Geno Petralli
Encyclopedia
Eugene James Petralli is a former professional baseball
player. He played all or part of twelve seasons in Major League Baseball
from 1982 to 1993, primarily as a catcher
.
from 1948 to 1953. Petralli graduated from John F. Kennedy High School
in Sacramento, and went on to Sacramento City College
. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
in the 3rd round (53rd overall pick) of the January regular phase of the 1978 amateur entry draft
.
of the rookie Pioneer League, where he batted .281 in 65 games, playing some third base
as well as catching. The following season, he started the year with the class-A Dunedin Blue Jays
, batting .288 in 52 games, then was promoted to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, where he batted .232 in 18 games.
In 1980, Petralli was assigned to Double-A with the Knoxville Blue Jays. In his first full season all at one level, he played 116 games and batting .285 with 3 home runs. Petralli was promoted back to Syracuse in 1981, but had to split time with two other Blue Jay catching prospects, Dan Whitmer
and Ramón Lora, playing in just 45 games and batting .265.
Petralli played for the Toronto Blue Jays
and Texas Rangers
both of the American League
. He played catcher, first base, second base, third base, outfield, and designated hitter.
for catcher Buck Martinez and striking out
. He got his first major league hit the following day, a double
off Len Barker
of the Cleveland Indians
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, then finished the season with a .364 average in 16 games.
With Ernie Whitt
and Martinez still around to handle catching duties for Toronto, and designated hitter
Cliff Johnson available for emergencies, Petralli returned to Syracuse in 1983. Although his numbers slipped to a .245 average, three home runs and 40 RBI, he was again called up in September. This time, however, he only received 4 at bat
s over six games without a hit.
In 1984, Petralli made the major league roster out of spring training
, but appeared in just three games over the first month of the season, batting three times without a hit. On May 8, his contract was sold to the Indians.
. There, he served as backup to former New York Yankees
prospect Juan Espino
, playing in just 23 games and batting .217 without a home run. He started out the next year with Maine as well, this time behind former Rangers prospect Kevin Buckley
. After just two games with the Guides in which he had one hit in seven at bats, Petralli was released.
was injured, and Petralli was recalled to replace him.
Petralli made his first appearance for the Rangers on July 9 against the Indians, going 0-for-2. Petralli's first hit as a Ranger came in a 6-0 defeat at Yankee Stadium on July 12 against Yankees pitcher Ed Whitson
. With Slaught missing most of the next two months, Petralli split time with Glenn Brummer
, but when Slaught returned, he assumed Brummer's role as Slaught's primary backup. Brummer was released after the season.
Petralli finished the season with what were, to that point, career highs in most categories, including his first major league stolen base
. He batted .270 with 11 RBI in 42 games with the Rangers. He would never play as few games as that during the rest of his major league career.
as a free agent to serve as third catcher and part-time DH. When Slaught again was injured in May, the Rangers added a fourth catcher, Orlando Mercado
, to the roster, and continued to carry all four for the remainder of the season.
Petralli's first appearance in the field in 1986 came not as a catcher, but at third base on April 14. He struggled at the plate early in the season, and on June 9 he still had not recorded his first RBI of the year. On June 10, however, he busted out with five RBI while going 3-for-5, including two doubles, against the Minnesota Twins
in a 14-10 Rangers win. He also improved his batting average on the season from .200 to .257.
On July 13, Petralli hit his first major league home run against Indians starter and future Hall of Famer Phil Niekro
as the Rangers won 5-3. His only other home run of the year was a big one, a game tying two-run pinch-hit home run
in the bottom of the eighth inning off Roger Clemens
during a nationally televised Monday night baseball game against the first place Boston Red Sox
on August 25, 1986 at Arlington Stadium
. The blast allowed Rubén Sierra
to win the game with a home run in the bottom of the ninth as the Rangers remained within three games of the California Angels
in the American League West
. The Rangers never got closer to the Angels, however, fading to ten games back on September 26 with nine games to go, closing to finish five games back after being eliminated
Petralli, who served as the Rangers' Union Player Representative in 1986, once again bettered his career highs to date that year. Although his batting average had slipped to .255, he set career highs in games played, at bats, RBI and stolen bases. He also demonstrated his versatility, playing second base
for the first time professionally on May 14.
, that only opened up room on the roster for prospect Mike Stanley
. However, they found playing time for Petralli all over the field, as he appeared at six different positions, including his first-ever professional appearances at first base
, left field
, and right field
.
Petralli's most important task, however, resolved itself over the course of the season: catching knuckleball
er Charlie Hough
. Handling the notoriously difficult pitch put Petralli in the record books three times during 1987. The first came on August 22, as Petralli committed four passed ball
s in one inning to tie a major league record. Eight days later, Petralli committed six passed balls in one game to tie another record. Overall, Petralli's 35 passed balls that year -- 32 with Hough pitching -- were the most by a big league catcher since Jack Boyle
committed 71 in 1892 (surpassing J. C. Martin
's modern-day record of 33 in 1965), and as of 2011 remains the most by a catcher during that time.
Offensively, Petralli continued to improve as well, as he hit over .300 for the first time in his career, posting a .302 average. He played in 101 games with 202 at bats, seven home runs and 31 RBI, all career highs to that time.
Brad Arnsberg
, and on December 21 they released Porter, leaving Petralli and Stanley as the team's top two catchers. The two split time fairly evenly until Stanley was injured in July. At that time, the Rangers brought in Jim Sundberg
, who had been released by the Chicago Cubs
, to share time with Petralli. Sundberg, who had played ten years for the Rangers from 1974-83, wound up taking over Stanley's half of the duties, while Petralli continued to play all over the infield.
In August, Petralli hit .342 (26 hits in 76 at bats) over the course of 25 games and was named the Rangers Player of the Month. It was the highest honor he ever received. When Stanley came back, the Rangers continued to carry three catchers, and in September they again added a fourth, bringing prospect Chad Kreuter
up from the minors. Kreuter wound up catching 15 of the last 18 games of the season, with Petralli serving as the DH and catching two games.
Overall, Petralli improved on defense while slipping a bit on offense. Though he caught Hough in nine more games in 1988 than he had in 1987, Petralli had only 20 passed balls -- still enough to lead the majors again. His batting average, while still respectable, especially for a catcher, slipped to .288. He hit seven home runs again, and increased his RBI total to a career high 36, but he did it in 351 at bats, nearly twice as many as in 1987.
, Petralli was moved to designated hitter, with Kreuter and Sundberg taking over catching duties.
This arrangement didn't last long, as Petralli suffered a left knee injury on June 26. After a brief rehabilitation assignment with the Tulsa Drillers
- the first time Petralli had spent in the minors since 1985 - Petralli returned on August 19 and resumed his role as starting catcher. He got his average as high as .324 on September 6, but got just one hit in his next 14 at bats, and did not play after September 17, finishing the year at .304.
Back in a full-time role for the entire season catching Hough, Petralli led all of Major League Baseball in passed balls for the third time in four years, matching his 1988 total of 20. While he played in a career-high 133 games, his offensive numbers also took a dive, as he batted just .255 and failed to hit a home run for the first time since 1985 while driving in just 21 runs. One of the highlights of the season came on July 31, when Petralli caught Nolan Ryan
's 300th career win in 1990 on Ryan's second attempt to reach that milestone.
from Tulsa, immediately installing him as their starting catcher, a position he would not relinquish until leaving the Rangers as a free agent after the 2002 season.
When Petralli came back at the end of July, he found himself relegated to backup catcher, occasional DH, and pinch hitter. He finished the season batting .271 with 2 home runs and 20 RBI in 87 games overall.
for the only time in his career at .198 in 94 games. He also saw occasional duty at DH, third base and second base.
In 1993, Petralli's playing time was cut back further, as Rodríguez played in 137 games. In 59 games at catcher, DH, and the infield, Petralli bounced back to hit .241, although that was still the second-lowest average of his career. His final major league game came on Saturday October 2, 1993 in front of over 41,000 fans. The Rangers lost to Tom Gordon
and the Kansas City Royals
by a score of 7-4. The game was the next to last game ever played at Arlington Stadium
before the Rangers moved into their new Ballpark in Arlington the next year. Arlington Stadium was turned into a parking lot shortly after the season ended.
as their backup catcher. Petralli signed with the San Diego Padres
in March 1994, but did not make their roster and was released. Similarly, Scioscia's comeback was also aborted, as Junior Ortiz
won the job backing up Rodríguez.
Petralli hooked on instead with the Chicago Cubs
organization, where he became a player-coach for the Orlando Cubs. He injured his ribs in a home plate collision and wound up playing just eight games between Orlando and the Iowa Cubs
, ending his playing career.
Petralli gave up 95 passed balls in his career, due in large part to Petralli being the personal catcher for Hough. Petralli led all of baseball in passed balls with 35 in 1987, 20 in 1988, and 20 in 1990. Overall, he ranks 141st as of 2011 in career passed balls despite appearing in just 574 games as a catcher.
Ben was drafted five different times. He was first chosen by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in 2004, but chose to play at his father's alma mater, Sacramento City College. He was subsequently selected by the Detroit Tigers
with their 15th round draft pick in 2005 and their 17th round pick in 2006, then by the Rangers in 2007 and again in 2008. He finally made his professional debut in 2010 with the Grand Prairie AirHogs
of the American Association, later playing with the Normal CornBelters
of the Frontier League
.
Petralli's nephew, Chris Petralli, matriculated at the University of Miami
in the fall of 2006 after playing two years at Sacramento City JC.
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....
player. He played all or part of twelve seasons 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...
from 1982 to 1993, primarily as 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...
.
Early life
Petralli is the son of former minor leaguer Gene Petralli, who played in the minor leaguesMinor 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...
from 1948 to 1953. Petralli graduated from John F. Kennedy High School
John F. Kennedy High School (Sacramento, California)
John F. Kennedy High School, a member of the Sacramento City Unified School District, is a public school in the Pocket-Greenhaven Area of Sacramento, California.-Notable alumni:* Adam Bernero - seven-year MLB pitcher...
in Sacramento, and went on to Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College is a two-year community college located in Sacramento, California. SCC is part of the Los Rios Community College District and had an enrollment of 25,307 in 2009. Sacramento City College is officially accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges , offering...
. He was drafted by 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 ....
in the 3rd round (53rd overall pick) of the January regular phase of the 1978 amateur entry draft
1978 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1978 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :In 1978, four players made the jump from amateur baseball to the major leagues, including Arizona State third baseman Bob Horner, who was selected number one overall by the Atlanta...
.
Early minor league career
Petralli made his professional debut in 1978 with the Medicine Hat Blue JaysMedicine Hat Blue Jays
The Medicine Hat Blue Jays were the Toronto Blue Jays rookie-level affiliate in the Pioneer League beginning in 1978 and remained with their parent club for 25 seasons. They played their home games at Athletic Park. Over the years, the club generally struggled on the field and with attendance, but...
of the rookie Pioneer League, where he batted .281 in 65 games, playing some 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...
as well as catching. The following season, he started the year with the class-A Dunedin Blue Jays
Dunedin Blue Jays
The Dunedin Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team based in Dunedin, Florida. They play in the Florida State League, and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball club...
, batting .288 in 52 games, then was promoted to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, where he batted .232 in 18 games.
In 1980, Petralli was assigned to Double-A with the Knoxville Blue Jays. In his first full season all at one level, he played 116 games and batting .285 with 3 home runs. Petralli was promoted back to Syracuse in 1981, but had to split time with two other Blue Jay catching prospects, Dan Whitmer
Dan Whitmer
Daniel Charles Whitmer is a former professional baseball player and coach. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball, 1980 for the California Angels and 1981 for the Toronto Blue Jays, primarily as a catcher....
and Ramón Lora, playing in just 45 games and batting .265.
Petralli played for 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 ....
and Texas Rangers
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...
both of 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...
. He played catcher, first base, second base, third base, outfield, and designated hitter.
Up and down
In 1982, Petralli was given the full-time job at Syracuse, and he responded with minor league career bests in batting average (.289), home runs (9) and runs batted in (58). This earned him a September call-up, and he made his debut on September 4, pinch-hittingPinch 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...
for catcher Buck Martinez and striking out
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....
. He got his first major league hit the following day, a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
off Len Barker
Len Barker
Leonard Harold Barker III , better known as Lenny Barker or Len Barker, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He pitched the tenth perfect game in baseball history. Barker pitched for the Texas Rangers , Cleveland Indians , Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers...
of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, then finished the season with a .364 average in 16 games.
With Ernie Whitt
Ernie Whitt
Leo Ernest "Ernie" Whitt is a former Major League Baseball catcher and coach who is the current manager for the minor league Clearwater Threshers. He is noted for the twelve years he spent as a player with the Toronto Blue Jays...
and Martinez still around to handle catching duties for Toronto, and designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
Cliff Johnson available for emergencies, Petralli returned to Syracuse in 1983. Although his numbers slipped to a .245 average, three home runs and 40 RBI, he was again called up in September. This time, however, he only received 4 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 over six games without a hit.
In 1984, Petralli made the major league roster out of 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...
, but appeared in just three games over the first month of the season, batting three times without a hit. On May 8, his contract was sold to the Indians.
Cleveland Indians
Petralli returned to Triple-A for the Indians, as he was assigned to the Maine GuidesMaine Guides
The Maine Guides were an American minor league baseball franchise that played in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, between 1984 and 1988. The Triple-A International League club was named for a classification of registered hunting and wilderness guides in the state called Maine Guides for its first four...
. There, he served as backup to former New York Yankees
New 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...
prospect Juan Espino
Juan Espino
Juan Espino Reyes is a retired Major League Baseball catcher. He played during four seasons at the major league level for the New York Yankees. He was signed as an amateur free agent by the Yankees in...
, playing in just 23 games and batting .217 without a home run. He started out the next year with Maine as well, this time behind former Rangers prospect Kevin Buckley
Kevin Buckley
Kevin Buckley is a retired baseball player. Buckley attended Braintree High School prior to attending the University of Maine. At Maine, Buckley appeared in the 1981 College World Series. Drafted in the 17th round of the 1981 Major League Baseball draft, Buckley made his major league debut with...
. After just two games with the Guides in which he had one hit in seven at bats, Petralli was released.
1985
Petralli signed with the Rangers on May 17, and he was assigned to the Oklahoma City 89ers, the Rangers' Triple-A team. In 27 games there, he batted .263. Then, in early July, Rangers starting catcher Don SlaughtDon Slaught
Donald Martin Slaught is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who had a 16-year career from to...
was injured, and Petralli was recalled to replace him.
Petralli made his first appearance for the Rangers on July 9 against the Indians, going 0-for-2. Petralli's first hit as a Ranger came in a 6-0 defeat at Yankee Stadium on July 12 against Yankees pitcher Ed Whitson
Ed Whitson
Eddie Lee Whitson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher best remembered for his short and turbulent stint with the New York Yankees in the mid 1980s. He batted and threw right-handed.-Pittsburgh Pirates:...
. With Slaught missing most of the next two months, Petralli split time with Glenn Brummer
Glenn Brummer
Glenn Edward Brummer was a Major League Baseball catcher.Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent in 1974, Brummer made his Major League Baseball debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on May 25, 1981, and appeared in his final major league game on October 6, 1985.Brummer was a...
, but when Slaught returned, he assumed Brummer's role as Slaught's primary backup. Brummer was released after the season.
Petralli finished the season with what were, to that point, career highs in most categories, including his first major league stolen base
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...
. He batted .270 with 11 RBI in 42 games with the Rangers. He would never play as few games as that during the rest of his major league career.
1986
Petralli returned to the Rangers as Slaught's backup in 1986, but the Rangers had also signed Darrell PorterDarrell 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 free agent to serve as third catcher and part-time DH. When Slaught again was injured in May, the Rangers added a fourth catcher, Orlando Mercado
Orlando Mercado
Orlando Mercado Rodríguez is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, and Montreal Expos...
, to the roster, and continued to carry all four for the remainder of the season.
Petralli's first appearance in the field in 1986 came not as a catcher, but at third base on April 14. He struggled at the plate early in the season, and on June 9 he still had not recorded his first RBI of the year. On June 10, however, he busted out with five RBI while going 3-for-5, including two doubles, against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in a 14-10 Rangers win. He also improved his batting average on the season from .200 to .257.
On July 13, Petralli hit his first major league home run against Indians starter and future Hall of Famer Phil Niekro
Phil Niekro
Philip Henry Niekro , nicknamed "Knucksie" because of his usage and skill level with the knuckleball, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997....
as the Rangers won 5-3. His only other home run of the year was a big one, a game tying two-run pinch-hit 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 bottom of the eighth inning off Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
during a nationally televised Monday night baseball game against the first place Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
on August 25, 1986 at Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium was a baseball stadium located in Arlington, Texas, United States, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It served as the home for the Texas Rangers from 1972 until 1993, when the team moved into The Ballpark in Arlington .-1960s:The stadium was built in 1965 as Turnpike...
. The blast allowed Rubén Sierra
Rubén Sierra
Rubén Angel Sierra García is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Sierra also goes by the nicknames El Caballo and El Indio....
to win the game with a home run in the bottom of the ninth as the Rangers remained within three games of the California Angels
1986 California Angels season
The California Angels 1986 season was the franchise's 26th season and ended with the Angels losing the American League Championship Series in dramatic fashion....
in the American League West
American League West
The American League West is one of three divisions in Major League Baseball's American League. The division currently has four teams, but it has had as many as seven teams before the 1994 realignment. Although its teams currently only reside along the west coast and in Texas, historically the...
. The Rangers never got closer to the Angels, however, fading to ten games back on September 26 with nine games to go, closing to finish five games back after being eliminated
Petralli, who served as the Rangers' Union Player Representative in 1986, once again bettered his career highs to date that year. Although his batting average had slipped to .255, he set career highs in games played, at bats, RBI and stolen bases. He also demonstrated his versatility, playing 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...
for the first time professionally on May 14.
1987
In 1987, the Rangers opened the season with four catchers again. Although Mercado had been traded to the Detroit TigersDetroit 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...
, that only opened up room on the roster for prospect Mike Stanley
Mike Stanley
Robert Michael "Mike" Stanley is a former American college and professional baseball player who was a catcher in Major League Baseball for fifteen years...
. However, they found playing time for Petralli all over the field, as he appeared at six different positions, including his first-ever professional appearances at 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...
, left field
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
, and right field
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...
.
Petralli's most important task, however, resolved itself over the course of the season: catching knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
er Charlie Hough
Charlie Hough
Charles Oliver Hough is a former Major League Baseball knuckleball pitcher. He is currently a senior adviser of player development for the Los Angeles Dodgers.-Playing career:...
. Handling the notoriously difficult pitch put Petralli in the record books three times during 1987. The first came on August 22, as Petralli committed four 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...
s in one inning to tie a major league record. Eight days later, Petralli committed six passed balls in one game to tie another record. Overall, Petralli's 35 passed balls that year -- 32 with Hough pitching -- were the most by a big league catcher since Jack Boyle
Jack Boyle
John Anthony Boyle , nicknamed "Honest Jack", was an American catcher and first baseman in Major League Baseball...
committed 71 in 1892 (surpassing J. C. Martin
J. C. Martin
Joseph Clifton Martin is a former Major League Baseball player. The left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing Martin played for the Chicago White Sox from 1959-1967, New York Mets in 1968 and 1969 and Chicago Cubs from 1970-1972.Martin was scouted by the White Sox as an amateur free agent in 1956...
's modern-day record of 33 in 1965), and as of 2011 remains the most by a catcher during that time.
Offensively, Petralli continued to improve as well, as he hit over .300 for the first time in his career, posting a .302 average. He played in 101 games with 202 at bats, seven home runs and 31 RBI, all career highs to that time.
1988
On November 2, 1987, the Rangers traded Don Slaught to the Yankees for pitcherPitcher
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...
Brad Arnsberg
Brad Arnsberg
Bradley James Arnsberg is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball and was the Houston Astros pitching coach.-Playing career:...
, and on December 21 they released Porter, leaving Petralli and Stanley as the team's top two catchers. The two split time fairly evenly until Stanley was injured in July. At that time, the Rangers brought in Jim Sundberg
Jim Sundberg
James Howard Sundberg is a former professional baseball catcher known for being one of the best defensive catchers of his era. He played for a number of Major League teams, most significantly the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, with whom we won a World Championship...
, who had been released by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, to share time with Petralli. Sundberg, who had played ten years for the Rangers from 1974-83, wound up taking over Stanley's half of the duties, while Petralli continued to play all over the infield.
In August, Petralli hit .342 (26 hits in 76 at bats) over the course of 25 games and was named the Rangers Player of the Month. It was the highest honor he ever received. When Stanley came back, the Rangers continued to carry three catchers, and in September they again added a fourth, bringing prospect Chad Kreuter
Chad Kreuter
Chadden Michael "Chad" Kreuter is a former catcher in Major League Baseball and the former head coach of the USC Trojans baseball team....
up from the minors. Kreuter wound up catching 15 of the last 18 games of the season, with Petralli serving as the DH and catching two games.
Overall, Petralli improved on defense while slipping a bit on offense. Though he caught Hough in nine more games in 1988 than he had in 1987, Petralli had only 20 passed balls -- still enough to lead the majors again. His batting average, while still respectable, especially for a catcher, slipped to .288. He hit seven home runs again, and increased his RBI total to a career high 36, but he did it in 351 at bats, nearly twice as many as in 1987.
1989
Prior to the 1989 season. Petralli filed for salary arbitration, settling his case with the Rangers on January 20, agreeing to a salary of $325,000. He opened the 1989 season as the Rangers primary starting catcher for the first time, although Stanley, Sundberg and Kreuter remained with the team as well. At the end of May, after the team released Buddy BellBuddy Bell
David Gus "Buddy" Bell is a former third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. After an 18-year career with four teams, most notably the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers, he managed the Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals for three seasons each...
, Petralli was moved to designated hitter, with Kreuter and Sundberg taking over catching duties.
This arrangement didn't last long, as Petralli suffered a left knee injury on June 26. After a brief rehabilitation assignment with the Tulsa Drillers
Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
- the first time Petralli had spent in the minors since 1985 - Petralli returned on August 19 and resumed his role as starting catcher. He got his average as high as .324 on September 6, but got just one hit in his next 14 at bats, and did not play after September 17, finishing the year at .304.
1990
In 1990, Petralli spent his first and last full season as the Rangers starting catcher. Sundberg had retired after the 1989 season, and Stanley was named Petralli's backup while also spending time at DH and first base. Kreuter, who started the year as the third catcher, started the season 0-for-18 and was sent to the minor leagues in mid-May, to be replaced by John Russell.Back in a full-time role for the entire season catching Hough, Petralli led all of Major League Baseball in passed balls for the third time in four years, matching his 1988 total of 20. While he played in a career-high 133 games, his offensive numbers also took a dive, as he batted just .255 and failed to hit a home run for the first time since 1985 while driving in just 21 runs. One of the highlights of the season came on July 31, when Petralli caught Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
's 300th career win in 1990 on Ryan's second attempt to reach that milestone.
1991
Despite his off year, Petralli started 1991 as the Rangers' starter once again, with Stanley again serving as primary backup. Through the end of May, it appeared that Petralli was back in his pre-1990 form, batting .275 in 34 games. However, he went into a slump to start June, and soon went on the disabled list with a back injury. To replace him, the Rangers promoted 19-year-old Iván RodríguezIván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...
from Tulsa, immediately installing him as their starting catcher, a position he would not relinquish until leaving the Rangers as a free agent after the 2002 season.
When Petralli came back at the end of July, he found himself relegated to backup catcher, occasional DH, and pinch hitter. He finished the season batting .271 with 2 home runs and 20 RBI in 87 games overall.
1992-93
After the 1991 season, Petralli was granted free agency. Despite knowing he would be backing up Rodríguez, he still re-signed with the Rangers on December 7. 1992 was a particularly rough season, as he saw his average slip below the Mendoza LineMendoza Line
The Mendoza Line is an expression in baseball in the United States, deriving from the name of shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime batting average is taken to define the threshold of incompetent hitting...
for the only time in his career at .198 in 94 games. He also saw occasional duty at DH, third base and second base.
In 1993, Petralli's playing time was cut back further, as Rodríguez played in 137 games. In 59 games at catcher, DH, and the infield, Petralli bounced back to hit .241, although that was still the second-lowest average of his career. His final major league game came on Saturday October 2, 1993 in front of over 41,000 fans. The Rangers lost to Tom Gordon
Tom Gordon
Thomas Gordon , nicknamed "Flash", is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played with the Kansas City Royals , Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , Houston Astros , Chicago White Sox , New York Yankees , Philadelphia Phillies and the...
and the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
by a score of 7-4. The game was the next to last game ever played at Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium was a baseball stadium located in Arlington, Texas, United States, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It served as the home for the Texas Rangers from 1972 until 1993, when the team moved into The Ballpark in Arlington .-1960s:The stadium was built in 1965 as Turnpike...
before the Rangers moved into their new Ballpark in Arlington the next year. Arlington Stadium was turned into a parking lot shortly after the season ended.
Chicago Cubs
Petralli became a free agent for the second time after the 1993 season, but this time the Rangers did not bring him back, choosing instead to bring in Mike SciosciaMike Scioscia
Michael Lorri Scioscia is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has worked in that capacity since the 2000 season, and is the longest-tenured manager in Major League Baseball....
as their backup catcher. Petralli signed with 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 March 1994, but did not make their roster and was released. Similarly, Scioscia's comeback was also aborted, as Junior Ortiz
Junior Ortiz
Adalberto "Junior" Ortiz Colón , is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played all or part of thirteen seasons in the majors from 1982-94. He was a member of the 1991 World Champion Minnesota Twins....
won the job backing up Rodríguez.
Petralli hooked on instead with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
organization, where he became a player-coach for the Orlando Cubs. He injured his ribs in a home plate collision and wound up playing just eight games between Orlando and the Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
, ending his playing career.
Career overview
In 809 games over his major league career, Petralli hit 24 home runs, drove in 192 runs, and hit for a .267 average. His best season was 1988 as he amassed 352 at bats, 7 home runs, 36 runs batted in, and a .282 average. He hit over .300 in both 1987 and 1989.Petralli gave up 95 passed balls in his career, due in large part to Petralli being the personal catcher for Hough. Petralli led all of baseball in passed balls with 35 in 1987, 20 in 1988, and 20 in 1990. Overall, he ranks 141st as of 2011 in career passed balls despite appearing in just 574 games as a catcher.
Personal life
Petralli was married on September 22, 1979, to the former Susan Patterson. They have two sons, James Isiah (born August 13, 1981) and Benjamin Hastings (born October 7, 1985). James currently sings and plays guitar in the band White Denim, while Ben is currently a minor league baseball player.Ben was drafted five different times. He was first chosen by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in 2004, but chose to play at his father's alma mater, Sacramento City College. He was subsequently selected by 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...
with their 15th round draft pick in 2005 and their 17th round pick in 2006, then by the Rangers in 2007 and again in 2008. He finally made his professional debut in 2010 with the Grand Prairie AirHogs
Grand Prairie AirHogs
The Grand Prairie AirHogs are a professional baseball team based in Grand Prairie, Texas, in the United States. The AirHogs are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball , which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the American Association, later playing with the Normal CornBelters
Normal CornBelters
The Normal CornBelters are a professional baseball team based in Normal, Illinois, which is part of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area. They began play in May 2010 as a member of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Frontier League
Frontier League
The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
.
Petralli's nephew, Chris Petralli, matriculated at the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
in the fall of 2006 after playing two years at Sacramento City JC.