Todd Pratt
Encyclopedia
Todd Alan Pratt is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
from 1992-2006. He has primarily served as a back-up catcher for most of his career.
Pratt was drafted during the 6th round of the 1985 amateur draft
. In 1987, the Cleveland Indians
drafted Pratt from the Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft
, but he would eventually be returned to the Red Sox. After spending time in the Baltimore Orioles
organization, Pratt made his big league debut in 1992, as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies
. He played with Philadelphia through the 1994 season, before signing with the Chicago Cubs
for 1995. Pratt spent the 1996 season away from organized baseball, working at Bucky Dent
's baseball school after the Seattle Mariners
released him. He would sign with the New York Mets
before the start of 1997.
The biggest moment of Pratt's career came when he was with the Mets. In Game 4 of the 1999 NLDS
, he hit a tenth-inning walk-off home run
off Arizona Diamondbacks
pitcher Matt Mantei
, winning the Mets the series, 3 games to 1. In another memorable moment, during that year's NLCS
, Pratt (who was supposed to be running the bases) was the first Met to embrace teammate Robin Ventura
after Ventura hit a grand-slam to win Game 5 for New York. Since Ventura only touched first base, he was officially credited with a single, referred to jokingly as a "Grand Slam Single
".
The Mets traded Pratt back to the Phillies in July 2001 for fellow catcher Gary Bennett. He stayed with the Phillies as Mike Lieberthal
's back-up through the 2005 season. During this stint, Pratt hit the longest home run of his career, a 441-foot blast off Scott Olsen
of the Florida Marlins
during the 2005 season. The ball landed in the upper deck in left field at Citizens Bank Park
.
Pratt signed as a free agent with the Braves in December, 2005. On January 12, 2007 he signed with the Yankees for a minor league deal, but was beat out for the club's backup catcher spot by Wil Nieves
and retired.
Pratt was also a notable player of the online video game Ultima Online
, and even appeared on the box of Ultima Online: Renaissance
for marketing purposes.
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...
from 1992-2006. He has primarily served as a back-up catcher for most of his career.
Pratt was drafted during the 6th round of the 1985 amateur draft
1985 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1985 Major League Baseball draft.-Background:Six of the first eight draft picks from the June regular phase had at least one full year of major league experience prior to the start of the 1987 season. Included in that list were...
. In 1987, the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
drafted Pratt from the Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
, but he would eventually be returned to the Red Sox. After spending time 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, Pratt made his big league debut in 1992, as a member of 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...
. He played with Philadelphia through the 1994 season, before signing with 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...
for 1995. Pratt spent the 1996 season away from organized baseball, working at Bucky Dent
Bucky Dent
Russell Earl "Bucky" Dent , is a former American Major League Baseball player and manager. He earned two World Series rings as the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees in and , and was voted the World Series MVP in 1978...
's baseball school after the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
released him. He would sign with 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...
before the start of 1997.
The biggest moment of Pratt's career came when he was with the Mets. In Game 4 of the 1999 NLDS
1999 National League Division Series
-Arizona Diamondbacks vs. New York Mets:-Game 1, October 5:Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaA pitcher's duel between Shane Reynolds and Greg Maddux highlighted Game 1. The Astros struck first in the top of the second when Tony Eusebio singled in Carl Everett. Gerald Williams would tie the game in...
, he hit a tenth-inning walk-off home run
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
off Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
pitcher Matt Mantei
Matt Mantei
Matthew Bruce Mantei [MAN-tie] is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. In his career, Mantei played with the Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox. He batted and threw right-handed.-Career:...
, winning the Mets the series, 3 games to 1. In another memorable moment, during that year's NLCS
1999 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 12, 1999 at Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Braves began their eighth consecutive NLCS with a 4–2 victory over the Mets, defeating a team they left for dead two weeks earlier...
, Pratt (who was supposed to be running the bases) was the first Met to embrace teammate Robin Ventura
Robin Ventura
Robin Mark Ventura is the current manager of the Chicago White Sox. He is a former professional baseball player, a third baseman who played for four major league teams, most notably for the Chicago White Sox...
after Ventura hit a grand-slam to win Game 5 for New York. Since Ventura only touched first base, he was officially credited with a single, referred to jokingly as a "Grand Slam Single
Grand Slam Single
The Grand Slam Single is a reference to the hit that ended Game 5 of the 1999 National League Championship Series between the New York Mets and one of their biggest rivals, Atlanta Braves...
".
The Mets traded Pratt back to the Phillies in July 2001 for fellow catcher Gary Bennett. He stayed with the Phillies as Mike Lieberthal
Mike Lieberthal
Michael Scott "Mike" Lieberthal , nicknamed Lieby, is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He batted and threw right-handed....
's back-up through the 2005 season. During this stint, Pratt hit the longest home run of his career, a 441-foot blast off Scott Olsen
Scott Olsen
Scott Matthew Olsen is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life:Olsen was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan...
of the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
during the 2005 season. The ball landed in the upper deck in left field at Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park is a 43,647-seat baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, and home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Citizens Bank Park opened on April 3, 2004, and hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 12 of the same year, with the...
.
Pratt signed as a free agent with the Braves in December, 2005. On January 12, 2007 he signed with the Yankees for a minor league deal, but was beat out for the club's backup catcher spot by Wil Nieves
Wil Nieves
Wilbert Nieves is a Puerto Rican professional baseball catcher of Major League Baseball and is currently a free agent.-Career:...
and retired.
Pratt was also a notable player of the online video game Ultima Online
Ultima Online
Ultima Online is a graphical massively multiplayer online role-playing game , released on September 24, 1997, by Origin Systems. It was instrumental to the development of the genre, and is still running today...
, and even appeared on the box of Ultima Online: Renaissance
Ultima Online: Renaissance
Ultima Online: Renaissance is the second expansion to the popular Ultima Online MMORPG. Released on May 4, 2000, it added content, fixed bugs, and made gameplay changes in response to common player complaints....
for marketing purposes.
External links
- Todd Pratt - ESPN.com Player Card
- Todd Pratt - Baseball-Reference.com
- Todd Pratt - MLB.com