Mike Tresh
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" Tresh was a catcher
in Major League Baseball
. From 1938 through 1949, he played for the Chicago White Sox
(1938–48) and Cleveland Indians
(1949). Tresh batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania
. His son, Tom
, also played in major league from 1961–69.
In a 12-season career, Tresh posted a .249 batting average
with two home run
s and 297 RBI
in 1027 games played
. His best season was 1940: ,281 BA, 64 RBI, 62 runs
, 135 hits
– all career-highs. In 1945 Tresh was durable enough to catch all 150 White Sox games. He is just one of three 20th century catchers to catch 100% of his team games. The others are Frankie Hayes
(Philadelphia Phillies
) and Ray Mueller
(Cincinnati Reds
), each with 155 caught games in 1944.
Tresh died at the age of 52 in Detroit, Michigan
, and is interred at Michigan Memorial Park in Flat Rock, Michigan
.
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...
. From 1938 through 1949, he played for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1938–48) and 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...
(1949). Tresh batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Hazleton is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census, an increase of 8.6% from the 2000 census count .-Greater Hazleton:...
. His son, Tom
Tom Tresh
Thomas Michael Tresh was a Major League Baseball infielder and outfielder who played for the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers . Tresh was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
, also played in major league from 1961–69.
In a 12-season career, Tresh posted a .249 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 :...
with two 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 297 RBI
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...
in 1027 games played
Games 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,...
. His best season was 1940: ,281 BA, 64 RBI, 62 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...
, 135 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....
– all career-highs. In 1945 Tresh was durable enough to catch all 150 White Sox games. He is just one of three 20th century catchers to catch 100% of his team games. The others are Frankie Hayes
Frankie Hayes
Frank Witman Hayes was an American professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to and, was highly regarded for his defensive abilities. He played most of his career for Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics and also spent time with the St. Louis Browns,...
(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...
) and Ray Mueller
Ray Mueller
Ray Coleman Mueller was an American professional baseball player, a catcher in the Major Leagues from 1935–1944 and 1946–1951. Nicknamed "Iron Man," Mueller appeared as a catcher in every game the Cincinnati Reds played — 155 — during the wartime season...
(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....
), each with 155 caught games in 1944.
Tresh died at the age of 52 in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and is interred at Michigan Memorial Park in Flat Rock, Michigan
Flat Rock, Michigan
- Racial makeup :As of the census of 2000, there were 8,488 people, 3,181 households, and 2,306 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,266.9 per square mile . There were 3,291 housing units at an average density of 491.2 per square mile...
.