John Stearns

He also led the team with a career high 25 stolen bases, and in the process broke the National League record for catchers, which had been held by Johnny Kling since 1902.

John Hardin Stearns (August 21, 1951 – September 15, 2022), nicknamed "Bad Dude", was an American professional baseball catcher and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB).

The Oakland Athletics selected Stearns in the 13th round of the 1969 Major League Baseball draft at 17 years old, but he chose to attend the University of Colorado Boulder instead.

Stearns became a two-sport star for the Colorado Buffaloes, playing both baseball and football.

He earned the nickname "Bad Dude" for his "reputation of being a cocky, arrogant player".

Playing as safety and also the team's punter, his 16 career interceptions remain the Colorado record as of 2021.

He was drafted as a defensive back by the Buffalo Bills in the 17th round of the 1973 NFL Draft.

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Stearns in the first round, with the second overall pick in the 1973 Major League Baseball draft, and he chose to turn professional in baseball.

Stearns's professional career started with the Reading Phillies of the Class AA Eastern League in 1973.

After batting just .241 for Reading, he was demoted to the Rocky Mount Phillies of the High-A Carolina League for 1974 and batted .343 in 64 games.

Mid-season, he was promoted directly to the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League.

He batted .266 for Toledo and was promoted to the major leagues in September.

On September 22, 1974, Stearns made his major league debut and picked up his first hit, going 1-for-2 off the bench.

Stearns's first game with the Phillies turned out to be his last.

With budding prospect Bob Boone firmly entrenched behind the plate for Philadelphia, Stearns became expendable.

He was traded along with Del Unser and Mac Scarce from the Phillies to the New York Mets for Tug McGraw, Don Hahn, and Dave Schneck at the Winter Meetings on December 3, 1974.

He played for the New York Mets from 1975 to 1984 after playing a single game for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1974.

Stearns was a two-sport star in college, and he entered professional baseball after being selected in both the MLB and National Football League drafts.

He was a four-time MLB All-Star, but struggled with injuries in the latter portion of his career.

After his retirement as a player, Stearns served as a coach for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and New York Mets of MLB, as well as in Minor League Baseball.

Stearns attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver, Colorado.

He played three sports in high school, winning state championships in baseball and basketball.

In his first season as a Met, Stearns spent 1975 as the backup catcher behind veteran Jerry Grote, the Mets' regular catcher since 1966.

As Grote's backup, Stearns batted only .189 in 1975.

In 1976, Stearns hit poorly in limited time and was soon replaced in backup duties by lefty hitter Ron Hodges.

Stearns was sent back to the Tidewater Tides and hit very well while Hodges struggled in the majors.

He was brought back to the majors for September and continued his hot hitting.

With 18 hits in his first 13 games back, including seven hits in two games, Stearns not only ousted Hodges, but even took over the starting duties from Grote for most of the rest of the season.

Stearns was the starting catcher for most of 1977, with Grote and Hodges relegated to backup and pinch-hitting duty.

In June, Stearns posted two games with four runs batted in, including the only grand slam of his career.

On July 1, his average stood at .314, with a slugging average of .554.

With his good mid-season statistics and the Mets firmly in last place in the National League East, Stearns was chosen as the team's sole representative to the All-Star Game, catching the bottom of the ninth inning.

On August 31, 1977, the Mets traded Grote to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two players to be named later.

Stearns had a .125 average in August and .167 average in September.

His 25 doubles were most on the team and 12 home runs tied Steve Henderson and John Milner for the team lead.

Despite a poor average and only two runs batted in during April, Stearns set career highs in home runs, runs batted in, runs, and total bases in 1978.

Stearns got into a bench clearing brawl in the fourth game of the 1979 season.

With the Montreal Expos at Shea Stadium on April 11, Stearns and Expos catcher Gary Carter collided at home when Carter tried to score from first on a throwing error by Mets pitcher Pete Falcone.

Right fielder Elliott Maddox made a perfect throw to the plate to get Carter.

Following the play, a fight broke out when Stearns felt that Carter unnecessarily threw an elbow at him.