| Joe Ferguson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Catcher /Right fielder | |
| Born: (1946-09-19)September 19, 1946 (age 79) San Francisco, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 12, 1970, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 17, 1983, for the California Angels | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .240 |
| Home runs | 122 |
| Runs batted in | 445 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
As player
As coach | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Joseph Vance Ferguson (born September 19, 1946) is an American former professionalbaseball player andcoach.[1] He played as acatcher inMajor League Baseball from 1970 to 1983 for theLos Angeles Dodgers,St. Louis Cardinals,Houston Astros, and theCalifornia Angels. After his playing career, Ferguson became a coach and minor league manager.
Prior to his professional baseball career, Ferguson played baseball but also basketball at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA. In fact, he played in the West Regional Final in March 1967, where Pacific fell to eventual National champion UCLA, led by sophomore Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Ferguson reached the majors in 1970 with theLos Angeles Dodgers, becoming their everyday catcher in 1973. He set a major league record for catchers by committing only threeerrors, leading theNational League catchers infielding percentage (.996) anddouble plays (17), while hitting .263 with a .369on-base percentage. He also reached career-highs ingames played (136),home runs (25),RBI (88),runs (84),doubles (26) andwalks (87).
WhenSteve Yeager became a regular behind the plate midseason in 1973, Ferguson split his catching duties with playing right field against left-handedpitchers. He soon became known for having one of the strongest throwing arms of any outfielder in the major leagues. In Game One of the1974 World Series he stepped in front of center fielderJimmy Wynn in deep right-center field to catchReggie Jackson's high fly ball and proceeded to throw a 300-foot strike to catcher Yeager who tagged outSal Bando in a collision at home plate to end the top of the eighth inning. He explained after the game that Wynn had been bothered by ashoulder problem in his throwing armall season long and added, "There was never any worry about a collision between us. We talked about it earlier in the game that if such a flyball like that was hit with a guy on third base that if I could get there I'd take it. I'd make the throw. I didn't realize how good the throw was because mysunglasses slipped over my eyes."[2] In Game Two, Ferguson hit a two-run homer offVida Blue to provide the only Dodgers' victory in the Series. He enjoyed another fine season in 1977 with Houston, catching 122 games and hitting 16 home runs with 61 RBI and a .379 OBP. Reacquired by the Dodgers in the 1978 midseason, he helped his team reach the1978 World Series.
After retiring, hecoached at the major league level with theTexas Rangers (1986–87), working under former Dodger teammateBobby Valentine, and the Dodgers (1988–94). He alsomanaged in the Dodgers,Baltimore Orioles andSan Diego Padres minor league systems. He managed the Camden Riversharks Atlantic League baseball team in New Jersey for 3 seasons from 2007 - 2009.
In a 14-season career, Ferguson was a power-hitter who was very efficient at getting on base. Although he only had a .240 batting average, he had a .358 on-base percentage to go along with 122 home runs and 445 RBI in 1013 games. In 13 postseason games he batted .200, but had an excellent .378 on-base percentage to go along with 1 HR and 4 RBI's.
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