Joe Kmak

Joseph Robert Kmak (born May 3, 1963) is an American former professional baseball player who played catcher in Major League Baseball from 1993 to 1995.

He played for the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs.

He stands 6 ft tall and weighs 200 lb. He bats and throws right-handed.

Joseph Robert Kmak was born on May 3, 1963, in Napa, California.

He attended Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, California, where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball.

As a sophomore on the junior varsity team, Kmak lead the league in scoring and was the WCAL scoring champion in 1979.

Kmak grew up and played baseball with Barry Bonds, where they won the 1980 West Catholic Athletic League Championship.

In his junior season, Kmak won the league batting championship after leading the league in batting average and was a First Team All-WCAL selection in 1980.

Kmak won back-to-back First Team All-San Mateo County honors in 1980 and 1981.

In his senior year, Kmak was a Second Team All-WCAL selection and was named the recipient of the Blanket Award as the varsity MVP in 1981.

He graduated in 1981 and was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

Kmak attended the University of California at Santa Barbara and played college baseball for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.

On June 3, 1985, Kmak was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the tenth round of the 1985 amateur draft, and he signed on June 6, 1985.

In 1985, Kmak played for the A-Everett Giants of the Northwest League.

In 1986, Kmak played for the Class A Fresno Giants of the California League.

In 1987, Kmak played for the AA Shreveport Captains of the Texas League and Class A Fresno.

In 1988, Kmak played for Shreveport.

In 1989, Kmak played for the Class A Reno Silver Sox of the California League.

On January 20, 1990, Kmak signed as a free agent with the Milwaukee Brewers.

In 1990, Kmak played for two different teams in two different leagues and at two different levels.

He played for the AAA Denver Zephyrs of the American Association and the AA El Paso Diablos of the Texas League.

In 1991 and 1992, he played for Denver.

In 1993, he started with the AA New Orleans Zephyrs of the American Association.

On April 6, 1993 at Anaheim Stadium, Kmak made his Major League debut against the California Angels.

In the bottom of the third inning, in his first Major League career plate appearance and at bat, Kmak hit a line drive single on the first Major League pitch he saw to center field off of 1993 AL All-Star pitcher Mark Langston for his first career Major League hit, moving shortstop Dickie Thon to second base.

After Thon was caught picked off at second by the shortstop Gary DiSarcina, Kmak would proceed to steal second base for his first career Major League stolen base.

Leading off the top of the ninth inning against Langston, Kmak drew his first career Major League base on balls.

On April 9 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, in a 6-5 win over the Oakland Athletics, Kmak knocked in his first career Major League run batted in and registered his first career multi-hit game in the Majors.

In the top of the second inning, Kmak hit a line drive RBI single off of pitcher Bobby Witt into right field, scoring first baseman John Jaha, moving Thon to third base, and making the score 2-0.

In the top of the seventh inning, Kmak hit a ground ball single off of Witt into left field.

On April 12 at Milwaukee County Stadium, Kmak scored his first career Major League run against the California Angels.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, National Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop and centerfielder Robin Yount hit a ball off of pitcher Julio Valera that was grounded to the third baseman Rene Gonzales, forcing the out to second baseman Damion Easley which got left fielder Darryl Hamilton out as Kmak scored.

This made the score 5-6.

On April 21 at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, in a 10-8 win over the Minnesota Twins in 10 innings, Kmak hit his first career Major League double.

In the top of the tenth inning, Kmak hit an RBI double ground ball off of pitcher Mike Hartley into left field that scored Jaha, who has stolen third during Kmak's at bat, making the score 10-7.

On May 19 at County Stadium, Kmak drew two base on balls against the Detroit Tigers, his first career Major League game drawing multiple base on balls.

Leading off the bottom of the third inning, Kmak drew a four pitch walk against pitcher John Doherty.

Leading off the bottom of the fifth inning, Kmak drew another walk against Doherty.

In 1994, Kmak played for the AAA Norfolk Tides of the International League.

On December 24, 1994, Kmak signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs.