Len Okrie
Encyclopedia
Leonard Joseph Okrie is a retired American
catcher
and coach
in Major League Baseball
. Okrie stood 6'2" (188 cm) tall, weighed 185 pounds (84 kg), and batted and threw right-handed.
Okrie's playing career stretched from 1942 through 1957, with three seasons (1943–45) missed due to World War II
military service. Drafted by the Washington Senators
out of the Chicago Cubs
farm system in November 1947, Okrie would spend only one full season (1950
) in the Major Leagues as Washington's third-string catcher (behind Al Evans
and Mickey Grasso
). He spent parts of the 1948
and 1951
campaigns with Washington, and appeared in one game for the 1952
Boston Red Sox
. Overall, Okrie appeared in 42 games, with 78 at bat
s, 17 hits
, no home runs, three runs batted in
, and a .218 batting average
.
He managed in the Boston farm system from 1954–60 and in 1963, and was the Red Sox' Major League bullpen
coach in 1961-62 and 1965-66. He then joined his hometown Detroit Tigers
as a minor league manager (1967–69; 1971–74) and MLB bullpen coach (1970). His career record as a minor league manager was 912 wins, and 1,013 defeats (.474). Okrie won one league pennant, in the Appalachian League
during his maiden season as a skipper.
His father, Frank Okrie
, a left-handed pitcher
, appeared in 21 games for the 1920 Tigers
and two brothers played minor league baseball
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Okrie stood 6'2" (188 cm) tall, weighed 185 pounds (84 kg), and batted and threw right-handed.
Okrie's playing career stretched from 1942 through 1957, with three seasons (1943–45) missed due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
military service. Drafted by the Washington Senators
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...
out of 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...
farm system in November 1947, Okrie would spend only one full season (1950
1950 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Philadelphia Phillies *All-Star Game, July 11 at Comiskey Park: National League, 4-3 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Carta Vieja *College World Series: Texas...
) in the Major Leagues as Washington's third-string catcher (behind Al Evans
Al Evans
Alfred Hubert Evans was an American Major League Baseball catcher and a Minor League manager. Listed at 5' 11", 190 lb., Evans batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Kenly, North Carolina....
and Mickey Grasso
Mickey Grasso
Newton Michael Grasso was an American Major League Baseball catcher who played for seven seasons. He appeared in 322 total games for the New York Giants in and , the Washington Senators from to , and the Cleveland Indians in ....
). He spent parts of the 1948
1948 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania...
and 1951
1951 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:Baseball's Shot Heard 'Round the World gives the New York Giants the National League Pennant in the third game of a best-of-three-games tiebreaker series over the Brooklyn Dodgers.-Major League Baseball:...
campaigns with Washington, and appeared in one game for the 1952
1952 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 8 at Shibe Park: National League, 3-2 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: La Habana *College World Series: Holy Cross...
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"...
. Overall, Okrie appeared in 42 games, with 78 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, 17 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....
, no home runs, three runs 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...
, and a .218 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 :...
.
He managed in the Boston farm system from 1954–60 and in 1963, and was the Red Sox' Major League bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
coach in 1961-62 and 1965-66. He then joined his hometown 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...
as a minor league manager (1967–69; 1971–74) and MLB bullpen coach (1970). His career record as a minor league manager was 912 wins, and 1,013 defeats (.474). Okrie won one league pennant, in 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...
during his maiden season as a skipper.
His father, Frank Okrie
Frank Okrie
Frank Anthony Okrie was a Major League Baseball pitcher.Okrie appeared in 21 games for the 1920 Detroit Tigers, recording a 1-2 win-loss record with a 5.27 earned run average....
, a left-handed 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...
, appeared in 21 games for the 1920 Tigers
1920 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers season was a season in American baseball. The team finished seventh in the American League with a record of 61-93, 37 games behind the Cleveland Indians.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
and two brothers played minor league baseball
Minor 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...
.
See also
- List of second generation MLB players