John Stearns
Encyclopedia
John Hardin Stearns is a former major league
catcher
who played for the New York Mets
from to , and played a single game for the Philadelphia Phillies
in .
Stearns was a good bunter and line drive
hitter, and was one of the best players on the worst team of his era, representing the Mets in four All-Star Games
while the team flirted with 100 losses all four seasons. He also had uncanny speed for a backstop. For his career, Stearns had nearly twice as many stolen bases as home runs. With his decent speed, he sometimes batted second, but most often batted fifth or sixth.
Statistically, Stearns's hard-playing was evident in his twice being in the league top five in hit by pitch
es, and his numerous trips to the disabled list
, allowing him to play more than 100 games in only three seasons.
in the 13th round of the 1969 Major League Baseball Draft
at 17 years old, but chose to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder
instead. His older brother, Bill, was a late-round draft pick in 1971
and played in the New York Yankees
organization, also as a catcher, but never reached the majors.
John became a two-sport star at Colorado and was drafted as a defensive back
by the Buffalo Bills
in the 17th round of the 1973 NFL Draft
. When the Philadelphia Phillies made him the second overall pick in the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft
behind pitcher
David Clyde
(who was out of the majors for good at age 24, with arm problems), he chose baseball
. Stearns was drafted just ahead of two eventual Hall of Famers
, Robin Yount
and Dave Winfield
. Coincidentally, Stearns was also drafted ahead of Winfield in the NFL
draft as the Minnesota Vikings
drafted him in the 17th round six picks after the Bills drafted Stearns.
Stearns's professional career started with Philadelphia's Eastern League affiliate, the Reading Phillies
in , but did not start particularly well. After batting just .241 in double A, he was sent to the high-A Carolina League
's Rocky Mount Phillies for and improved drastically. Mid-season, he was promoted directly to the AAA Toledo Mud Hens
. Although his hitting statistics were not fantastic at Toledo, he was called up to the Phillies that September. On September 22, 1974, Stearns made his major league debut, and picked up his first hit
, going 1-for-2 off the bench.
firmly entrenched behind the plate for Philadelphia, Stearns became expendable. The Phillies struck an off season trade with the New York Mets to acquire ace relief pitcher
and New York fan favorite, Tug McGraw
on December 3, 1974. In return for McGraw, outfielder
s Don Hahn
and Dave Schneck
, the Mets received Stearns, outfielder Del Unser
, and relief pitcher Mac Scarce
.
With McGraw, the Phillies had two 101-win seasons and their first World Series
championship. The Mets, meanwhile, had two mediocre seasons, then descended to the bottom of the National League
for seven years. In his first season as a Met, Stearns spent as the backup catcher behind veteran Jerry Grote
. Grote had been the Mets' regular catcher since , including every inning of every postseason game for both the 1969 World Series
champions and the 1973 NLCS
champions. As Grote's backup, Stearns batted only .189 in 1975.
In , Stearns hit poorly in limited time and was soon replaced in backup duties by lefty hitter Ron Hodges
. Stearns was sent back to the Tidewater Tides and hit very well while Hodges struggled in the majors. He was brought back to the majors for September and continued his hot hitting. With 18 hits in his first 13 games back, including seven hits in two games, Stearns not only ousted Hodges, but even took over the starting duties from Grote for most of the rest of the season.
Lee Mazzilli
traded uniform numbers, and Stearns began wearing number 12. After his torrid finish to 1976, Stearns was the starting catcher for most of , with Grote and Hodges relegated to backup and pinch-hitting
duty. On August 31, 1977, the Mets traded Grote to the Los Angeles Dodgers
for two players to be named later.
In June, Stearns posted two four-RBI games, including the only grand slam
of his career. On July 1, his average stood at .314, with a slugging average of .554. With his good mid-season statistics and the Mets firmly in last place in the National League East
, Stearns was chosen as the team's sole representative to the All-Star Game
, catching the bottom of the ninth inning.
His second half was terrible, with a .125 average in August and .167 average in September. Although his final statistics were mostly at or below the league average, they looked very good compared to the rest of the team which lost 98 games and had the worst offense in the majors in 1977. His 25 doubles
were tops on the team and 12 home run
s tied Steve Henderson
and John Milner
for the team lead. Still, the most indellible image of Stearns for the season had to be when he became irritated at the Atlanta Braves
mascot, Chief Noc-A-Homa
, and chased him off the field before the game.
Stearns quickly became a Mets fan favorite for his defensive back-like hard physical play. On June 30, , the Mets defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates
with Stearns tagging out Dave Parker
to end the game. Parker, who had run over two other catchers in the previous two weeks, suffered a broken cheekbone in the collision with Stearns. When the Pirates in-state rival
s (also the Mets' own division rivals), the Philadelphia Phillies, next came to New York
, they thanked Stearns for standing up to Parker.
Despite a poor average and only two RBIs in April, Stearns set career highs in home runs, RBIs, runs
and total bases
in 1978. He also led the team with a career high 25 stolen bases, and in the process broke the National League
record for catchers, which had been held by Johnny Kling
since . (Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall
has since set a new National League record for catchers). The Mets were again near the bottom of the National League, but with his slow start, Stearns was bypassed for the All-Star team, with Pat Zachry
representing the Mets instead. The Mets finished with a National League-worst 96 losses.
Stearns got the season started for the Mets by getting into a bench clearing brawl in the fourth game of the season. With the Montreal Expos
at Shea
on April 11, Stearns and Expos catcher Gary Carter
collided at home when Carter tried to score from first on a throwing error by Mets pitcher Pete Falcone
. Right fielder
Elliott Maddox
made a perfect throw to the plate to get Carter. Following the play, a fight broke out when Stearns felt that Carter unnecessarily threw an elbow at him. Both benches and bullpens emptied, and both players were ejected from the game. The Expos won the game in extra innings 3-2.
Stearns set career highs in games played in 1979, but at age 27, it was his last season with 100 or more games. He also set personal highs in at-bats, hits and doubles. Although he struggled to get above .200, a good June resulted in selection to his second All-Star Game
(although he did not play). The Mets finished 1979 with 99 losses, and 35 games behind the division champion Pittsburgh Pirates. Between and , no season was worse for the Mets. Well out of contention in the second half, they experimented by playing Stearns at both first base
and third base
, as well as in the outfield
, but he finished out the season back behind the plate.
brought a new approach for Stearns, as he completely stopped hitting for power. In fact, he went the entire season without a home run—but his batting average started to rise. Instead of struggling to stay around .250, his average was mostly between .300 and .320 from early May through the end of June.
The football player in Stearns, however, was still evident. On June 12, , two inebriated spectators jumped on to the playing field. While police were unable to catch them, Stearns grew frustrated and ran from behind the plate onto the third base side of the infield, tackling and subduing one of them.
During the first-ever fireworks night hosted at Shea Stadium on July 4, , Montreal Expos Rookie Bill Gullickson
sailed a pitch over Mets first baseman
Mike Jorgensen
's head in the second game of a doubleheader
. Jorgensen didn't appreciate this as he had been the victim of one of the worst beanball injuries in baseball history the previous season with the Texas Rangers
, and motioned toward Gullickson his disapproval. Stearns, who wasn't even in the line-up for this game, charged out of the dugout and welcomed Gullickson to the majors by slamming him to the ground.
Stearns was selected to his third All-Star Game
and even logged his first All-Star Game at bat, grounding out in the fifth inning. A three-hit, three-RBI game highlighted his July, but just a week later, on July 26, a broken finger on a foul tip
ended his season. He was also on pace to hit over 40 doubles, which would have easily been his career high.
s all season.
appeared to be a return to Stearns's 1980 approach, as his average was again at or above .300 for much of the first half. He was again on pace for around 40 doubles and was even on pace for nearly 30 stolen bases. At age 30, Stearns was picked for his fourth All-Star Game
. He continued hitting well after the break, but after a month, began suffering the effects of elbow tendinitis. He went on the disabled list in mid-August and only made three pinch running
appearances the rest of the season.
The elbow injury that ended Stearns's 1982 season ultimately ended his career. In , he was unable to start the season and was put on the disabled list in mid-April. Unable to throw, he played in only four games, all as a pinch-runner. In , he spent some time with triple A Tidewater and logged only one big league game in the first five months. He was finally well enough to play in September, but only played sporadically. After the season, the Mets traded Hubie Brooks
, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winningham
and Floyd Youmans
to the Montreal Expos for Gary Carter. Stearns became a free agent
and attempted a comeback with the Winter League's Ponce
Lions, until re-injuring his elbow. Another comeback with the Cincinnati Reds
' AAA Denver Zephyrs in was going well, until he was hit by a pitch in mid-May. Unable to return to the majors, John Stearns retired.
and minor league instructor by the Milwaukee Brewers
. In , he was the New York Yankees' bullpen coach. He was then hired by the Toronto Blue Jays
as the manager of the AA-level Knoxville Blue Jays for and , reaching the post-season in the latter season.
Stearns spent as a Cincinnati Reds
scout, and as an ESPN
broadcaster. He returned to the Reds as the manager of their rookie-level team, the Princeton Reds
, in . The team won the Appalachian League
championship and Stearns was named Manager of the Year. Afterwards, Stearns managed the Peoria Javelinas
of the Arizona Fall League
and won his second minor league championship of the year. Stearns then spent to as a scout and first base coach in the Baltimore Orioles
organization.
In , Stearns returned to the New York Mets as an advance scout. He was then made the Mets' bench coach in 2000. He was dismissed after the season, but re-hired as the third base coach. Younger fans witnessed Stearns's enthusiasm and excitability while he was a Mets coach in . He was wearing a microphone for Fox television
when the Mets' Mike Piazza
hit a run-scoring double
in Game 1 of the 2000 NLCS
against the St. Louis Cardinals
. Stearns's audible reaction of "The monster is out of the cage!" became a rallying cry for the entire series, which the Mets won four games to one.
After two years coaching the major league Mets, Stearns was let go, but hired as a scout for . In , he returned to the dugout as Manager
of the Binghamton Mets
. Despite a poor record with AA Binghamton, he was made the manager of the AAA Norfolk Tides
for . Stearns spent as a roving catching instructor for the Mets.
On January 11, , Stearns cut ties with the Mets, and became a coach in the Washington Nationals
farm system. He spent one season as manager of their triple A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers
, and spent two seasons as manager of the Nationals' double A team, the Harrisburg Senators
. He is currently a scout in the Seattle Mariners organization. Stearns and his ex-wife, Marti, have three grown sons, Michael, Maden and Justin.
Stearns caught 37% of attempted base stealers.
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...
who played for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
from to , and played a single game for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in .
Stearns was a good bunter and line drive
Line drive
In baseball, a line drive is a type of batted ball, sharply hit, and on a level trajectory. The threshold between a line drive and a fly ball can be subjective....
hitter, and was one of the best players on the worst team of his era, representing the Mets in four All-Star Games
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
while the team flirted with 100 losses all four seasons. He also had uncanny speed for a backstop. For his career, Stearns had nearly twice as many stolen bases as home runs. With his decent speed, he sometimes batted second, but most often batted fifth or sixth.
Statistically, Stearns's hard-playing was evident in his twice being in the league top five in 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, and his numerous trips to the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
, allowing him to play more than 100 games in only three seasons.
#2 pick overall
Stearns was drafted by the Oakland AthleticsOakland 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....
in the 13th round of the 1969 Major League Baseball Draft
1969 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1969 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The Washington Senators tabbed slugging outfielder Jeff Burroughs of Wilson High School in Long Beach, CA as the nation's number one pick...
at 17 years old, but chose to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
instead. His older brother, Bill, was a late-round draft pick in 1971
1971 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1971 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The June 1971 draft was a productive one, even though none of its top ten choices yielded players who would have memorable major league careers...
and played in 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...
organization, also as a catcher, but never reached the majors.
John became a two-sport star at Colorado and was drafted as a defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
by the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 17th round of the 1973 NFL Draft
1973 NFL Draft
The 1973 National Football League Draft was held on January 30–31, 1973.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. When the Philadelphia Phillies made him the second overall pick in the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft
1973 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1973 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :Four dominating players of the late 70s and 80s were selected in the June regular phase...
behind pitcher
Pitcher
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...
David Clyde
David Clyde
David Eugene Clyde is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played all or part of five seasons for the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians...
(who was out of the majors for good at age 24, with arm problems), he chose 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...
. Stearns was drafted just ahead of two eventual Hall of Famers
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
, Robin Yount
Robin Yount
Robin R. Yount is an American former Major League Baseball shortstop and center fielder. He spent his entire 20-year baseball career with the Milwaukee Brewers . In 1999, Yount was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.-Early years:Yount was born in Danville, Illinois...
and Dave Winfield
Dave Winfield
David Mark Winfield is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently Executive Vice President/Senior Advisor of the San Diego Padres and an analyst for the ESPN program Baseball Tonight...
. Coincidentally, Stearns was also drafted ahead of Winfield in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
draft as the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
drafted him in the 17th round six picks after the Bills drafted Stearns.
Stearns's professional career started with Philadelphia's Eastern League affiliate, the Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
in , but did not start particularly well. After batting just .241 in double A, he was sent to the high-A Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
's Rocky Mount Phillies for and improved drastically. Mid-season, he was promoted directly to the AAA Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
. Although his hitting statistics were not fantastic at Toledo, he was called up to the Phillies that September. On September 22, 1974, Stearns made his major league debut, and picked up his first hit
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....
, going 1-for-2 off the bench.
Trade to the Mets
Stearns's first game with the Phillies turned out to be his last. With budding prospect Bob BooneBob Boone
Robert Raymond Boone is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who was a four-time All-Star. Born in San Diego, California, Bob Boone is the son of a major league player, the late third baseman Ray Boone, and the father of two major leaguers: former second baseman Bret Boone and...
firmly entrenched behind the plate for Philadelphia, Stearns became expendable. The Phillies struck an off season trade with the New York Mets to acquire 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...
and New York fan favorite, Tug McGraw
Tug McGraw
Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher and the father of Country music singer Tim McGraw and actor/TV personality Mark McGraw and Cari McGraw...
on December 3, 1974. In return for McGraw, outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
s Don Hahn
Don Hahn (baseball)
Donald Antone Hahn, born November 16, 1948 in San Francisco, California, is a former Major League baseball player, an outfielder known primarily for his fielding ability. Hahn played for the Montreal Expos, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, and San Diego Padres.Hahn...
and Dave Schneck
Dave Schneck
David Lee Schneck is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of three seasons, from until , with the New York Mets....
, the Mets received Stearns, outfielder Del Unser
Del Unser
Delbert Bernard Unser is a retired Major League Baseball center fielder and utility player who had a 15-year career from 1968 to 1982. Unser played for the Washington Senators from 1968 to 1971 and the Cleveland Indians in 1972...
, and relief pitcher Mac Scarce
Mac Scarce
Mac Scarce is a former baseball player who played in parts of 5 seasons from 1972–1978. During his short career, the 6' 3" lefty pitched primarily for the Philadelphia Phillies, as well as appearing briefly with the New York Mets and the Minnesota Twins...
.
With McGraw, the Phillies had two 101-win seasons and their first World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
championship. The Mets, meanwhile, had two mediocre seasons, then descended to the bottom of the 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...
for seven years. In his first season as a Met, Stearns spent as the backup catcher behind veteran Jerry Grote
Jerry Grote
Gerald Wayne Grote is a former professional baseball player. He played the majority of his Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the New York Mets and was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.-Early life:...
. Grote had been the Mets' regular catcher since , including every inning of every postseason game for both the 1969 World Series
1969 World Series
The 1969 World Series was played between the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, with the Mets prevailing in five games to accomplish one of the greatest upsets in Series history, as that particular Orioles squad was considered to be one of the finest ever...
champions and the 1973 NLCS
1973 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 6, 1973 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioThe starting pitchers, New York's Tom Seaver and Cincinnati's Jack Billingham, produced a classic pitcher's duel in Game 1. The Mets threatened in the first, loading the bases with one out, but Cleon Jones grounded into a...
champions. As Grote's backup, Stearns batted only .189 in 1975.
In , Stearns hit poorly in limited time and was soon replaced in backup duties by lefty hitter Ron Hodges
Ron Hodges
Ronald Wray Hodges was a Major League Baseball catcher who played his entire career for the New York Mets....
. Stearns was sent back to the Tidewater Tides and hit very well while Hodges struggled in the majors. He was brought back to the majors for September and continued his hot hitting. With 18 hits in his first 13 games back, including seven hits in two games, Stearns not only ousted Hodges, but even took over the starting duties from Grote for most of the rest of the season.
Mets' lone All-Star
Stearns made his Mets debut wearing number 16. For the start of the season, he and Mets center fielderCenter fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
Lee Mazzilli
Lee Mazzilli
Lee Louis Mazzilli, , is a former Major League Baseball player, coach, and manager. On December 11, 2006, he was hired as the lead studio analyst for SportsNet New York, the New York Mets' cable television network...
traded uniform numbers, and Stearns began wearing number 12. After his torrid finish to 1976, Stearns was the starting catcher for most of , with Grote and Hodges relegated to backup and pinch-hitting
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...
duty. On August 31, 1977, the Mets traded Grote to 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...
for two players to be named later.
In June, Stearns posted two four-RBI games, including the only grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
of his career. On July 1, his average stood at .314, with a slugging average of .554. With his good mid-season statistics and the Mets firmly in last place in the National League East
National League East
The National League East Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. The Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies are tied for the most National League East Division titles . All of Atlanta's NL East titles came during a record stretch of 14 consecutive division titles...
, Stearns was chosen as the team's sole representative to the All-Star Game
1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1977 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 48th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 19, 1977, at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, New York the...
, catching the bottom of the ninth inning.
His second half was terrible, with a .125 average in August and .167 average in September. Although his final statistics were mostly at or below the league average, they looked very good compared to the rest of the team which lost 98 games and had the worst offense in the majors in 1977. His 25 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....
were tops on the team and 12 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 tied Steve Henderson
Steve Henderson
Steven Curtis Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who is best remembered for being one of the players the New York Mets acquired in the infamous "Midnight Massacre."-Cincinnati Reds:...
and John Milner
John Milner
John David Milner was an American first baseman and left fielder in Major League Baseball. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, he grew up a huge Hank Aaron fan, even appropriating his idol's nickname, "The Hammer." He was a member of the "We Are Family" Pittsburgh Pirates team that won the World Series...
for the team lead. Still, the most indellible image of Stearns for the season had to be when he became irritated at the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
mascot, Chief Noc-A-Homa
Chief Noc-A-Homa
Chief Noc-A-Homa was the original mascot of the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves from 1950s until 1986. The name was used for the "screaming Indian" sleeve patch worn on Braves jerseys...
, and chased him off the field before the game.
Stearns quickly became a Mets fan favorite for his defensive back-like hard physical play. On June 30, , the Mets defeated 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...
with Stearns tagging out Dave Parker
Dave Parker
David Gene "The Cobra" Parker is an American former player in Major League Baseball. He was the 1978 National League MVP and a two-time batting champion. Parker was the first professional athlete to earn an average of one million dollars per year, having signed a 5-year, $5 million dollar contract...
to end the game. Parker, who had run over two other catchers in the previous two weeks, suffered a broken cheekbone in the collision with Stearns. When the Pirates in-state rival
Phillies–Pirates rivalry
The rivalry between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball was considered by some to be one of the best rivalries in the National League...
s (also the Mets' own division rivals), the Philadelphia Phillies, next came to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, they thanked Stearns for standing up to Parker.
Despite a poor average and only two RBIs in April, Stearns set career highs in home runs, RBIs, runs
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 total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
in 1978. He also led the team with a career high 25 stolen bases, and in the process broke the 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...
record for catchers, which had been held by Johnny Kling
Johnny Kling
John Kling was a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs , Boston Rustlers & Braves , and Cincinnati Reds .-Early years:John Gransfield Kling was born and raised in Kansas City, the son of John and...
since . (Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall
Jason Daniel Kendall is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He is the son of former catcher Fred Kendall, who played in the majors from 1969–1980.-High school:...
has since set a new National League record for catchers). The Mets were again near the bottom of the National League, but with his slow start, Stearns was bypassed for the All-Star team, with Pat Zachry
Pat Zachry
Patrick Paul Zachry is a former Major League baseball pitcher who had a ten year career from to .-Cincinnati Reds:...
representing the Mets instead. The Mets finished with a National League-worst 96 losses.
Stearns got the season started for the Mets by getting into a bench clearing brawl in the fourth game of the season. With 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...
at Shea
Shea Stadium
William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
on April 11, Stearns and Expos catcher Gary Carter
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
collided at home when Carter tried to score from first on a throwing error by Mets pitcher Pete Falcone
Pete Falcone
Peter Frank "Pete" Falcone , is a left-handed former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1975–84.-High school and college:...
. Right fielder
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...
Elliott Maddox
Elliott Maddox
Elliott Maddox is an African-American former Major League Baseball American player. Maddox, from 1970 to 1980, played for the Detroit Tigers, Washington Senators/Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Mets.-Early and personal life:Maddox attended Union High School in...
made a perfect throw to the plate to get Carter. Following the play, a fight broke out when Stearns felt that Carter unnecessarily threw an elbow at him. Both benches and bullpens emptied, and both players were ejected from the game. The Expos won the game in extra innings 3-2.
Stearns set career highs in games played in 1979, but at age 27, it was his last season with 100 or more games. He also set personal highs in at-bats, hits and doubles. Although he struggled to get above .200, a good June resulted in selection to his second All-Star Game
1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1979 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 50th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 17, 1979, at The Kingdome in Seattle, Washington the home of the...
(although he did not play). The Mets finished 1979 with 99 losses, and 35 games behind the division champion Pittsburgh Pirates. Between and , no season was worse for the Mets. Well out of contention in the second half, they experimented by playing Stearns at both 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...
and 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 in the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
, but he finished out the season back behind the plate.
brought a new approach for Stearns, as he completely stopped hitting for power. In fact, he went the entire season without a home run—but his batting average started to rise. Instead of struggling to stay around .250, his average was mostly between .300 and .320 from early May through the end of June.
The football player in Stearns, however, was still evident. On June 12, , two inebriated spectators jumped on to the playing field. While police were unable to catch them, Stearns grew frustrated and ran from behind the plate onto the third base side of the infield, tackling and subduing one of them.
During the first-ever fireworks night hosted at Shea Stadium on July 4, , Montreal Expos Rookie Bill Gullickson
Bill Gullickson
William Lee Gullickson is a former major league baseball pitcher who played for six different major-league teams, in Canada, the U.S...
sailed a pitch over Mets 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...
Mike Jorgensen
Mike Jorgensen
Michael Jorgensen is a former Major League Baseball player drafted by the New York Mets in the fourth round of the 1966 Major League Baseball Draft...
's head in the second game of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
. Jorgensen didn't appreciate this as he had been the victim of one of the worst beanball injuries in baseball history the previous season with the 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...
, and motioned toward Gullickson his disapproval. Stearns, who wasn't even in the line-up for this game, charged out of the dugout and welcomed Gullickson to the majors by slamming him to the ground.
Stearns was selected to his third All-Star Game
1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1980 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 51st 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 8, 1980 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, home of the Los...
and even logged his first All-Star Game at bat, grounding out in the fifth inning. A three-hit, three-RBI game highlighted his July, but just a week later, on July 26, a broken finger on a foul tip
Foul tip
In baseball, a foul tip is defined as "a batted ball that goes sharp directly from the bat to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught and any foul tip that is caught is a strike, and the ball is in play."...
ended his season. He was also on pace to hit over 40 doubles, which would have easily been his career high.
Injuries
The injury that ended his 1980 season was the first of several injuries that would plague the rest of his career. Stearns started the same way he ended 1980: on the disabled list. After missing the first two weeks, he was eased back with pinch-hitting duty and play at first and third base. He finally started catching regularly again in late May and was hitting fairly well, when the 1981 Major League Baseball strike canceled two months of the season starting in mid-June. Play resumed in mid-August and Stearns finished with a respectable .271 average, but his run production dropped quite a bit from 1980 and he had only 14 extra base hitExtra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
s all season.
appeared to be a return to Stearns's 1980 approach, as his average was again at or above .300 for much of the first half. He was again on pace for around 40 doubles and was even on pace for nearly 30 stolen bases. At age 30, Stearns was picked for his fourth All-Star Game
1982 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1982 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 53rd 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 13, 1982 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, home of the...
. He continued hitting well after the break, but after a month, began suffering the effects of elbow tendinitis. He went on the disabled list in mid-August and only made three pinch running
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
appearances the rest of the season.
The elbow injury that ended Stearns's 1982 season ultimately ended his career. In , he was unable to start the season and was put on the disabled list in mid-April. Unable to throw, he played in only four games, all as a pinch-runner. In , he spent some time with triple A Tidewater and logged only one big league game in the first five months. He was finally well enough to play in September, but only played sporadically. After the season, the Mets traded Hubie Brooks
Hubie Brooks
Hubert Brooks, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player. During his career, he played as a third baseman, shortstop and right fielder for the New York Mets , Montreal Expos , Los Angeles Dodgers , California Angels and Kansas City Royals .Brooks played varsity baseball...
, Mike Fitzgerald, Herm Winningham
Herm Winningham
Herman Son Winningham is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball.Drafted by the New York Mets in the 1st round of the 1981 amateur draft, Winningham made his major league debut with the Mets on September 1, , and appeared in his final game on October 3, .Winningham was a member of the...
and Floyd Youmans
Floyd Youmans
Floyd Everett Youmans is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is likely best remembered as one of the players dealt by the New York Mets to the Montreal Expos for Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter.-New York Mets:...
to the Montreal Expos for Gary Carter. Stearns became a free agent
Free 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....
and attempted a comeback with the Winter League's Ponce
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
Lions, until re-injuring his elbow. Another comeback with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
' AAA Denver Zephyrs in was going well, until he was hit by a pitch in mid-May. Unable to return to the majors, John Stearns retired.
Post-retirement
Career-ending injuries did not keep Stearns away from baseball for long. In late , he was hired as a scoutScout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
and minor league instructor by the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. In , he was the New York Yankees' bullpen coach. He was then hired 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 ....
as the manager of the AA-level Knoxville Blue Jays for and , reaching the post-season in the latter season.
Stearns spent as a Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
scout, and as an ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
broadcaster. He returned to the Reds as the manager of their rookie-level team, the Princeton Reds
Princeton Devil Rays
The Princeton Rays are a minor league baseball team in Princeton, West Virginia, USA. They are an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League and have been an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays since September 27, 1996...
, in . The team won the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
championship and Stearns was named Manager of the Year. Afterwards, Stearns managed the Peoria Javelinas
Peoria Javelinas
The Peoria Javelinas, established in 1992, are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. The Javelinas play their home games in the Peoria Sports Complex in Peoria, Arizona, which is a spring training site for both the San Diego Padres and the Seattle Mariners.For...
of the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
and won his second minor league championship of the year. Stearns then spent to as a scout and first base coach in the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
organization.
In , Stearns returned to the New York Mets as an advance scout. He was then made the Mets' bench coach in 2000. He was dismissed after the season, but re-hired as the third base coach. Younger fans witnessed Stearns's enthusiasm and excitability while he was a Mets coach in . He was wearing a microphone for Fox television
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
when the Mets' 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....
hit a run-scoring 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....
in Game 1 of the 2000 NLCS
2000 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 11, 2000 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MissouriThe Mets jumped on Cardinals starter Darryl Kile right from the outset. Rookie Timo Pérez led off the game with a double into the right field corner, and following a walk to Edgardo Alfonzo, scored on a double by Mike Piazza...
against 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...
. Stearns's audible reaction of "The monster is out of the cage!" became a rallying cry for the entire series, which the Mets won four games to one.
After two years coaching the major league Mets, Stearns was let go, but hired as a scout for . In , he returned to the dugout as 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...
of the Binghamton Mets
Binghamton Mets
The Binghamton Mets are a U.S. minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club...
. Despite a poor record with AA Binghamton, he was made the manager of the AAA Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
for . Stearns spent as a roving catching instructor for the Mets.
On January 11, , Stearns cut ties with the Mets, and became a coach in the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
farm system. He spent one season as manager of their triple A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
, and spent two seasons as manager of the Nationals' double A team, the Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
. He is currently a scout in the Seattle Mariners organization. Stearns and his ex-wife, Marti, have three grown sons, Michael, Maden and Justin.
Stearns caught 37% of attempted base stealers.
External links
- John Stearns at RetrosheetRetrosheetRetrosheet is a non-profit organization whose website features major league baseball box scores and play-by-play narratives for almost every contest from 1871–1872, 1874, 1911 NL, and 1918–2010...