Birdie Tebbetts
George Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts (November 10, 1912 – March 24, 1999) was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from 1936 to 1952. Tebbetts was regarded as the best catcher in the American League in the late 1940s.
| Birdie Tebbetts | |
|---|---|
Tebbetts in 1947 | |
| Catcher / Manager | |
| Born: November 10, 1912 Burlington, Vermont, U.S. | |
| Died: March 24, 1999 (aged 86) Bradenton Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 16, 1936, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 14, 1952, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .270 |
| Home runs | 38 |
| Runs batted in | 469 |
| Managerial record | 748–705 |
| Winning % | .515 |
| Teams | |
| As player
As manager | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Although he lacked speed and did not hit for power, Tebbetts was an exceptional defensive catcher and intelligent player who capably directed his pitchers. These traits served him well later in his career, as he became the manager for the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Braves and the Cleveland Indians. His major league career encompassed 14 years as a catcher, 11 as a manager and 28 as a scout.