John Orsino
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Orsino is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
. He was signed by the New York Giants
as an amateur free agent before the 1957 season, and played for the San Francisco Giants
(1961–1962), Baltimore Orioles
(1963–1965), and Washington Senators
(1966–1967).
Orsino made his major league debut on July 14, 1961 against the Pittsburgh Pirates
at Candlestick Park. He was the starting catcher and went 0-for-3 with 3 putouts, 2 assists
, 1 error
, and 1 passed ball
. The Giants lost, 6-4. The next day was a lot better...he was in the starting lineup again and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run batted in
, a run scored
, and no errors in the field as the Giants crushed the Pirates 8-3.
His best season was 1963, when he had career highs in games played
(116), hits
(103), at bats (379), home runs (19), runs batted in (56), runs scored
(53), and on base percentage
(.349). The Orioles had a good year, winning 86 games and losing 76.
One of the most famous games he was ever involved in took place at Memorial Stadium
on September 12, 1964. He was the Orioles starting catcher in a rare battle of complete game
one-hitters between O's left-hander Frank Bertaina
and Kansas City Athletics
southpaw Bob Meyer
. Orsino doubled
to lead off the bottom of the 8th of the 0-0 game, and teammate Bob Saverine
came in to pinch run for him. Saverine advanced to third on a Bertaina sacrifice bunt
, and then scored when Jackie Brandt
hit a sacrifice fly
.
Career totals for 332 games include 252 hits
, 40 home runs, 123 runs batted in, 114 runs scored
, a .249 batting average
, and a slugging percentage of .420.
Johnny Orsino was a multi-sport athlete. He became a golf pro in 1977 and then went on to coach a university men's golf team in 2004.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
. He was signed by the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
as an amateur free agent before the 1957 season, and played for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1961–1962), Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1963–1965), and Washington Senators
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...
(1966–1967).
Orsino made his major league debut on July 14, 1961 against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
at Candlestick Park. He was the starting catcher and went 0-for-3 with 3 putouts, 2 assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
, 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 ...
, and 1 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...
. The Giants lost, 6-4. The next day was a lot better...he was in the starting lineup again and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, a run scored
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...
, and no errors in the field as the Giants crushed the Pirates 8-3.
His best season was 1963, when he had career highs in games played
Games 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,...
(116), 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....
(103), at bats (379), home runs (19), runs batted in (56), runs scored
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...
(53), and 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...
(.349). The Orioles had a good year, winning 86 games and losing 76.
One of the most famous games he was ever involved in took place at Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
on September 12, 1964. He was the Orioles starting catcher in a rare battle of complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
one-hitters between O's left-hander Frank Bertaina
Frank Bertaina
Frank Louis Bertaina was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Baltimore Orioles , Washington Senators , and St. Louis Cardinals . Listed at 5' 11", 177 lb., Bertaina batted and threw left-handed...
and 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....
southpaw Bob Meyer
Bob Meyer
Robert Bernard Meyer is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1960. Meyer pitched for the Yankees , Los Angeles Angels , Kansas City Athletics , Seattle Pilots , and Milwaukee Brewers...
. Orsino doubled
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....
to lead off the bottom of the 8th of the 0-0 game, and teammate Bob Saverine
Bob Saverine
Robert Paul Saverine is a former Major League Baseball infielder/outfielder. He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent before the 1959 season and played for the Orioles and the Washington Senators...
came in to pinch run for him. Saverine advanced to third on a Bertaina sacrifice bunt
Sacrifice hit
In baseball, a sacrifice bunt is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base. The batter is almost always sacrificed but sometimes reaches base due to an error or fielder's choice...
, and then scored when Jackie Brandt
Jackie Brandt
John George Brandt Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent before the 1953 season, and played for the Cardinals , New York Giants , San Francisco Giants , Baltimore Orioles , Philadelphia Phillies , and Houston Astros...
hit a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
.
Career totals for 332 games include 252 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....
, 40 home runs, 123 runs batted in, 114 runs scored
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...
, a .249 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 :...
, and a slugging percentage of .420.
Johnny Orsino was a multi-sport athlete. He became a golf pro in 1977 and then went on to coach a university men's golf team in 2004.
Statistics
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, Tommy JohnTommy JohnThomas Edward John Jr. is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball whose 288 career victories rank as the seventh highest total among left-handers in major league history...
, Gary Peters, and Stan WilliamsStan Williams (baseball)Stanley Wilson Williams , nicknamed "Big Daddy" and "The Big Hurt", is a former Major League Baseball starting and relief pitcher who threw and batted right-handed. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , New York Yankees , Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , St... - hit a combined .323 (10-for-31) against Hall of Famers Jim BunningJim BunningJames Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
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