Birdie Tebbetts

George Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts (November 10, 1912 – March 24, 1999) was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive.

The Tigers purchased future Hall of Fame catcher Mickey Cochrane from the Philadelphia Athletics in December 1933, leaving no place for Tebbetts on the team.

He attended Providence College where he became an All-American in baseball before graduating with a degree in philosophy in 1934.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from 1936 to 1952.

He spent the next three seasons playing in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with the Tigers on September 16, 1936 at the age of 23.

In the 1937 season, Cochrane's playing career came to an end when he was hit by a pitch and suffered a fractured skull.

Rudy York replaced Cochrane as the Tigers' catcher, but his defensive skills were so poor that by the 1939 season, new Tigers manager Del Baker gave Tebbetts a chance to play.

He ended the season with a .261 batting average and led American League (AL) catchers in assists and in baserunners caught stealing.

Tebbetts was regarded as the best catcher in the American League in the late 1940s.

Although he lacked speed and did not hit for power, Tebbetts was an exceptional defensive catcher and intelligent player who capably directed his pitchers.

These traits served him well later in his career, as he became the manager for the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Braves and the Cleveland Indians.

His major league career encompassed 14 years as a catcher, 11 as a manager and 28 as a scout.

Tebbetts was born in Burlington, Vermont, but his family moved to Nashua, New Hampshire a few months after he was born.

Shortly thereafter, his father died, leaving his mother to raise the family.

Some reports state that Tebbetts acquired his nickname as a boy after an aunt observed that his voice sounded like a bird chirping, while other reports state the nickname was acquired while attending Providence College.

Tebbetts was a star athlete at Nashua High School where he attained All-State status as a football quarterback and as a baseball catcher.

He signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers after they agreed to pay his college tuition.

In 1940, York was converted into a first baseman, leaving Tebbetts in sole possession of the catcher's position.

He responded by posting a .296 batting average, as the Tigers defeated the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees in a tight pennant race to clinch the American League title.

Tebbetts was held hitless in the 1940 World Series as the Tigers lost to the Cincinnati Reds in a seven-game series.

He once again led AL catchers in assists and in baserunners caught stealing.

In September, Tebbetts had been charged with assault and battery during a game in Cleveland when a basket of tomatoes was dropped on him by a Cleveland fan.

As police held the fan, Tebbetts rushed up and struck him.

The charges were later dismissed.

He developed a reputation for antagonizing opposing players, constantly hectoring them in an effort to have them make mistakes and give his team an advantage.

In 1941, Tebbetts was hitting for a .296 average by mid-season and earned a place as a reserve player for the American League in the 1941 All-Star Game.

He led American League catchers in assists for a third consecutive year.

Tebbetts was named the starting catcher for the American League in the 1942 All-Star Game.

Despite holding a 3-A draft classification because of his mother's dependency, Tebbetts applied for an Army Air Corps commission.

He joined the military services in August 1942 and was assigned to recruiting duties in Waco, Texas during the Second World War.

Tebbetts honed his managerial skills as a player-manager for the Waco Army Flying School's baseball team.

He lost three years of his baseball career to his military service.

After his discharge from the military, Tebbetts returned to play for the Tigers in 1946, posting a .243 batting average in 86 games.

He was hitting for only a .094 average in May 1947 when he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for catcher Hal Wagner.

After the trade, Tebbetts hit for a .299 average for the remainder of the season.

There were reports in July 1947 that the Red Sox were considering Tebbetts as a successor to their manager, Joe Cronin.

He was hitting for a .286 average at mid-season in 1948 and was named as a reserve catcher for the American League in the 1948 All-Star Game.

The Red Sox finished the season in a first place tie with the Cleveland Indians before losing the pennant in a one-game playoff at Fenway Park.

Tebbetts was elected to be the starting catcher for the American League in the 1949 All-Star Game.

He hit for a .270 average in 1949 as the Red Sox engaged the New York Yankees in a tight battle for the pennant that was not decided until the final game of the season.