Mike O'Berry
Encyclopedia
Preston Michael O'Berry is a former catcher
in Major League Baseball
.
in the twenty-second round of the 1975 amateur player draft. He made his major league debut with the Red Sox on April 18, 1979. After the end of the 1979 season, O'Berry was traded to the Chicago Cubs
as the player to be named later
in an earlier deal the Red Sox made for Ted Sizemore
. O'Berry continued to move from team to team after one or two years, serving as the backup catcher for the Cubs, Cincinnati Reds
, California Angels
, New York Yankees
, and Montreal Expos
before retiring after the 1985 season.
to their first Appalachian League
championship title. He stayed in the Baltimore Orioles
organization until 1996, which was the first of his three seasons with the independent Tennessee Tomahawks. After his stint in the Pros, O'Berry decided to stay close to home and coach the Pelham High School
Panthers. O'Berry coached the team from 2001-2006, leading the team to its first state title in 2004. Under his reign, the team gained national recoginition and was a powerhouse in the 6A division.
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...
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...
.
Major league career
O'Berry was drafted by the Boston Red SoxBoston 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"...
in the twenty-second round of the 1975 amateur player draft. He made his major league debut with the Red Sox on April 18, 1979. After the end of the 1979 season, O'Berry was traded to 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...
as the player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
in an earlier deal the Red Sox made for Ted Sizemore
Ted Sizemore
Ted Crawford Sizemore was a second baseman for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers , St...
. O'Berry continued to move from team to team after one or two years, serving as the backup catcher for the Cubs, 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....
, California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, 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...
, and 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...
before retiring after the 1985 season.
Managerial career
O'Berry managed minor league and independent teams from 1992 to 1998. In his first season, he managed the Bluefield OriolesBluefield Orioles
The Bluefield Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. Beginning in 2011, Bluefield will be affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. The team plays their home games at Bowen Field, a...
to their first 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 title. He stayed 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 until 1996, which was the first of his three seasons with the independent Tennessee Tomahawks. After his stint in the Pros, O'Berry decided to stay close to home and coach the Pelham High School
Pelham High School
Pelham High School is a public high school located in Pelham, Alabama. Part of the , Pelham was built in 1973 and opened in 1974. The school's mascot is "Paws" the Panther, and its colors are Forrest Green and Vegas Gold.- History :...
Panthers. O'Berry coached the team from 2001-2006, leading the team to its first state title in 2004. Under his reign, the team gained national recoginition and was a powerhouse in the 6A division.
External links
- Mike O'Berry - Baseball-Reference.com