Mickey Tettleton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mickey Tettleton |
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| Catcher | |||
| Born: September 16, 1960 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 30, 1984, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 2, 1997, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .241 | ||
| Home runs | 245 | ||
| Runs batted in | 732 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Mickey Lee Tettleton (born September 16, 1960) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, and Texas Rangers. Mickey Tettleton mostly played as a catcher, but he also played as a first baseman, an outfielder, and a designated hitter.
Mickey was a fantastic baseball player, known for his powerful hitting. He was chosen for the All-Star team twice and won three Silver Slugger Awards. These awards celebrate the best hitters at each position. He was so strong that he hit two home runs over the right field roof at Tiger Stadium. Only five players in history had ever done that! In 1992, he was also the first player to hit a ball onto Eutaw Street at Baltimore's Camden Yards.
When Mickey retired, he was ranked eighth in MLB history for career home runs by a switch hitter. His ability to get on base was also impressive. He ranked 10th all-time among major league catchers for his on-base percentage.
Contents
Early Life and College Baseball
Mickey Tettleton was born in Oklahoma City. He was named after the famous baseball player Mickey Mantle, who was also from Oklahoma. Like Mantle, Mickey Tettleton was a switch hitter, meaning he could bat from both sides of the plate.
He was known for his unique batting stance. He stood almost straight up at the plate. He would hold his bat flat and only bend when the pitcher threw the ball. Mickey also famously claimed that eating Froot Loops cereal gave him his hitting power!
Mickey went to Southeast High School in Oklahoma City. After high school, he attended Oklahoma State University. In 1980, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Wareham Gatemen in the Cape Cod Baseball League. He played for the Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team. In 1981, his team reached the finals of the 1981 College World Series. Mickey was even named to the 1981 College World Series All-Tournament Team as an outfielder.
Professional Baseball Career
Oakland Athletics Years
The Oakland Athletics picked Mickey Tettleton in the fifth round of the 1981 Major League Baseball draft. He spent three seasons playing in the minor leagues. He played for teams like the Modesto Athletics and the Double-A Albany A's.
Mickey made his major league debut with Oakland on June 30, 1984. He was 23 years old. He started as a backup catcher. In 1986, he became the team's main catcher. However, his hitting was not very strong that year. He had a .204 batting average with 10 home runs. Injuries and weak hitting continued to affect him in 1987. The Athletics released him in March 1988.
Baltimore Orioles Years
After leaving the Athletics, Mickey signed with the Baltimore Orioles organization. He started in the minor leagues but was soon called back to the major leagues. In 1988, his batting improved a lot, with a .261 average.
The 1989 season was a huge year for Mickey. He hit 13 home runs in April and May, setting a new record for catchers. By midseason, he had 20 home runs. This earned him a spot as a reserve player in the 1989 All-Star Game. He finished the season with a .258 batting average and 26 home runs. His strong hitting helped the Orioles move from last place to second place in their division. For his great performance, Mickey won the 1989 American League Silver Slugger Award.
In 1990, Mickey's home run numbers dropped. However, he still showed great patience at the plate. He walked 106 times, which helped his on-base percentage stay high. At the end of the year, the Orioles traded Mickey to the Detroit Tigers.
Detroit Tigers Years
Mickey's hitting bounced back in 1991. He hit 31 home runs and had 89 runs batted in. He also became the fifth player in history to hit two home runs over the right field roof at Tiger Stadium. He earned his second Silver Slugger Award that year. The Tigers were so happy with his performance that they signed him to a big contract.
He had another great year in 1992. On April 20, he became the first player to hit a ball onto Eutaw Street at Baltimore's Camden Yards. He hit a career-high 32 home runs and led the American League with 122 base on balls (walks). He won his third Silver Slugger Award. He also had excellent defense, with a .996 fielding percentage as a catcher.
In 1993, Mickey continued to hit well. He had 32 home runs and a career-high 110 runs batted in. To get his powerful bat into the lineup more often, the Tigers started playing him at other positions. He played as a first baseman, catcher, and outfielder.
In 1994, Mickey was selected as a reserve player for the 1994 All-Star Game. The season ended early due to a player strike.
Texas Rangers Years
In 1995, Mickey signed with the Texas Rangers. Since Iván Rodríguez was the main catcher, Mickey played mostly as a right fielder and designated hitter. He hit 32 home runs again, matching his career high.
He stayed with the Rangers for two more years. In 1996, he helped the Rangers win the American League West Division title. He played in the 1996 American League Division Series against the New York Yankees. This was his only time playing in the post-season. He struggled in the series, and the Rangers lost.
In 1997, Mickey played only as a designated hitter. He announced his retirement in July at the age of 36.
Career Highlights and Statistics
In his thirteen-year Major League Baseball career, Mickey Tettleton played in 1,485 games. He had 1,132 hits and a .241 career batting average. He hit 245 home runs and had 732 runs batted in. His career on-base percentage was .369.
Mickey hit over 30 home runs four times in his career. He was also known for his patience at the plate, earning 949 career walks. He led the American League in walks in 1992. However, his power-hitting style also meant he struck out a lot.
Baseball historian Bill James ranked Mickey Tettleton 37th all-time among major league catchers.
Coaching Career
In 2019, Mickey Tettleton became an assistant coach at Oklahoma Christian University. He also served as a hitting coach for the Chatham Anglers in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Personal Life
Mickey Tettleton has four children: Tyler, Jessica, Shanny, and Tate.
In 1994, Mickey Tettleton had a small role in the movie Little Big League. This film is about a 12-year-old boy who inherits a major league baseball team.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
Images for kids
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Mickey Tettleton playing for the Oakland Athletics.
