Dutch Dotterer
Encyclopedia
Henry John "Dutch" Dotterer, Jr. (November 11, 1931 — October 9, 1999) was an American
professional baseball catcher
. The native of Syracuse, New York
, attended Syracuse University
. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 209 pounds (95 kg).
Dotterer played only one full season in Major League Baseball
with the 1959 Cincinnati Reds
, but appeared in parts of four others for Cincinnati
(1957–58; 1960) and the Washington Senators
as a member of the expansion Senators' 1961 debut season
in the American League
. He batted
.247 in 107 career games, with five home runs and 33 runs batted in. In 1959, he backed up regular Cincinnati catcher Ed Bailey
, hitting .267 with two homers and 17 RBI in 161 at bats. At the close of the 1960 season, he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics
, who then left him unprotected in the 1960 Major League Baseball expansion draft. Dotterer was acquired by Washington with the 12th pick in the player lottery.
Dotterer made the 1961 Senators' opening day roster and logged 19 at-bats with them, but on April 30 of that season he played his final MLB game. He then spent the rest of his pro career with his hometown Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple-A International League
in 1961–62. He died in Syracuse at age 67.
His father, Dutch Dotterer, Sr., was a longtime scout with Cincinnati and the Cleveland Indians
, and a brother, Tom, an infielder
, played minor league baseball in the Cincinnati organization. Also, his son Mike is a member of the Stanford (University) Athletic Hall of Fame after playing Football and Baseball at Stanford. Mike was also drafted in the 8th round by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1983.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball 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...
. The native of Syracuse, New York
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, attended Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 209 pounds (95 kg).
Dotterer played only one full season 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...
with the 1959 Cincinnati Reds
1959 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds finishing in a fifth-place tie with the Chicago Cubs in the National League standings, with a record of 74-80, 13 games behind the NL and World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers...
, but appeared in parts of four others for Cincinnati
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....
(1957–58; 1960) and the Washington Senators
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...
as a member of the expansion Senators' 1961 debut season
1961 Washington Senators season
The Washington Senators season was a season in American baseball. The team was in its inaugural season, having been established as a replacement for the previous franchise of the same name, which relocated to the Twin Cities of Minnesota following the 1960 season, becoming the Minnesota Twins...
in 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...
. He batted
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 :...
.247 in 107 career games, with five home runs and 33 runs batted in. In 1959, he backed up regular Cincinnati catcher Ed Bailey
Ed Bailey
Lonas Edgar Bailey, Jr. was an American professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from through . Bailey batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee...
, hitting .267 with two homers and 17 RBI in 161 at bats. At the close of the 1960 season, he was traded to the Kansas City 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....
, who then left him unprotected in the 1960 Major League Baseball expansion draft. Dotterer was acquired by Washington with the 12th pick in the player lottery.
Dotterer made the 1961 Senators' opening day roster and logged 19 at-bats with them, but on April 30 of that season he played his final MLB game. He then spent the rest of his pro career with his hometown Syracuse Chiefs of the Triple-A International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
in 1961–62. He died in Syracuse at age 67.
His father, Dutch Dotterer, Sr., was a longtime scout with Cincinnati and 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...
, and a brother, Tom, an infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
, played minor league baseball in the Cincinnati organization. Also, his son Mike is a member of the Stanford (University) Athletic Hall of Fame after playing Football and Baseball at Stanford. Mike was also drafted in the 8th round by the Los Angeles Raiders in 1983.