Jesse Gonder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jesse Gonder |
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Gonder with the Cincinnati Reds
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| Catcher | |||
| Born: January 20, 1936 Monticello, Arkansas |
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| Died: November 14, 2004 (aged 68) Oakland, California |
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| debut | |||
| September 23, 1960, for the New York Yankees | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 17, 1967, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .251 | ||
| Home runs | 26 | ||
| Runs batted in | 94 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Jesse Lemar Gonder (born January 20, 1936 – died November 14, 2004) was an American professional baseball player. He played as a catcher and a pinch hitter in Major League Baseball (MLB). His career in the big leagues lasted from 1960 to 1967. He played for several teams, including the New York Yankees and New York Mets. Jesse was 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 180 pounds. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. He even played for a famous manager named Casey Stengel.
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Jesse Gonder's Early Life and Baseball Start
Jesse Gonder was born in Monticello, Arkansas. He grew up and went to McClymonds High School in Oakland, California. This high school was also home to other famous athletes. Basketball legend Bill Russell went there. Two of Jesse's future baseball teammates, Frank Robinson and Vada Pinson, also attended McClymonds.
Jesse started his professional baseball journey in 1955. He signed with the Cincinnati Reds organization. His career lasted for 15 years in total.
Making His Major League Debut
In 1960, Jesse joined the Richmond Virginians. This team was a Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. Triple-A is one step below Major League Baseball. That September, Jesse made his MLB debut with the Yankees.
On September 30, he hit his first big-league hit. It was a home run as a pinch hitter at Yankee Stadium. He hit it off pitcher Bill Monbouquette. Jesse stayed with the Yankees for a few weeks in 1961. He mostly played as a pinch hitter. After that, he returned to Richmond for the rest of the year. The Cincinnati Reds then traded for Jesse again.
Rising Star in the Minor Leagues
In 1962, Jesse Gonder was sent to the Triple-A San Diego Padres. He had an amazing year there. He led the Pacific Coast League in two important stats. He had the highest batting average at .342. He also had the most runs batted in (RBIs) with 116.
Because of his great performance, Jesse was named the Pacific Coast League's Most Valuable Player. His success led to him being called back up to the Cincinnati Reds that September.
Playing in the National League
After his standout minor league season, Jesse spent the next four full years in the National League. In 1963, he batted over .300, hitting .304. He split his time playing for both the Reds and the New York Mets that year.
In 1964, Jesse became the main catcher for the New York Mets. He started 82 games behind the plate. That year, he also set his personal bests for home runs with seven. He also had his highest number of runs batted in with 35.
Later Career and Retirement
In 1965, Jesse went back to being a part-time player. For the rest of his time in the big leagues, he played behind other catchers. These included Chris Cannizzaro, Joe Torre, and Jim Pagliaroni.
In June 1967, he was sent back to Triple-A. Jesse Gonder finished his professional baseball career in 1969.
Jesse Gonder's Career Highlights
During his time in Major League Baseball, Jesse Gonder collected 220 hits. These hits included 28 doubles and two triples. He also hit 26 home runs. Five of those home runs were hit when he came into the game as a pinch hitter.
