| Rick Stelmaszek | |
|---|---|
 Stelmaszek in 1987 as a coach for theMinnesota Twins | |
| Catcher /Bullpen coach | |
| Born:(1948-10-08)October 8, 1948 Chicago,Illinois, U.S. | |
| Died: November 6, 2017(2017-11-06) (aged 69) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| June 25, 1971, for the Washington Senators | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 25, 1974, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Games | 60 |
| Hits | 15 |
| Batting average | .170 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| As player As coach | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Richard Francis Stelmaszek (October 8, 1948 – November 6, 2017) was an AmericanMajor League Baseballcatcher, andbullpen coach for theMinnesota Twins.[1]
Stelmaszek spent 32 consecutive seasons (1981–2012) on the Twins' coaching staff and was the longest-tenured coach in Minnesota history.[2] Stelmaszek trails onlyNick Altrock, who spent 42 consecutive years (1912–1953)[3] as a coach with theold Washington Senators (the predecessor to the Twins' franchise), andManny Mota, who worked as aLos Angeles Dodgers coach for 34 straight years (1980–2013), as the longest-tenured coach in continuous service with one franchise in MLB history.
Stelmaszek was drafted on June 6, 1967, by theWashington Senators in the 11th round (205th overall) of the1967 Major League Baseball draft out of Mendel Catholic High School inChicago,[4] but didn't sign until August 28, keeping him from his minor league debut until1968.[5]
The following year, Stelmaszek was assigned tolow Single-AGeneva Senators and spent time between Geneva and the high Single-ASalisbury Senators, batting a combined .232 with five home runs and 37runs batted in (RBI) in 101 games.[5] In 1969, he was back at Single-A, this time for theShelby Senators in theWestern Carolinas League. Stelmaszek played well, hitting .288 with five home runs and 58 RBI in 115 games, earning a spot on the league All-Star team.[5] In 1970, he was promoted to theDouble-APittsfield Senators and despite his overall production at the plate dropping (hitting only .246 with fourhome runs and 47 RBI in 128 games), he was again named to the league all-star team.[5]
The 1971 campaign would see Stelmaszek promoted to theTriple-ADenver Bears, where he hit only .247 with almost no power (one home run, onetriple, onedouble and 25 RBI in 73 games),[5] but he earned a call up to the Senators and made his major league debut on June 25 against theNew York Yankees.[6] However, after going hitless in nineat-bats, he was back in the minors within a month.[7] During the offseason, the Washington franchise moved toArlington, Texas, and became theTexas Rangers.
After spending all of1972 in the minors, splitting time betweenHawaii,Indianapolis and Denver, Stelmaszek earned a second call to the majors in1973. He was batting .111 in seven games with the Rangers[7] when he was dealt along withMike Epstein andRich Hand to theCalifornia Angels forLloyd Allen andJim Spencer on May 20.[8] Stelmaszek would last only 22 games with the Angels, batting .154 with 3 RBI.[7] He spent most of the season at Triple-A with theSalt Lake City Angels, hitting .269 with six home runs and 40 RBI in 83 games.[5]
Stelmaszek started the1974 season back with Salt Lake City, but was traded to theChicago Cubs on July 28 forHoracio Piña.[7] He hit his only career Major League home run as a member of the Cubs on August 20 against futureBaseball Hall of FamerDon Sutton of theLos Angeles Dodgers.[9]
Prior to spring training1976, Stelmaszek was dealt to theNew York Yankees forGerry Pirtle,[7] and he spent the season at Triple-ASyracuse, with the exception of a brief call-up to the Yankees' Major League roster in April,[10] during which he did not get into any games. He returned to the Rangers' organization in1977, but again spent the season at Triple-A, this time with theTucson Toros. Stelmaszek would spend 1978, his last year playing organized ball, in the Minnesota Twins organization as aplayer-manager for the Single-AWisconsin Rapids.[5]
After retiring as a player at the end of the 1978 season, Stelmaszek was hired on as the full-time manager of the Rapids. In1980, he was namedMidwest League Manager of the Year after leading his team to a 77–64 record. Following the season, he joined the Twins' major league coaching staff underJohnny Goryl. During his coaching tenure with the Twins, which began in1981, Stelmaszek was a member of twoWorld Series championship teams (the1987 and1991 Twins) and he worked under five different Minnesotamanagers (Goryl,Billy Gardner,Ray Miller,Tom Kelly, andRon Gardenhire).[11]
The Twins signed him to a contract extension through2012 in November2010.[12] Stelmaszek missed spring training and the first month of the2011 season due to eye surgery. Former Twins catcherPhil Roof served as his replacement during his recovery.[13] On October 3, 2012, following a 2–1 season-ending loss to theToronto Blue Jays which capped the first back-to-back 96-loss seasons for the Twins, interim General ManagerTerry Ryan announced the firing of Stelmaszek after 32 seasons with the club.[14]
Stelmaszek was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2016. On April 3, 2017, he was honored to throw out the first pitch atTarget Field as the Twins opened their 57th season. Beforehand, he explained his goal: "Throw the ball and then walk from the mound to the dugout without falling."[15] Stelmaszek died on November 6, 2017, aged 69.
Longtime Twins relieverGlen Perkins had this to say following Stelmaszek's death:
My Grandpa taught me to throw lefty. Todd Oakes taught me how to be a man. Stelly taught me how to be a pro. Cancer took all 3. FU Cancer.[16]
| Preceded by | Minnesota Twinsbullpen coach 1981–2012 | Succeeded by |