Mike Fitzgerald (catcher)


Michael Roy Fitzgerald is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from through for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos and California Angels.

Major League career

Fitzgerald was selected by New York Mets in the 6th round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his major league debut with the New York Mets on September 13, 1983. Fitzgerald hit a home run in his first major league at bat, becoming the 57th player in major league history to accomplish the feat. In 1984, he led National League catchers in range factor and fielding percentage, becoming only the fourth catcher in major league history to win a fielding title in his rookie year. Fitzgerald was selected as the catcher for the Baseball Digest Rookie All-Star team, and for the 1984 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster.
On December 14, 1984, the New York Mets traded Fitzgerald along with Hubie Brooks, Herm Winningham and minor league pitcher Floyd Youmans to the Montreal Expos for catcher Gary Carter. He became the Expos starting catcher, posting his best offensive year in its 1986 season with a.282 batting average, six home runs and 37 runs batted in. Then in October October 1991, the Expos granted Fitzgerald free agency and he signed to play for the California Angels in their 1992 season. After one year as the Angels starting catcher, he retired as a player.

Career statistics

In a ten-year major league career, Fitzgerald played in 848 games, accumulating 545 hits in 2316 at bats for a.235 career batting average along with 48 home runs and 293 runs batted in. He ended his catching career with a.988 fielding percentage.