career best of 125 in 1977
. In 1979
, Tenace led National League
catchers with a .998 fielding percentage
, committing only 1 error
in 94 games. He recorded an on base percentage
of over .390 in each of his years in San Diego, and finished 3rd in the National League in that department in 3 consecutive years.
season, Tenace, Fingers, and two others joined the St. Louis Cardinals
in a trade for Terry Kennedy
and six minor league players. In his two years in St. Louis, Tenace primarily played against left-handed pitchers, platooning
with Darrell Porter
. As a member of the Cardinals team he won the 1982 World Series
, giving him four World Series rings.
and pinch-hitter, appearing in 53 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates
in 1983
. He retired after being released the following year in spring training
.
became strongly interested in the possibility of hiring Tenace as their manager
to replace Chuck Tanner
. When the year ended, however, Tanner was still the manager so, Tenace became a coach at the Major League level with the Houston Astros
in 1986
and 1987
, and later coached with the Toronto Blue Jays
from 1990
to 1997
. When manager Cito Gaston
was sidelined with a herniated disc in 1991
, Tenace served as the team's interim manager, going 19-14 and keeping Toronto competitive en route to an eventual American League Eastern Division
title. He was part of Toronto's World Series-winning teams in 1992
and 1993
, giving him 6 rings in 6 World Series appearances as a player and a coach.
Tenace has also served as a hitting
instructor for the St. Louis Cardinals
organization. He was re-hired as the Blue Jays' hitting coach on June 20, 2008
, when Cito Gaston
replaced John Gibbons
as the team's manager. Tenace replaced hitting coach Gary Denbo
. He was one of two members of Gaston's old coaching staff from his last World Series championship team who were brought back to the team (third base coach Nick Leyva
being the other).
Before Gaston was hired the Blue Jays had a record of 35-39 and since Gaston and his coaches took over the Blue Jays went 51-37 to finish with an 86-76 record on the season. The offensive improvements under Gaston are one of the reasons for the resurgence and as the hitting coach, Tenace has been credited with rejuvenating a stagnant offense. Adam Lind
credited his great offensive numbers in the month of July and August to the coaching styles of Gaston and Tenace, saying: "The thing is, a lot of people can teach you how to hit, but not a lot of people can teach you how to hit in the big leagues," referring to the major league experience of Gaston and Tenace. Blue Jays' center fielder Vernon Wells has said he likes the approach to hitting that Tenace teaches: "One thing Gene talks about is having that approach mentally when you go up there, in your mind you already guarantee yourself that one run on third, but you want to do more than that. Gene always says that first runner is a gimme, you should be able to come through in pretty much every situation like that. And then you try to do more damage than just that one run".
, accumulating 1060 hits
in 4390 at bats for a .241 career batting average along with 201 home runs, 674 runs batted in and an on base percentage
of .388. He not only caught nearly 900 games, but also played first base
over 600 times. Tenace ended his career with a .986 fielding percentage
as a catcher and a .993 fielding percentage as a first baseman. He reached 20 home runs in five of his seven seasons as a regular, with a high of 29 in . After becoming an everyday player in 1973
, he did not have an on-base average below .370 until his final year; his OBP was above .400 five times and over .390 (about 60 points above the league average) an additional three times, ending his career with an impressive .388 on base percentage. Six times he drew more than 100 bases on balls, and he led his league twice. He set the American League record for having the lowest batting average while leading the league in walks in when he posted a .211 batting average with a league-leading 110 walks. In , he had a .415 on base percentage while posting a .233 batting average, the second lowest batting average with a .400 on base percentage in major league history. Less than half of his career trips to first base came via base hits, reaching 1,075 times through walks (984) and being hit by pitch
es (91) as opposed to only 1,060 hits.
Chuck Rosciam, a Baseball historian
and a member of the Society for American Baseball Research
, believes that Tenace deserves a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Using six offensive measures: Average, On-base percentage, Slugging, RBIs, Runs created and Win shares—all League-Era adjusted, Rosciam ranks Tenace sixth offensively behind Mickey Cochrane
, Mike Piazza
, Bill Dickey
, Gabby Hartnett
and Joe Torre
among catchers. Tenace is tied for third in OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) with Johnny Bench
and Torre. He's only behind Roy Campanella
and Yogi Berra
.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player and current 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...
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...
. He 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...
and first baseman
First 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...
from through . Tenace was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics from Valley High School
Valley High School (Ohio)
For schools of the same name, see Valley High SchoolValley High School is a public high school in Lucasville, Ohio in Scioto County in Southern Ohio. It is the only high school in the Valley Local School District...
in Lucasville, OH and played for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, 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...
, 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...
and 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...
. He batted and threw right-handed. Tenace was one of the top catchers of his era and won the 1972
1972 World Series
The 1972 World Series matched the American League champion Oakland Athletics against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds, with the A's winning in seven games. These two teams would meet again in the fall classic eighteen years later...
World Series Most Valuable Player Award. He was known for his power, especially versus right-handed pitching.
Oakland Athletics (1969-1976)
Tenace was selected in baseball's first entry draft, being taken in the 20th round of the 1965 Major League Baseball Draft1965 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1965 Major League Baseball Draft is the first year in which a draft took place for Major League Baseball.In Major League Baseball's first Free Agent Amateur Draft, the Kansas City Athletics selected Arizona State sophomore Rick Monday as the number one pick...
by the then Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. Tenace made his major league debut for Oakland on May 29, 1969
1969 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's compiling a record of 88 wins and 74 losses. With its expansion to 12 teams in 1969, the American League had been divided into two 6-team divisions. In their first year in the newly-established American League West, the Athletics finished second, nine...
against the Detroit Tigers
1969 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished a distant second in the newly-established American League East with a record of 90-72, 19 games behind the Baltimore Orioles.- Offseason :...
at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum where he went 0-4 with 2 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 in a 8-4 Oakland loss. He hit the first 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...
of his career on June 6, 1969 at Tiger Stadium against Earl Wilson of the Detroit Tigers. He finished the season with a .158 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 :...
, 1 home run and 2 runs batted in, appearing in just 38 games as a third-string catcher.
He continued to play the next two years as the third-string catcher before serving as Dave Duncan
Dave Duncan (baseball)
David Edwin Duncan is an American former professional baseball player and current pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals...
's backup in 1971
1971 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's finishing first in the American League West with a record of 101 wins and 60 losses. In their first postseason appearance of any kind since 1931, the A's were swept in three games by the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Championship...
. Tenace entered the 1972
1972 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning the American League West with a record of 93 wins and 62 losses. In the playoffs, they defeated the Detroit Tigers in a five-game ALCS, followed by a seven-game World Series, in which they defeated the Cincinnati Reds for their first World...
season backing up Duncan, but was given a chance to show his abilities by being made the team's regular catcher in the post-season. Tenace took full advantage of this opportunity, excelling in the 1972 playoffs and World Series. In the 1972 American League Championship Series
1972 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 7, 1972 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, CaliforniaGame 1 pitted ace pitchers Catfish Hunter for the A's and Mickey Lolich for the Tigers, and, as expected, both were brilliant...
against the Detroit Tigers
1972 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers won the American League East division championship with a record of 86-70 , finishing one-half game ahead of the Boston Red Sox. They played one more game than the Red Sox due to a scheduling quirk caused by the 1972 Major League Baseball strike -- a game which turned out to...
, he drove in the clinching run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in Oakland's 2-1 victory in game 5; it was his only hit of the series.
He put himself in the spotlight once again in Game 1 of the 1972 World Series
1972 World Series
The 1972 World Series matched the American League champion Oakland Athletics against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds, with the A's winning in seven games. These two teams would meet again in the fall classic eighteen years later...
when the Athletics faced the Cincinnati Reds
1972 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds winning the National League West title with a record of 95-59, 10½ games over the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers. They defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1972 National League Championship Series, but lost to the Oakland Athletics in...
. He became the first player to hit home runs in his first two World Series 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 and drove in all three runs in the A's 3-2 victory. In Game 4, the A's were losing 2-1, with their only run to that point coming on Tenace's solo home run. A ninth-inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
one-out
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
rally consisting of four singles
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...
, with Tenace's the second and the rest coming from pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
s, won the game against Cincinnati's ace relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, Clay Carroll
Clay Carroll
Clay Palmer Carroll is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball with a 15-year career from 1964 to 1978. He pitched for the Milwaukee Braves & Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, St...
. He hit a three-run 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...
in the A's Game 5 loss. Before Game 6 of the 1972 Series, he was the target of a death threat. In Game 7, he was once again the hero, driving in two runs in a 3-2 victory for Oakland. In total, he went 8 for 23 in the Series, with 4 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...
s and nine RBI to earn the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
Tenace's heroics helped him earn a full-time job in Oakland's lineup. He served as the team's starting first baseman
First 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...
for two seasons, while still serving as the backup catcher to Ray Fosse
Ray Fosse
Raymond Earl Fosse is a former professional baseball player who was a catcher in the Major Leagues. He was drafted in the first round of the 1965 amateur draft by the Cleveland Indians. Fosse also holds the distinction of being the Indians' first ever draft pick, as 1965 was the first year of the...
. He had his roles reversed in , starting at catcher while backing up first base. As a regular starter for the A's, Tenace had a low 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 :...
but a fair amount of power, hitting 20 home runs in four consecutive years in Oakland, finishing among the top 10 home run hitters in 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...
each year. He further made up for his lack of a high batting average by sporting a tremendous batting eye. He drew over 100 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...
in a season three times for Oakland, and led the American League in walks in 1974, making up for a career-low .211 average that year. Statistically, his best year with Oakland was in 1975
1975 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics' 1975 season involved the A's finishing first in the American League West with a record of 98 wins and 64 losses. They went on to play the Boston Red Sox in the 1975 American League Championship Series, losing in three straight games....
, when he hit a career-best 29 home runs and drove in 83 runs, drew 106 walks, finished 18th in the American League Most Valuable Player Award balloting and was selected to be the starting first baseman for the American League in the 1975 All-Star Game
1975 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1975 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 46th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played on July 15, 1975 at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, home of...
.
San Diego (1977-1980)
Tenace was one of several Athletics who became 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....
s after the 1976
1976 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's finishing second in the American League West with a record of 87 wins and 74 losses, 2½ games behind the Kansas City Royals, meaning that the A's failed to make the playoffs for the first time since...
season and participated in a newly created re-entry draft, in which teams acquired the rights to negotiate with veteran free agents. Tenace and teammate Rollie Fingers
Rollie Fingers
Roland Glen Fingers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992...
were the first players from that draft to sign, with both joining 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 December of that year. In four years as a starter with the Padres, his power numbers dropped in part due to the cavernous dimensions of San Diego Stadium, only reaching 20 home runs once; but his batting eye remained, recording three more seasons of 100 walks, with a career best of 125 in 1977
1977 San Diego Padres season
-Offseason:* October 22, 1976: Diego Seguí was purchased from the Padres by the Seattle Mariners.* November 5, 1976: Chuck Hartenstein was purchased from the Padres by the Toronto Blue Jays....
. In 1979
1979 San Diego Padres season
- Offseason :* October 25, 1978: Oscar Gamble, Dave Roberts and $300,000 were traded by the Padres to the Texas Rangers for Mike Hargrove, Kurt Bevacqua, and Bill Fahey.* March 1, 1979: Fred Kuhaulua was signed as a free agent by the Padres....
, Tenace led 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 a .998 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
, committing only 1 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 ...
in 94 games. He recorded an on base percentage
On 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...
of over .390 in each of his years in San Diego, and finished 3rd in the National League in that department in 3 consecutive years.
St. Louis (1981-1982)
After the 19801980 Oakland Athletics season
The 1980 Oakland Athletics season was a season in American baseball. It involved the A's finishing second in the American League West with a record of 83 wins and 79 losses.- Offseason :* March 21, 1980: Jim Todd was released by the Athletics....
season, Tenace, Fingers, and two others joined the 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...
in a trade for Terry Kennedy
Terry Kennedy
Terrence Edward Kennedy is a former All-Star Major League Baseball catcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , San Diego Padres , Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants . Kennedy batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He is the son of former major league player and manager Bob Kennedy...
and six minor league players. In his two years in St. Louis, Tenace primarily played against left-handed pitchers, platooning
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
with Darrell Porter
Darrell Porter
Darrell Ray Porter was a former American professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers. He was known for his excellent defensive skills and power hitting...
. As a member of the Cardinals team he won the 1982 World Series
1982 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 12, 1982 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriThe Brewers' left-hander Mike Caldwell pitched a complete game shutout, allowing only three hits. The Brewers' offense was led by Paul Molitor, who had a World Series-record five hits and two RBIs...
, giving him four World Series rings.
Pittsburgh (1983)
Tenace played his final season as a utility playerUtility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
and pinch-hitter, appearing in 53 games for 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 1983
1983 Pittsburgh Pirates season
- Offseason :* December 22, 1982: Tim Burke, Don Aubin , John Holland , and José Rivera were traded by the Pirates to the New York Yankees for Lee Mazzilli.- Notable transactions :...
. He retired after being released the following year in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
.
Coaching career
Tenace became a coach after retiring as a player. He was touted as a possible managerial candidate during his later years. The Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh 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...
became strongly interested in the possibility of hiring Tenace as their 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...
to replace Chuck Tanner
Chuck Tanner
Charles William "Chuck" Tanner was a left fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. He was known for his unwavering confidence and infectious optimism. He managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to a World Series championship in 1979...
. When the year ended, however, Tanner was still the manager so, Tenace became a coach at the Major League level with 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...
in 1986
1986 Houston Astros season
-Regular season:* Kevin Bass had a twenty game hit streak during the season.* Dave Smith set a club record with 33 saves in one season.* September 24, 1986: Jim Deshaies set a record for the most strikeouts to start a game...
and 1987
1987 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros' 1987 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Houston Astros attempting to win the National League West.-Offseason:* October 24, 1986: Matt Keough was released by the Astros....
, and later coached with 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 ....
from 1990
1990 Toronto Blue Jays season
The Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing second in the American League East with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses. It was their first full season in the Skydome. The Blue Jays led the division by 1½ games over the Boston Red Sox with one...
to 1997
1997 Toronto Blue Jays season
The Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing 5th in the American League East with a record of 76 wins and 86 losses...
. When manager Cito Gaston
Cito Gaston
Clarence Edwin "Cito" Gaston is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. His major league career as a player lasted from 1967–1978, most notably for the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves...
was sidelined with a herniated disc in 1991
1991 Toronto Blue Jays season
The 1991 Toronto Blue Jays season involved the Blue Jays finishing 1st in the American League East with a record of 91 wins and 71 losses. The team's paid attendance of 4,001,527 led the American League, as the Jays became the first team in MLB history ever to draw four million fans in a season...
, Tenace served as the team's interim manager, going 19-14 and keeping Toronto competitive en route to an eventual American League Eastern Division
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
title. He was part of Toronto's World Series-winning teams in 1992
1992 Toronto Blue Jays season
The Toronto Blue Jays played their 16th season in Major League Baseball. Toronto finished first in the American League East for the 4th time with a record of 96 wins and 66 losses, closing the season with an attendance record of 4,028,318...
and 1993
1993 Toronto Blue Jays season
The Toronto Blue Jays season involved the Blue Jays finishing first in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 67 losses. They were shut out only once in 162 regular-season games. The Blue Jays would repeat as World Champions and become the first back-to-back champions since the New...
, giving him 6 rings in 6 World Series appearances as a player and a coach.
Tenace has also served as a hitting
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
instructor for the 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...
organization. He was re-hired as the Blue Jays' hitting coach on June 20, 2008
2008 Toronto Blue Jays season
The Toronto Blue Jays season, the team's 32nd year of existence, saw the Blue Jays finish in fourth place in the American League East with a record of 86 wins and 76 losses for a .531 winning percentage, thus making this season the third consecutive winning season for the Jays, as well as being...
, when Cito Gaston
Cito Gaston
Clarence Edwin "Cito" Gaston is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. His major league career as a player lasted from 1967–1978, most notably for the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves...
replaced John Gibbons
John Gibbons
John Michael Gibbons was the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays in Major League Baseball from 2004 to 2008...
as the team's manager. Tenace replaced hitting coach Gary Denbo
Gary Denbo
Gary Brian Denbo is currently a Major League Professional Scout for the New York Yankees professional baseball organization.-Playing career:...
. He was one of two members of Gaston's old coaching staff from his last World Series championship team who were brought back to the team (third base coach Nick Leyva
Nick Leyva
Nicholas Tomas Leyva is the current third base coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Leyva, who is of Mexican American descent, is a former minor league player and manager, and has spent over a decade as a Major League Baseball coach...
being the other).
Hitting Approach
Tenace advocates a more aggressive approach to hitting. Under his guidance, hitters spend less time working the count and more time preparing to hit. He stresses the mental part of hitting, such as the mental preparation for what a pitcher will do, rather than just the physical aspect. Under Tenace, the philosophy of hitting can be described as "Grip It And Rip It" and more of an old school approach to hitting.Before Gaston was hired the Blue Jays had a record of 35-39 and since Gaston and his coaches took over the Blue Jays went 51-37 to finish with an 86-76 record on the season. The offensive improvements under Gaston are one of the reasons for the resurgence and as the hitting coach, Tenace has been credited with rejuvenating a stagnant offense. Adam Lind
Adam Lind
Adam Alan Lind is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. He was drafted in the third round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft and was signed on June 30, 2004. He was first drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the eighth round of...
credited his great offensive numbers in the month of July and August to the coaching styles of Gaston and Tenace, saying: "The thing is, a lot of people can teach you how to hit, but not a lot of people can teach you how to hit in the big leagues," referring to the major league experience of Gaston and Tenace. Blue Jays' center fielder Vernon Wells has said he likes the approach to hitting that Tenace teaches: "One thing Gene talks about is having that approach mentally when you go up there, in your mind you already guarantee yourself that one run on third, but you want to do more than that. Gene always says that first runner is a gimme, you should be able to come through in pretty much every situation like that. And then you try to do more damage than just that one run".
Career statistics
In a 15 year career, Tenace played in 1555 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 1060 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....
in 4390 at bats for a .241 career batting average along with 201 home runs, 674 runs batted in and an on base percentage
On 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...
of .388. He not only caught nearly 900 games, but also played first base
First 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...
over 600 times. Tenace ended his career with a .986 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
as a catcher and a .993 fielding percentage as a first baseman. He reached 20 home runs in five of his seven seasons as a regular, with a high of 29 in . After becoming an everyday player in 1973
1973 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics season involved the A's winning their third consecutive American League West title with a record of 94 wins and 68 losses...
, he did not have an on-base average below .370 until his final year; his OBP was above .400 five times and over .390 (about 60 points above the league average) an additional three times, ending his career with an impressive .388 on base percentage. Six times he drew more than 100 bases on balls, and he led his league twice. He set the American League record for having the lowest batting average while leading the league in walks in when he posted a .211 batting average with a league-leading 110 walks. In , he had a .415 on base percentage while posting a .233 batting average, the second lowest batting average with a .400 on base percentage in major league history. Less than half of his career trips to first base came via base hits, reaching 1,075 times through walks (984) and being 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 (91) as opposed to only 1,060 hits.
Chuck Rosciam, a Baseball historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
and a member of the Society for American Baseball Research
Society for American Baseball Research
The Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
, believes that Tenace deserves a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Using six offensive measures: Average, On-base percentage, Slugging, RBIs, Runs created and Win shares—all League-Era adjusted, Rosciam ranks Tenace sixth offensively behind Mickey Cochrane
Mickey Cochrane
Gordon Stanley "Mickey" Cochrane was a professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
, Mike Piazza
Mike Piazza
Michael Joseph "Mike" Piazza ; born September 4, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics....
, Bill Dickey
Bill Dickey
William Malcolm Dickey was a Major League Baseball catcher and manager.He played his entire 19-year baseball career with the New York Yankees . During Dickey's playing career, the Yankees went to the World Series nine times, winning eight championships...
, Gabby Hartnett
Gabby Hartnett
Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played almost his entire career in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago Cubs. Until the career of Johnny Bench, Hartnett was considered the greatest catcher in the history of the National League...
and 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...
among catchers. Tenace is tied for third in OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) with 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...
and Torre. He's only behind Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella , nicknamed "Campy", was an American baseball player, primarily at the position of catcher, in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball...
and Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
.
Notable Achievements
- AL All-Star (1975)
- 1972 World Series MVP
- 2-time League Bases on Balls Leader (1974/AL & 1977/NL)
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 5 (1973-1976 & 1979)
- Caught Vida BlueVida BlueVida Rochelle Blue Jr. is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 17-year career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , and Kansas City Royals He won the American League Cy Young award and Most Valuable Player Award in 1971...
's no-hitterNo-hitterA 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"...
on September 21, 1970 - Won four World Series as a player with the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1972, 1973 & 1974) and the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe 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...
(1982) - Won two World Series as a coach and manager with the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe 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 ....
(1992) & (1993)
Appearances in Other Media
- Tenace did a voice cameo in an episode of The SimpsonsThe SimpsonsThe Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
entitled "Regarding MargieRegarding Margie“Regarding Margie” is the 20th episode of The Simpsons’ seventeenth season.-Plot:Looking for a way to get easy money, Bart, Milhouse, and Nelson go around town spray-painting people’s addresses on their curbs and making them pay them ten dollars for the unsolicited service...
" in 2006. - Tenace appeared in a television commercial for the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe 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 ....
in 2008.
See also
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
- World Series MVP
External links
- Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers Entry
- Baseball Evolution Hall of Fame - Player Profile
- Baseball Library - Profile