Jerry Goff
Encyclopedia
Jerry Leroy Goff was a Major League Baseball
player. Primarily a catcher
, Goff was 6'3" tall and weighed 207 pounds. He batted from the left side and threw with his right hand.
, by the Oakland Athletics
and the New York Yankees
, but he elected instead to attend the University of California, Berkeley
. He is 9th in career home runs for Cal (29; tied with Josh Satin
).
In the third round of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft
, the Seattle Mariners
took him with the 63rd overall selection, and this time he decided to turn pro.
while advancing through Seattle's minor league system, but also showed good power. The Montreal Expos
acquired him from Seattle in exchange for Pat Pacillo
on February 27, 1990, and he made his Major League debut with them on May 15 of that year.
Goff returned to the minors for , but he spent parts of the next six years as a backup catcher for the Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates
, and Houston Astros
. His best offensive performance came in , when as a member of the Pirates he batted .297 with two home run
s, two doubles
, and eight walks
in only 46 plate appearances.
On May 12, , Goff accomplished an unusual and dubious achievement. While catching Mike Hampton
in a game against the Montreal Expos, Goff allowed six passed ball
s: two each in the first, third, and fourth innings. This tied him with catchers Rube Vickers
and Geno Petralli
for the single-game record. Goff had two hits in the game, including a home run, but his miscues led to five unearned runs for the Expos, who went on to win the game 8-7. In response to this, the Astros sent Goff to AAA on May 17, and he never appeared in another major league game. For his major league career as a whole, he appeared in 90 games, batting .215 with a .320 on-base percentage and a .336 slugging percentage in 214 at bat
s.
Goff continued to play professional baseball after his days in the Major Leagues were finished. While with the independent Amarillo Dillas
, Goff was a member of the Texas-Louisiana League All-Star
team in . The last healthy position player remaining on the roster, Goff entered the game as a pinch hitter
in the ninth inning and hit a game-winning double.
Working as a firefighter in 2001, Goff was still playing on the semi-pro level, appearing with the Novato Knicks, an exhibition team based in Marin County, California
.
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...
player. Primarily 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...
, Goff was 6'3" tall and weighed 207 pounds. He batted from the left side and threw with his right hand.
Amateur career
Goff was drafted twice as a player at San Rafael High SchoolSan Rafael High School
San Rafael High School is a coeducational public secondary school located at 185 Mission Avenue in San Rafael, California, United States.The school is part of the San Rafael City Schools school district...
, by 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....
and the 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...
, but he elected instead to attend the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. He is 9th in career home runs for Cal (29; tied with Josh Satin
Josh Satin
Joshua Satin is an American second baseman for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball, who also plays first base and third base.He was a First Team College All American at the University of California, Berkeley...
).
In the third round of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft
1986 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1986 Major League Baseball Draft was the 22nd MLB draft that took place in 1986. During this draft, five all-stars were drafted in five different teams.-First round selections:...
, the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
took him with the 63rd overall selection, and this time he decided to turn pro.
Professional career
Goff struggled with a low batting averageBatting 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 :...
while advancing through Seattle's minor league system, but also showed good power. The Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
acquired him from Seattle in exchange for Pat Pacillo
Pat Pacillo
Patrick Michael Pacillo is a former Major League Baseball player who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in 1987 and 1988. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 1st round of the 1984 amateur draft out of Seton Hall University and he debuted on May 23, 1987. In his debut he pitched 5 innings and...
on February 27, 1990, and he made his Major League debut with them on May 15 of that year.
Goff returned to the minors for , but he spent parts of the next six years as a backup catcher for the Expos, 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...
, and 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...
. His best offensive performance came in , when as a member of the Pirates he batted .297 with two 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, two doubles
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....
, and eight 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 only 46 plate appearances.
On May 12, , Goff accomplished an unusual and dubious achievement. While catching Mike Hampton
Mike Hampton
Michael William Hampton is a left-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. During his career, Hampton was well known for being one of the best hitting pitchers of his time, as well as for his large contract and frequent injuries.-Early career:Mike Hampton was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in...
in a game against the Montreal Expos, Goff allowed six 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: two each in the first, third, and fourth innings. This tied him with catchers Rube Vickers
Rube Vickers
Harry Porter "Rube" Vickers , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played in the majors from 1902-1909 for the Brooklyn Superbas, Cincinnati Reds, and Philadelphia Athletics.-External links:...
and Geno Petralli
Geno Petralli
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.- Early life :...
for the single-game record. Goff had two hits in the game, including a home run, but his miscues led to five unearned runs for the Expos, who went on to win the game 8-7. In response to this, the Astros sent Goff to AAA on May 17, and he never appeared in another major league game. For his major league career as a whole, he appeared in 90 games, batting .215 with a .320 on-base percentage and a .336 slugging percentage in 214 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.
Goff continued to play professional baseball after his days in the Major Leagues were finished. While with the independent Amarillo Dillas
Amarillo Dillas
The Amarillo Dillas were a professional baseball team based in Amarillo, Texas, in the United States. The Dillas were a member of United League Baseball, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
, Goff was a member of the Texas-Louisiana League All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team in . The last healthy position player remaining on the roster, Goff entered the game as a 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...
in the ninth inning and hit a game-winning double.
Working as a firefighter in 2001, Goff was still playing on the semi-pro level, appearing with the Novato Knicks, an exhibition team based in Marin County, California
Marin County, California
Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...
.