A backstop by origin but really a Jack of many positions.....Played Left and Right field, 1st base too.....unfortunately was never being able fully take over a given position....Started in the Cleveland organization....worked his way up over time....able to reach regular player status in 1968.....production number climbed accordingly topping out with 23 homers and 56 RBIs in 1970 .....caught in an overcrowded talent pool with position players caused by fine rookie seasons by backstop Ray Fosse and outfielder Roy Foster....traded to the LAD (and a true contender) for two pitchers.....As a Dodger shared catching duties with incumbent Tom Haller in 1971....hit better but lost playing time and seem to struggle with going yard given Dodger stadium dimensions....floundered in 1972 and found himself shuffled late in the season in Detroit via a waiver transaction....immediately helpful in bringing relief to Bill Freehan bearing a .316 BA...appeared in 4 playoff games, accumulating three hits, all for extra bases.....Well traveled and little used......split teams again in 1973, first a Tiger then a Yankee once again acquired via the wavier wire....his last season started as a Yankee then reunited with Billy Martin in Texas....birth name was Duane.
Ever hear of an unassisted double play at 3rd base--by a catcher? Duke Sims did it as a Dodger. I can still hear Vin Scully calling the play-by-play.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not a position a major league catcher finds himself in often. On national television I saw a the rare 8-2(2) double play. (huge baserunning error by the Yankees). Sims had some other oddities...most HRs by someone born in Utah. Plus last player to homer at the original Yankee Stadium before the 1974 renovation.
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