Mitch Meluskey
Encyclopedia
Mitchell Wade Meluskey is a retired professional baseball
player. He played all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball
, between 1998 and 2003, for the Houston Astros
and Detroit Tigers
, primarily as a catcher
.
with the Astros except for 8 games with Detroit in 2002.
On April 20, 1999, Mitch hit his first major league home run off of Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Karchner.
In 2000, he finished fifth in balloting for the National League Rookie of the Year award after hitting .300 with 14 home runs and 69 runs batted in. That same year, Mike Piazza
had to drop out of the All-Star game after being hit in the head by a Roger Clemens
fastball on July 8, 3 days before the All-Star game. NL Manager Bobby Cox
reportedly wanted Meluskey to be Piazza's replacement, but was unable to contact Meluskey due to Mitch being on a hunting trip. Meluskey retired in 2004, never making an All-Star team.
, and is the assistant coach of the La Salle Lightning
baseball team.
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....
player. He played all or part of five seasons 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...
, between 1998 and 2003, for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and 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...
, primarily 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...
.
Professional career
Meluskey played his entire career in the National LeagueNational League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
with the Astros except for 8 games with Detroit in 2002.
On April 20, 1999, Mitch hit his first major league home run off of Chicago Cubs pitcher Matt Karchner.
In 2000, he finished fifth in balloting for the National League Rookie of the Year award after hitting .300 with 14 home runs and 69 runs batted in. That same year, Mike Piazza
Mike Piazza
Michael Joseph "Mike" Piazza ; born September 4, 1968) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played in his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and the Oakland Athletics....
had to drop out of the All-Star game after being hit in the head by a Roger Clemens
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
fastball on July 8, 3 days before the All-Star game. NL Manager Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Robert Joseph "Bobby" Cox is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. He first led the Atlanta Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He later rejoined the Braves in 1985 as a general manager...
reportedly wanted Meluskey to be Piazza's replacement, but was unable to contact Meluskey due to Mitch being on a hunting trip. Meluskey retired in 2004, never making an All-Star team.
Personal life
He lives in Yakima, WashingtonYakima, Washington
Yakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
, and is the assistant coach of the La Salle Lightning
La Salle High School (Union Gap, Washington)
LaSalle High School, also known as LHS, is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Union Gap, Washington. It is the only Catholic high school in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Yakima...
baseball team.