Bill Plummer

Bill Plummer
Catcher
Born: (1947-03-21) March 21, 1947
Oakland, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 19, 1968, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
September 7, 1978, for the Seattle Mariners
MLB statistics
Batting average .188
Home runs 14
Runs batted in 82
Fielding percentage .983
Teams

William Francis Plummer (born March 21, 1947) is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He played in the major leagues as a catcher for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Seattle Mariners.[1] Born in Oakland, California, Plummer attended Anderson Union High School in Anderson, California. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals on April 25, 1965 as an amateur free agent. He played three years in the Cardinals' minor league system, then was drafted by the Cubs on November 28, 1967 in the Rule 5 Draft.[1]

Plummer spent nearly all of 1968 in the minors, making his major league debut at age 21 on April 19, 1968, with the Cubs in a 9–2 road loss to the Cardinals. Pinch-hitting for Chuck Hartenstein, he struck out against Hal Gilson.[2] He had only one more at-bat that season and played in just two games.

Plummer was traded to the Reds on January 9, 1969, and again played most of the season in the minors, although he was called up to the Reds long enough to play in four games with nine plate appearances, including his first career hit.[1]

While never a regular starter—he was Johnny Bench's backup catcher during the Big Red Machine years—he did play solid defense with a .983 fielding percentage, but was a lifetime .188 hitter. His most memorable game was in 1974 when he hit two home runs off hall of famer Steve Carlton.[3]

Plummer's career as a backup catcher was profiled in a Sports Illustrated article in July 1977. "I've always wondered how Bill would do if he played two months straight," said Pete Rose. "He's a physical fitness nut, and if hard work means anything, he would do all right." The article's writer said of Plummer, "He is a private person. He hoards his time and spends it with his wife Robin and two daughters, Gina and Tricia. He doesn't drink, works out, jogs and plays tennis, and during the winter he labors on his father-in-law's northern California cattle ranch."[3][4]

Coaching

After he retired as a player, Plummer stayed in the Mariners system, and managed the Wausau Timbers in 1981, and the Triple-A Calgary Cannons from 1986 through 1988. He was the Mariners' third base coach, and when Jim Lefebvre was fired after the 1991 season, their first with a winning record,[5] Plummer was promoted to manager for 1992.[6] The Mariners finished in last place in his only season as manager, with a 64–98 (.395) record;[7] the club had been sold in July,[8] and he was succeeded by Lou Piniella in 1993.[9][10]

Plummer has since managed in both independent and in the minors, having managed the Western Baseball League's Chico Heat from 1997–1999. In 2000, he joined the Arizona Diamondbacks' minor-league system, eventually working his way up to their Triple-A affiliate, the Tucson Sidewinders, which he managed in 2007-2008. Plummer managed the Tigres de Aragua for the 2001-02 season. Plummer served as the minor league catching coordinator for the Diamondbacks from 2009 to 2012. He managed the Naranjeros de Hermosillo of the Mexican Pacific League for parts of the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, taking them to the playoffs in 2011-12. Plummer managed the Leones del Caracas to a Venezuelan Winter League championship in 1986-87. He also managed Caracas for the 1988-89 season.

In 2013, he served as manager of the Diamondbacks' Single-A affiliate Visalia Rawhide of the California League in his 22nd season as a minor league coach or manager.[11] Through the 2013 season, he had a career minor league managing record of 1328–1219 (.521).[11] In 2014, Plummer reassumed the role of Arizona Diamondbacks catching coordinator. Plummer announced his retirement at the end of the 2017 season, with a career managerial record of 1544–1448 (.516).

Managerial record

Summer record

As of games played on October 1, 2017.
Team Years Level Record
W L Win %
San Jose Missions 1980 California League 7366.525
Wausau Timbers 1981 Midwest League 8448.636
Chattanooga Lookouts 1984-1985 Southern League 129158.449
Calgary Cannons 1986-1988 Pacific Coast League 194180.519
Seattle Mariners 1992 American League 6498.395
Jacksonville Suns 1995-1996 Southern League 11499.535
Billings Mustangs 1996 Pioneer League 1324.351
Chico Heat 1997-1999 Western Baseball League 17198.636
Yuma Bullfrogs 2000-2001 Western Baseball League 8494.472
Lancaster Jethawks 2002, 2005 California League 127113.529
Yakima Bears 2003-2004 Northwest League 8072.526
Tennessee Smokies 2006 Southern League 7069.504
Tucson Sidewinders 2007-2008 Pacific Coast League 135149.475
Visalia Rawhide 2013 California League 7763.550
Total 13881331.510

Winter record

As of games played on October 1, 2017.
Team Years Level Record
W L Win %
Leones del Caracas 1986-87 and 1988-89 Venezuelan Winter League 8660.589
Tigres de Aragua 2001-02 Venezuelan Winter League 4438.537
Naranjeros de Hermosillo 2011-13 Mexican Pacific League 3619.655
Total 166117.587

Personal life

Plummer's father, William Lawrence Plummer, pitched in the Pacific Coach League 1921-1927, and his uncle, Red Baldwin, was a catcher in the Pacific Coast League catcher from 1915 to 1931. Plummer and Baldwin were teammates in 1924 and 1925 with the Seattle Indians. Plummer resided in Northern California.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bill Plummer Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  2. ↑ "April 19, 1968 Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. 1968-04-19. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  3. 1 2 "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-16. Retrieved 2013-08-06.
  4. ↑ McDermott, Barry (July 18, 1977). "Few things come to him who waits". Sports Illustrated. p. 54.
  5. ↑ LaRue, Larry (October 11, 1991). "Lefebvre gone as M's skipper". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). McClatchey News Service. p. C1.
  6. ↑ "Mariners call for Plummer". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). McClatchey News Service. October 30, 1991. p. D1.
  7. ↑ "Plummer, all coaches fired by M's". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. October 14, 1992. p. C1.
  8. ↑ "Mariners have new owner as sale completed". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. July 2, 1992. p. C3.
  9. ↑ Finnigan, Bob (November 10, 1992). "Piniella takes Mariners' helm". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). (Seattle Times). p. C1.
  10. ↑ Cour, Jim (November 10, 1992). "Piniella faces his biggest challenge". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. (Idaho-Washington). Associated Press. p. 1B.
  11. 1 2 "D-backs announce 2013 Minor League coaching staff | Arizona Diamondbacks". Arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com. 2012-12-19. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
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