Mickey Tettleton
Encyclopedia
Mickey Lee Tettleton is a former American
professional
baseball
player. He played in Major League Baseball
for the Oakland Athletics
, Baltimore Orioles
, Detroit Tigers
, and Texas Rangers
. Although Tettleton played mostly as a catcher
, he also played as a first baseman
, an outfielder
and as a designated hitter
.
Tettleton was named after Baseball Hall of Fame member and fellow Oklahoman, Mickey Mantle
, and like the former Yankee star, he was a switch hitter
. He was recognized by his unusual batting stance: he stood almost straight up at the plate, holding his bat horizontal and, bending only when the pitcher began his delivery. He was also distinguished by the huge wad of chewing tobacco
he kept in his cheek during games, as well as his claim that Froot Loops
were the source of his hitting power.
before enrolling at Oklahoma State University. He played for the Oklahoma State Cowboys
baseball team that reached the finals in the 1981 College World Series
, before losing to the Arizona State Sun Devils. Tettleton was named to the 1981 College World Series All-Tournament Team as an outfielder.
. He spent three seasons in the minor leagues
playing for the Modesto Athletics
of the California League
. He began the 1984
season with the Double-A Albany A's
but, was promoted to the major leagues in June when Athletics catcher Jim Essian
suffered a broken hand. Tettleton made his major league debut with Oakland on June 30, at the age of 23. He served as a backup catcher to Mike Heath
until December 1985 when, the Athletics traded Heath and Tim Conroy
to the St. Louis Cardinals for Joaquin Andujar
, leaving Tettleton as their starting catcher.
Given the starting catcher's job for the 1986
season, Tettleton's offensive statistics failed to impress, as he posted a .204 batting average
in 90 games along with 10 home run
s and 35 runs batted in whereas, his defensive abilities were termed as adequate. By the end of the season, Athletics manager Tony LaRussa had Tettleton platooning
with left-hand hitting catcher, Jerry Willard
. Tettleton began the 1987
season as the Athletics starting catcher. However, injuries and weak hitting limited him to 82 games as newcomer Terry Steinbach
began to make a positive impression. He ended the year with a dismal .194 batting average. On March 28, 1988, The Athletics released Tettleton during spring training
and, on April 5, he signed a contract to play for the Rochester Red Wings
in the Baltimore Orioles organisation.
in 1988
and, improved his batting average significantly to a .261. 1989
was a breakout year for Tettleton as he started the season hitting 13 home runs in April and May, setting a new major league record for catchers. He hit 20 home runs by midseason, earning him a place as a reserve player for the American League
team in the 1989 All-Star Game
. In August, Tettleton had to undergo surgery to remove a cyst from his left knee and, missed almost one month. He finished the season with a .258 batting average, 26 home runs, 65 runs batted in and an impressive .369 on base percentage
, helping the Orioles improve from last place in the American League East
in 1988 to second place in 1989, two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays
. Tettleton's hitting performance earned him the American League Silver Slugger Award which is awarded annually to the best offensive
player at each position
.
Tettleton's offensive output dropped in 1989
with a .223 batting average, 15 home runs and 51 runs batted in. Although he struck out 160 times to set a major league strikeout
record for switch hitters, his on base percentage increased from the previous year to a .376, in part due to the 106 base on balls
. In October, he was selected to the Associated Press
All-Star team. At the end of the year, Tettleton opted for free agency then surprised the Orioles by accepting their salary arbitration offer. They had expected him to accept a higher offer from another team and were not prepared to pay him more than $1 million. Two days after acquiring high-priced free agents Glenn Davis
and Dwight Evans
, the Orioles traded Tettleton to the Detroit Tigers for pitcher Jeff Robinson in what was seen as a cost saving measure on the part of the Orioles.
, producing his highest home run totals, including a stretch in late June when, he hit 7 home runs in seven games. He also became only the fifth player in major league history to hit two home runs over the right field roof of Tiger Stadium. By the end of the season he had compiled a .263 batting average with 31 home runs, 89 runs batted in and a .387 on base percentage, earning his second Silver Slugger Award and, helping the Tigers to finish second in the American League East Division. In October, he was selected to the Associated Press All-Star team for a second time. On October 27, , the Tigers rewarded his performance by signing him to a three-year contract worth $8.5 million.
Tettleton had another productive year in 1992
. On April 20, he became the first player to hit a ball onto Eutaw Street which runs behind right field at Baltimore's Camden Yards
. In a poll of American League managers
prior to the 1992 All-Star Game
, Tettleton came out on top as their choice to be the starting All-Star catcher however, the fans voted for Sandy Alomar, Jr.
He produced a .238 batting average, a career-high 32 home runs, 83 runs batted in, a .379 on base percentage and, led the American League with 122 base on balls, to win his third Silver Slugger Award. He also led American League catchers with a .996 fielding percentage
, committing only 2 errors
in 113 games as a catcher. In a computer ranking of major league players that used offensive
and defensive statistics over the previous two seasons, Tettleton was ranked first among American League catchers. In October, he was selected as the catcher for the Sporting News American League All-Star team.
Tettleton continued to produce respectable offensive statistics in 1993
. By midseason, he was tied for the major league home run lead with Barry Bonds
with 24, along with 73 runs batted in yet, he was once again snubbed by fans in the voting for the 1993 All-Star Game
. Cito Gaston
, the American League manager for the All-Star game, also received criticism for failing to name Tettleton as a reserve player. In order to get more bats in the lineup, Detroit manager Sparky Anderson
, began to use Tettleton at other positions, as he played 59 games as a first baseman, 56 games as a catcher and 55 games as an outfielder, helping the Tigers lead the American League in runs
for the second consecutive year. He ended the season with a .245 batting average and a .372 on base percentage along with 32 home runs and a career-high 110 runs batted in.
Tettleton had 14 homeruns and 41 runs batted in at the All-Star break in 1994
and was selected by Cito Gaston as an reserve player in the 1994 All-Star Game
, perhaps to make amends for the previous year's snub. He continued to play as a first baseman and an outfielder however, the majority of his games were played as catcher until the season ended prematurely when major league players decided to go on strike in August. In the final year of his contract with the Tigers, Tettleton's offensive statistics dropped to a .248 average with 17 home runs and 51 runs batted in although, he posted a career-high .419 on base percentage.
, he signed a one-year contract for $550,000 to play for the Texas Rangers. With Iván Rodríguez
having a secure hold on the Rangers' catching job, Tettleton played mostly as a right fielder
and designated hitter. He posted a .238 batting average and matched his career high with 32 home runs along with 72 runs batted in.
In December 1995, he turned down a lucrative offer from the New York Yankees and chose to remain with the Rangers, signing a two-year contract worth $2.5 million. He continued to play mostly as a designated hitter and occasional first baseman, ending the year with a .246 average, 24 home runs and 83 runs batted in to help the Rangers clinch the 1996
American League West
Division title. In the 1996 American League Division Series
against the New York Yankees
, Tettleton struggled in the only post-season appearance of his career, striking out seven times and hitting for just an .083 batting average as, the Rangers lost the series in four games.
Playing exclusively as a designated hitter in 1997
, he was hitting for just a .091 average in 17 games when he announced his retirement in July at the age of 36.
, accumulating 1,132 hits
in 4,698 at bats for a .241 career batting average along with 245 home runs, 732 runs batted in and a .369 on base percentage
. He retired with a .991 fielding percentage in 872 games as a catcher, a .979 fielding percentage in 142 games as an outfielder and a .986 fielding percentage in 125 games as a first baseman.
A two-time All-Star, Tettleton was considered one of the best-hitting catchers of his era, winning three Silver Slugger Awards. At the time of his retirement, he ranked eighth in major league history in career home runs by a switch-hitter. Tettleton hit over 30 home runs four times in his career, and was also known for his patience at the plate, accumulating 949 career walks. Tettleton led the American League in 1992 with 122 walks and finished in the top ten in six other seasons, including second three times. But his selective style at the plate, combined with his power-hitting mentality, led to Tettleton's 1,307 career strike-outs, 105th on baseball's all-time list as of .
In his book, The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
, baseball historian Bill James
ranked Tettleton 37th all-time among major league catchers.
in the film, Little Big League
, about a 12 year old boy who inherits a major league baseball team. His son Tyler signed to play quarterback for Ohio University
in 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
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....
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...
player. He played 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...
for 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....
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
. Although Tettleton played mostly 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...
, he also played as a 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...
, an 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...
and as a 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...
.
Tettleton was named after Baseball Hall of Fame member and fellow Oklahoman, Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
, and like the former Yankee star, he was a switch hitter
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
. He was recognized by his unusual batting stance: he stood almost straight up at the plate, holding his bat horizontal and, bending only when the pitcher began his delivery. He was also distinguished by the huge wad of chewing tobacco
Chewing tobacco
Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco Chewing tobacco (also known colloquially as hoobastank, backy, tobac, doogooos,Hogleg, chewpoos, chits, chewsky, chawsky, dip, flab, chowers, guy, or a wad, as well as referred to as dipsky, snuff, a pinch, a yopper, a Packing a bomb, a tobbackey or packing a...
he kept in his cheek during games, as well as his claim that Froot Loops
Froot Loops
Froot Loops is a brand of breakfast cereal produced by Kellogg's and sold in Hungary, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, the United States, South Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Germany, The Middle East, The Caribbean, South Africa, Latin America, Sweden and Finland...
were the source of his hitting power.
Early life
Tettleton grew up in Oklahoma City where he attended Southeast High SchoolSoutheast High School (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Southeast High School is a high school in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that opened in 1950. The school closed in 1990, but was reopened and remodeled in 1994 as a magnet school with an emphasis on four technology programs offered at the school...
before enrolling at Oklahoma State University. He played for the Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State Cowboys are the athletic teams that represent Oklahoma State University. Their mascot is a cowboy named Pistol Pete. Oklahoma State participates in the NCAA's Division I-A and in the Big 12 Conference's South Division. The university's current athletic director is Mike Holder...
baseball team that reached the finals in the 1981 College World Series
1981 College World Series
The 1981 College World Series was played at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, NE from May 30 to June 8. The thirty-fifth tournament's champion was Arizona State University coached by Jim Brock...
, before losing to the Arizona State Sun Devils. Tettleton was named to the 1981 College World Series All-Tournament Team as an outfielder.
Oakland Athletics
Tettleton was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the fifth round of the 1981 Major League Baseball Draft1981 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1981 Major League Baseball draft.- Other notable players :*John Elway was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1981 amateur draft...
. He spent three seasons in the minor leagues
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...
playing for the Modesto Athletics
Modesto Nuts
The Modesto Nuts are a minor league baseball team in Modesto, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Colorado Rockies. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats 4,000 fans...
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. 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...
. He began the 1984
1984 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics' 1984 season involved the A's finishing 4th in the American League West with a record of 77 wins and 85 losses.- Offseason :* October 28, 1983: Joe Rudi was released by the Athletics....
season with the Double-A Albany A's
Albany A's
The Albany A's are a defunct minor league baseball team. They played in the Eastern League at Heritage Park in Colonie, New York. They were affiliated with the Oakland A's. Their announcer that year was Phil Pivnick....
but, was promoted to the major leagues in June when Athletics catcher Jim Essian
Jim Essian
James Sarkis Essian, Jr. is an American former catcher and occasional infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Cleveland Indians. He was signed by the Phillies at age 18, but he only amassed 24 at-bats over three seasons...
suffered a broken hand. Tettleton made his major league debut with Oakland on June 30, at the age of 23. He served as a backup catcher to Mike Heath
Mike Heath
Michael Thomas Heath is a former catcher in Major League Baseball. Heath played fourteen seasons in the major leagues with the New York Yankees , Oakland Athletics , St...
until December 1985 when, the Athletics traded Heath and Tim Conroy
Tim Conroy
Timothy James Conroy was a pitcher for the Oakland Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals ....
to the St. Louis Cardinals for Joaquin Andujar
Joaquín Andújar
Joaquín Andújar is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who became one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball while playing with the St. Louis Cardinals in the mid-80s.-Early years:...
, leaving Tettleton as their starting catcher.
Given the starting catcher's job for the 1986
1986 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics' 1986 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the A's finishing 3rd in the American League West with a record of 76 wins and 86 losses.-Offseason:...
season, Tettleton's offensive statistics failed to impress, as he posted a .204 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 :...
in 90 games along with 10 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 and 35 runs batted in whereas, his defensive abilities were termed as adequate. By the end of the season, Athletics manager Tony LaRussa had Tettleton platooning
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
with left-hand hitting catcher, Jerry Willard
Jerry Willard
Gerald Duane Willard was a Major League Baseball catcher.Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1979, Willard would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Cleveland Indians on April 11, 1984, and appeared in his final game on May 19, 1994.Willard's career was spent...
. Tettleton began the 1987
1987 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics' 1987 season involved the A's finishing 3rd in the American League West with a record of 81 wins and 81 losses. Mark McGwire set a rookie record by hitting 49 home runs. At the beginning of the season, the word "Athletics" returned, in script lettering, to the front of the...
season as the Athletics starting catcher. However, injuries and weak hitting limited him to 82 games as newcomer Terry Steinbach
Terry Steinbach
Terry Lee Steinbach is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for 14 years from to . He was drafted in 1980 out of New Ulm High School by the Cleveland Indians. He was the starting catcher for Oakland Athletics teams that won three straight American League pennants from 1988 to...
began to make a positive impression. He ended the year with a dismal .194 batting average. On March 28, 1988, The Athletics released Tettleton during 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...
and, on April 5, he signed a contract to play for the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
in the Baltimore Orioles organisation.
Baltimore Orioles
Tettleton started the season in Rochester but was soon called back to the major leagues where he shared catching duties with Terry KennedyTerry Kennedy
Terrence Edward Kennedy is a former All-Star Major League Baseball catcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , San Diego Padres , Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants . Kennedy batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He is the son of former major league player and manager Bob Kennedy...
in 1988
1988 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 7th in the American League East with a record of 54 wins and 107 losses. The season is remembered for the 0-21 start that lasted from April 4 to April 28 to start the Orioles season. Manager Cal...
and, improved his batting average significantly to a .261. 1989
1989 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 87 wins and 75 losses. The team was known as the Comeback Kids as they rebounded from the 54 wins and 107 losses of the 1988 season...
was a breakout year for Tettleton as he started the season hitting 13 home runs in April and May, setting a new major league record for catchers. He hit 20 home runs by midseason, earning him a place as a reserve player for 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...
team in the 1989 All-Star Game
1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1989 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 60th 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 11, 1989 at Anaheim Stadium in Anaheim, California, the home of...
. In August, Tettleton had to undergo surgery to remove a cyst from his left knee and, missed almost one month. He finished the season with a .258 batting average, 26 home runs, 65 runs batted in and an impressive .369 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...
, helping the Orioles improve from last place in the American League East
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
in 1988 to second place in 1989, two games behind the Toronto Blue Jays
1989 Toronto Blue Jays season
The Toronto Blue Jays season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Blue Jays finishing first in the American League East with a record of 89 wins and 73 losses...
. Tettleton's hitting performance earned him the American League Silver Slugger Award which is awarded annually to the best offensive
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
player at each position
Baseball positions
There are 9 fielding positions in baseball. Each position conventionally has an associated number which is used to score putouts...
.
Tettleton's offensive output dropped in 1989
1989 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Orioles finishing 2nd in the American League East with a record of 87 wins and 75 losses. The team was known as the Comeback Kids as they rebounded from the 54 wins and 107 losses of the 1988 season...
with a .223 batting average, 15 home runs and 51 runs batted in. Although he struck out 160 times to set a major league strikeout
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....
record for switch hitters, his on base percentage increased from the previous year to a .376, in part due to the 106 base on balls
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 October, he was selected to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
All-Star team. At the end of the year, Tettleton opted for free agency then surprised the Orioles by accepting their salary arbitration offer. They had expected him to accept a higher offer from another team and were not prepared to pay him more than $1 million. Two days after acquiring high-priced free agents Glenn Davis
Glenn Davis (baseball)
Glenn Earl Davis is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. While a member of the Houston Astros in the late 1980s, he finished three times in the top ten in National League MVP balloting . He batted and threw right-handed....
and Dwight Evans
Dwight Evans
Dwight Michael Evans , nicknamed "Dewey", is an American former professional baseball right fielder and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles in Major League Baseball....
, the Orioles traded Tettleton to the Detroit Tigers for pitcher Jeff Robinson in what was seen as a cost saving measure on the part of the Orioles.
Detroit Tigers
Tettleton's batting rebounded in 19911991 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers finished in second place in the American League East with a record of 83-79 . They outscored their opponents 817 to 794...
, producing his highest home run totals, including a stretch in late June when, he hit 7 home runs in seven games. He also became only the fifth player in major league history to hit two home runs over the right field roof of Tiger Stadium. By the end of the season he had compiled a .263 batting average with 31 home runs, 89 runs batted in and a .387 on base percentage, earning his second Silver Slugger Award and, helping the Tigers to finish second in the American League East Division. In October, he was selected to the Associated Press All-Star team for a second time. On October 27, , the Tigers rewarded his performance by signing him to a three-year contract worth $8.5 million.
Tettleton had another productive year in 1992
1992 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers' 1992 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Detroit Tigers attempting to win the American League East.-Offseason:* December 20, 1991: Dan Gladden was signed as a free agent by the Tigers....
. On April 20, he became the first player to hit a ball onto Eutaw Street which runs behind right field at Baltimore's Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. The park was...
. In a poll of American League managers
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...
prior to the 1992 All-Star Game
1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1992 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 63rd 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 14, 1992 at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, California, the...
, Tettleton came out on top as their choice to be the starting All-Star catcher however, the fans voted for Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Jr., or in the Spanish-language naming system Santos Alomar Velázquez , is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the San Diego Padres , Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox and , Colorado Rockies , Texas Rangers , Los Angeles Dodgers , and New York Mets...
He produced a .238 batting average, a career-high 32 home runs, 83 runs batted in, a .379 on base percentage and, led the American League with 122 base on balls, to win his third Silver Slugger Award. He also led American League catchers with a .996 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
, committing only 2 errors
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 ...
in 113 games as a catcher. In a computer ranking of major league players that used offensive
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
and defensive statistics over the previous two seasons, Tettleton was ranked first among American League catchers. In October, he was selected as the catcher for the Sporting News American League All-Star team.
Tettleton continued to produce respectable offensive statistics in 1993
1993 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers' 1993 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Detroit Tigers attempting to win the American League East.-Offseason:* December 7, 1992: Bill Gullickson was signed as a free agent by the Tigers....
. By midseason, he was tied for the major league home run lead with Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
with 24, along with 73 runs batted in yet, he was once again snubbed by fans in the voting for the 1993 All-Star Game
1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1993 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 64th 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 13, 1993 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland,...
. Cito Gaston
Cito Gaston
Clarence Edwin "Cito" Gaston is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. His major league career as a player lasted from 1967–1978, most notably for the San Diego Padres and the Atlanta Braves...
, the American League manager for the All-Star game, also received criticism for failing to name Tettleton as a reserve player. In order to get more bats in the lineup, Detroit manager Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
, began to use Tettleton at other positions, as he played 59 games as a first baseman, 56 games as a catcher and 55 games as an outfielder, helping the Tigers lead the American League in 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...
for the second consecutive year. He ended the season with a .245 batting average and a .372 on base percentage along with 32 home runs and a career-high 110 runs batted in.
Tettleton had 14 homeruns and 41 runs batted in at the All-Star break in 1994
1994 Detroit Tigers season
The Detroit Tigers' 1994 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Detroit Tigers attempting to win the AL Central.-Offseason:* November 1, 1993: Eric Davis was signed as a free agent by the Tigers....
and was selected by Cito Gaston as an reserve player in the 1994 All-Star Game
1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1994 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 65th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
, perhaps to make amends for the previous year's snub. He continued to play as a first baseman and an outfielder however, the majority of his games were played as catcher until the season ended prematurely when major league players decided to go on strike in August. In the final year of his contract with the Tigers, Tettleton's offensive statistics dropped to a .248 average with 17 home runs and 51 runs batted in although, he posted a career-high .419 on base percentage.
Texas Rangers
Tettleton was granted free agency and in April 19951995 Texas Rangers season
The Texas Rangers 1995 season involved the Rangers finishing third in the American League west with a record of 74 wins and 70 losses.-Offseason:...
, he signed a one-year contract for $550,000 to play for the Texas Rangers. With Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez
Iván Rodríguez Torres , nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod", is a Major League Baseball catcher...
having a secure hold on the Rangers' catching job, Tettleton played mostly as a 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...
and designated hitter. He posted a .238 batting average and matched his career high with 32 home runs along with 72 runs batted in.
In December 1995, he turned down a lucrative offer from the New York Yankees and chose to remain with the Rangers, signing a two-year contract worth $2.5 million. He continued to play mostly as a designated hitter and occasional first baseman, ending the year with a .246 average, 24 home runs and 83 runs batted in to help the Rangers clinch the 1996
1996 Texas Rangers season
The Texas Rangers 1996 season involved the Rangers finishing 1st in the American League west with a record of 90 wins and 72 losses. It would be the first post-season appearance for the Rangers in franchise history....
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...
Division title. In the 1996 American League Division Series
1996 American League Division Series
-Texas Rangers vs. New York Yankees:-Game 1, October 1:Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MarylandIt was Baltimore's first playoff game since the clinching Game 5 of the 1983 World Series. For the Indians, it was their second consecutive division title. Charles Nagy and David Wells matched...
against the New York Yankees
1996 New York Yankees season
The 1996 New York Yankees season was the 94th season for the Yankees. The 1996 New York Yankees were managed by Joe Torre, and played at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx....
, Tettleton struggled in the only post-season appearance of his career, striking out seven times and hitting for just an .083 batting average as, the Rangers lost the series in four games.
Playing exclusively as a designated hitter in 1997
1997 Texas Rangers season
The Texas Rangers 1997 season involved the Rangers finishing 3rd in the American League west with a record of 77 wins and 85 losses. Despite not making the playoffs the club would set an all-time attendance record of over 2.945 million fans, which would be the franchise's best until 2011.On a...
, he was hitting for just a .091 average in 17 games when he announced his retirement in July at the age of 36.
Career statistics
In a thirteen-year major league career, Tettleton played in 1,485 gamesGames 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,...
, accumulating 1,132 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....
in 4,698 at bats for a .241 career batting average along with 245 home runs, 732 runs batted in and a .369 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...
. He retired with a .991 fielding percentage in 872 games as a catcher, a .979 fielding percentage in 142 games as an outfielder and a .986 fielding percentage in 125 games as a first baseman.
A two-time All-Star, Tettleton was considered one of the best-hitting catchers of his era, winning three Silver Slugger Awards. At the time of his retirement, he ranked eighth in major league history in career home runs by a switch-hitter. Tettleton hit over 30 home runs four times in his career, and was also known for his patience at the plate, accumulating 949 career walks. Tettleton led the American League in 1992 with 122 walks and finished in the top ten in six other seasons, including second three times. But his selective style at the plate, combined with his power-hitting mentality, led to Tettleton's 1,307 career strike-outs, 105th on baseball's all-time list as of .
In his book, The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract is a reference-type book written by Bill James featuring an overview of baseball decade by decade, along with rankings of the top 100 players at each position. The original edition was published in 1985 by Villard Books, followed by The New Bill James...
, baseball historian Bill James
Bill James
George William “Bill” James is a baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics...
ranked Tettleton 37th all-time among major league catchers.
Personal life
In , Tettleton made a cameo appearanceCameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in the film, Little Big League
Little Big League
Little Big League is a 1994 family film about a 12-year-old who suddenly becomes the owner and then manager of the Minnesota Twins baseball team. It stars Luke Edwards, Timothy Busfield and Dennis Farina.-Plot:...
, about a 12 year old boy who inherits a major league baseball team. His son Tyler signed to play quarterback for Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
in 2009.
External links
- Mickey Tettleton Profile, Baseball Digest, January 1996
- Where are they now? Mickey Tettleton at mlb.com