Re: The Departed
Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2024 4:50 am
He played baseball like a linebacker. Seemed like a real good guy. Glad he was a Pirate. RIP, Ed.Bobster wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 12:50 am Ed Ott passed sway.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/ ... -away.html
Yes, Ott began as an OFer in the minors in 1970. He was converted to catcher--against his wishes--at AAA in 1975. Ott wanted to play OF but realized with Zisk, Oliver and Parker there, catching was his best option to make the team. He spent the 1976 season with the Pirates as the 3rd string catcher behind Sanguillen and Dyer. Used almost exclusively as a PHer, he didn't get into a game behind the plate until July 17. He didn't make his first start until September 23 when Sanguillen and Dyer were injured. Ott made the most of it with a tag play at the plate in the bottom of the 9th and a game winning double in the 10th. In the offseason, Sanguillen was traded for Chuck Tanner and Ott split the catching with Dyer. Ott took over as the primary catcher for 1978, 79 and 80 and was traded to the Angels in 1981 for Jason Thompson. Ott rarely played OF for the Pirates, appearing in 2 games during a brief call up in 1974, 4 in 1978 and 3 in 1980. He appeared in 430 games for the Bucs as a catcher, starting 383 of them.Babe Adams wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 3:08 am Ott was a rarity - a minor league outfielder who just didn't hit enough and fully converted to catcher in one season at Triple A. I think the Pirates kept him in the outfield for several years because they liked his arm.