Tim Blackwell (baseball)
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Timothy P. Blackwell (born August 19, 1952 in San Diego, California) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1974 through 1983 for the Boston Red Sox (1974-1975), Philadelphia Phillies (1976-1977[start]), Montreal Expos (1977[end], 1982-1983) and Chicago Cubs (1978-1981). He was a switch-hitter and threw right handed. He is currently the manager of the Winston-Salem Warthogs, Class A Carolina League affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
The weak-hitting Blackwell was a strong-armed catcher with a quick release, but was never more than a part-time player serving as a backup for Carlton Fisk, Bob Boone, Gary Carter and Barry Foote, between other better-known catchers.
Blackwell reached the majors in 1974 with the Boston Red Sox, spending two years with them before moving to Philadelphia, Montreal and the Chicago Cubs. His most productive season came in 1980 with the Cubs, when he posted career-highs in games played (103), batting average (.272), hits (87), runs (24), doubles (16), triples (4), home runs (5) and RBI (30), and also led National League catchers in double plays with 16.
In a 10-season majors career, Blackwell was a .228 hitter with six home runs and 80 RBI in 426 games.
Following his playing career, Blackwell became a catching instructor and coach with Toronto, and managed in the minor leagues for the Baltimore, Colorado, Milwaukee, San Francisco and New York Mets organizations. He steered the 1989 Pittsfield Mets of the New York-Penn League to the playoffs and garnered Manager of the Year honors, and led the Columbia Mets to the South Atlantic League championship in 1992.
[edit] See also
- Boston Red Sox all-time roster
- Montreal Expos all-time roster
- Bowie Baysox
- New Hampshire Fisher Cats
