Tim Blackwell (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Timothy P. Blackwell is a former professional
baseball
player. He played as a catcher
in Major League Baseball
from to for the Boston Red Sox
, the Philadelphia Phillies
, the Chicago Cubs
and the Montreal Expos
. He was a switch-hitter who threw right handed. Blackwell was known as a light-hitting
, defensive specialist with good pitch-calling skills and, possessed a strong, accurate throwing arm.
. He made his major league debut during a pennant race in July 1974
, filling in for an injured Carlton Fisk
while the Red Sox were in first place in the American League Eastern Division
. Unfortunately, the Red Sox faltered at the end of the season, falling to third place in the final standings. Blackwell was a reserve catcher behind Fisk and Bob Montgomery in 1975
as the Red Sox won the American League
Eastern Division title. Although he provided good defensive abilities, he only had a .197 batting average
and, the Red Sox elected to use Montgomery as reserve catcher in the post-season as, they defeated the Oakland Athletics
in the 1975 American League Championship Series
, before losing to the Cincinnati Reds
in the 1975 World Series
.
In April 1976
, Blackwell was purchased from the Red Sox by the Philadelphia Phillies. He served as a reserve catcher behind Bob Boone
before being traded to the Montreal Expos in 1977
for Barry Foote
. After hitting for a .091 average as Gary Carter
's back up, Blackwell was released by the Expos in January 1978
and, signed a contract to play for the Chicago Cubs. With the Cubs he played as a reserve catcher behind Dave Rader
and Barry Foote, who had been traded by the Phillies. When Foote was injured in 1980
, Blackwell became the Cubs starting catcher, posting career-highs with a .272 batting average along with 16 doubles
, 5 home run
s and 30 runs batted in. He also led National League
catchers in double play
s, range factor
and baserunners caught stealing
, and finished second in assists
behind Gary Carter.
In 1981
, Jody Davis took over as the Cubs main catcher, although Blackwell still managed to finish second among the league's catchers with a .993 fielding percentage
in 56 games. Blackwell was granted free agency at the end of the season and, he signed with the Montreal Expos where he served as a reserve catcher behind Gary Carter for one season before retiring as a player in May 1983
.
, accumulating 238 hits
in 1044 at bats for a .228 career batting average along with 6 home runs and 80 runs batted in. He ended his career with a .981 fielding percentage
. While he was a light-hitting catcher, Blackwell had a strong throwing arm with a quick release and, was a good pitch
caller.
with Toronto Blue Jays
organisation, and then became a minor league
manager
for the Baltimore Orioles
, Colorado Rockies
, Milwaukee Brewers
, San Francisco Giants
and New York Mets
organizations. He managed the Pittsfield Mets
of the New York-Penn League to the playoffs and garnered Manager of the Year honors, and then led the Columbia Mets
to the South Atlantic League
championship in . He last managed the Winston-Salem Warthogs
of the Class A Carolina League
in .
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....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played 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...
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 to for the Boston Red Sox
Boston 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"...
, 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...
, 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...
and the 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...
. He was a switch-hitter who threw right handed. Blackwell was known as a light-hitting
Batting (baseball)
In baseball, batting is the act of facing the opposing pitcher and trying to produce offense for one's team. A batter or hitter is a person whose turn it is to face the pitcher...
, defensive specialist with good pitch-calling skills and, possessed a strong, accurate throwing arm.
Major League career
Blackwell was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round of the 1970 Major League Baseball Draft1970 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1970 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The regular and secondary phases of the January draft proved more fruitful to major league clubs than the June draft...
. He made his major league debut during a pennant race in July 1974
1974 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing third in the American League East with a record of 84 wins and 78 losses.- Offseason :...
, filling in for an injured Carlton Fisk
Carlton Fisk
Carlton Ernest Fisk , nicknamed "Pudge" or "The Commander", is a former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 24-year baseball career, he played for both the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox .Fisk was known by the nickname "Pudge" due to his 6'2", 220 lb frame...
while the Red Sox were in first place in the American League Eastern Division
American League East
The American League Eastern Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions . This division was created before the start of the 1969 season along with the Western Division...
. Unfortunately, the Red Sox faltered at the end of the season, falling to third place in the final standings. Blackwell was a reserve catcher behind Fisk and Bob Montgomery in 1975
1975 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Red Sox finishing first in the American League East with a record of 95 wins and 65 losses...
as the Red Sox won 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...
Eastern Division title. Although he provided good defensive abilities, he only had a .197 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 :...
and, the Red Sox elected to use Montgomery as reserve catcher in the post-season as, they defeated the Oakland Athletics
1975 Oakland Athletics season
The Oakland Athletics' 1975 season involved the A's finishing first in the American League West with a record of 98 wins and 64 losses. They went on to play the Boston Red Sox in the 1975 American League Championship Series, losing in three straight games....
in the 1975 American League Championship Series
1975 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 4, 1975 at Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsBoston Red Sox starter Luis Tiant allowed just one run on three hits to defeat the Oakland Athletics, 7–1, in the ALCS opener....
, before losing to the Cincinnati Reds
1975 Cincinnati Reds season
The 1975 Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Reds winning the National League West with a record of 108-54, 20 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds went on to win the National League Championship Series by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in...
in the 1975 World Series
1975 World Series
The 1975 World Series was played between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds . It has been ranked by ESPN as the second-greatest World Series ever played...
.
In April 1976
1976 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season was the 94th season in the history of the franchise. The Phillies won their first National League East title, as they compiled a record of 101-61, nine games ahead of the second-place Pittsburgh Pirates....
, Blackwell was purchased from the Red Sox by the Philadelphia Phillies. He served as a reserve catcher behind Bob Boone
Bob Boone
Robert Raymond Boone is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who was a four-time All-Star. Born in San Diego, California, Bob Boone is the son of a major league player, the late third baseman Ray Boone, and the father of two major leaguers: former second baseman Bret Boone and...
before being traded to the Montreal Expos in 1977
1977 Montreal Expos season
The 1969 Montreal Expos season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fifth in the National League East with a record of 73-87, 26 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies...
for Barry Foote
Barry Foote
Barry Clifton Foote is a former American professional baseball player, scout, coach and minor league manager. Foote played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Montreal Expos , Philadelphia Phillies , Chicago Cubs , and New York Yankees...
. After hitting for a .091 average as Gary Carter
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter , nicknamed "Kid" and "Kid Carter", is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. During a 19-year baseball career, mostly with the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, Carter established himself as one of the premier catchers in the National League, winning three Gold...
's back up, Blackwell was released by the Expos in January 1978
1978 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 13, 1977: Keith Drumright was traded by the Cubs to the Houston Astros for Al Javier.* October 31, 1977: Bill Bonham was traded by the Cubs to the Cincinnati Reds to the Chicago Cubs for Woodie Fryman and Bill Caudill....
and, signed a contract to play for the Chicago Cubs. With the Cubs he played as a reserve catcher behind Dave Rader
Dave Rader (baseball)
David Martin Rader is a former professional baseball player. From through , he was a catcher in Major League Baseball, playing for the San Francisco Giants , St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago Cubs , Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox...
and Barry Foote, who had been traded by the Phillies. When Foote was injured in 1980
1980 Chicago Cubs season
- Offseason :* October 3, 1979: Ken Holtzman was released by the Cubs.* October 17, 1979: Donnie Moore was traded by the Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals for Mike Tyson.* January 11, 1980: 1980 Major League Baseball Draft...
, Blackwell became the Cubs starting catcher, posting career-highs with a .272 batting average along with 16 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 5 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 30 runs batted in. He also led National League
National 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...
catchers in double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s, range factor
Range Factor
Range Factor is a baseball statistic developed by Bill James. It is calculated by dividing putouts and assists by number of innings or games played at a given defense position...
and baserunners caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
, and finished second in assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
behind Gary Carter.
In 1981
1981 Chicago Cubs season
The Chicago Cubs' 1981 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Chicago Cubs finishing the first-half in last place at 15-37, 17½ games behind the Philadelphia Phillies, and the second-half in fifth place at 23-28, six games behind the eventual NL East Champion Montreal Expos in...
, Jody Davis took over as the Cubs main catcher, although Blackwell still managed to finish second among the league's catchers with a .993 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
in 56 games. Blackwell was granted free agency at the end of the season and, he signed with the Montreal Expos where he served as a reserve catcher behind Gary Carter for one season before retiring as a player in May 1983
1983 Montreal Expos season
The Montreal Expos season was the fifteenth in franchise history. At the end of the season, the Expos had managed the best cumulative winning percentage in the National League from 1979 to 1983.- Offseason :...
.
Career statistics
In a 10 year career, Blackwell played in 426 gamesGames 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,...
, accumulating 238 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....
in 1044 at bats for a .228 career batting average along with 6 home runs and 80 runs batted in. He ended his career with a .981 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. While he was a light-hitting catcher, Blackwell had a strong throwing arm with a quick release and, was a good pitch
Pitch (baseball)
In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. The term comes from the Knickerbocker Rules. Originally, the ball had to be literally "pitched" underhand, as with pitching horseshoes. Overhand throwing was not allowed until 1884.The biomechanics of...
caller.
Managing career
Following his playing career, Blackwell became a catching instructor and coachCoach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
with Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
organisation, and then became a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
for 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...
, Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and 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...
organizations. He managed the Pittsfield Mets
Pittsfield Mets
The Pittsfield Mets were a minor league baseball team moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts from Little Falls, NY by an investment group organized by Michael T. Casey. The team played in the New York - Penn League, and were affiliated with the New York Mets from 1989 to 2000 and the Houston Astros in...
of the New York-Penn League to the playoffs and garnered Manager of the Year honors, and then led the Columbia Mets
Columbia Mets
Located in Columbia, South Carolina, the Columbia Mets were affiliated with the New York Mets from 1983 to 1992. A member of the South Atlantic League, they became the Capital City Bombers in 1993. They played in Capital City Stadium.-Year by Year Record:...
to the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
championship in . He last managed the Winston-Salem Warthogs
Winston-Salem Warthogs
The Winston-Salem Dash is a minor league baseball team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League and have been a farm team of the Chicago White Sox since 1997...
of the Class A Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
in .