Ryan was signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox in 1960 and played for four of their minor league affiliates until September 1964, when he was promoted from Double-A to the major leagues. After spending 21⁄2 full seasons with Boston, he was traded to the Phillies after the Red Sox' 1967American League pennant-winning campaign. He appeared in 392 games for the Phils over the next six years before he was dealt to the Pirates in 1974. He played only 15 games as a Buc—his last on September 10 of that year—but returned to the Phillies as a bullpen coach for 16 seasons, beginning in their world championship 1980 season.
After a one-game, late-season trial in 1964 and an extended audition in 1965, Ryan's major league career began in earnest in 1966. Although an excellent defensive catcher, he struggled as a hitter during his major league tenure. In 636 games played, he collected 370 hits in 1,920 at bats for a .193 batting average. Of all non-pitchers since 1930 with at least 1,000 at-bats, only one, Ray Oyler, at .175, has a lower average.[1] During Ryan's nine full seasons in the majors, he batted over .200 only three times.[2] As Boston's most-used catcher in 1966,[3] Ryan hit .214 in 116 games. Three years later, again as a first-string receiver who appeared in 133 games with the 1969 Phillies, he hit a career-high 12 home runs and batted .204. Then, in 1973, in limited service backing up regular Bob Boone, Ryan hit .232 in 69 at bats. Ryan's solid defensive credentials were reflected by his .991 fielding percentage.[2]
On May 2, 1970, Ryan and Tim McCarver both broke their hands in a game between the Phillies and the San Francisco Giants.[9] With their catching corps depleted, the Phils were forced to use Jim Hutto as a defensive substitute,[10] even though he was an outfielder and first baseman.[11] Ryan was able to return two months later on July 6, but landed on the disabled list again on August 15.[10] Consequently, he played only 46 games that season.[2]
Longtime coachedit
After his playing career, Ryan managed and coached in the Pirates' and Phillies' minor league organizations from 1975 to 1979, then coached at the big-league level for the Phillies for 16 seasons, from 1980 until 1995.[10] He had surgery following the 1993 season on his right shoulder, the cumulative result of his years of throwing batting practice and warming-up pitchers. He worked two more seasons with ongoing pain and retired after the 1995 season.[12] He was on the staff of three National League champions in Philadelphia, and the 1980 World Series champion, and worked for seven managers. Ryan's coaching tenure with the Phillies was the longest in franchise history until it was surpassed by John Vukovich in 2004. It remains the second-longest coaching stint in franchise history as of 2020[update].[13]
^Spatz, Lyle (2007). TheSABR Baseball List & Record Book – Baseball's Most Fascinating Records and Unusual Statistics. United States: Simon & Schuster. p. 496. ISBN9781416532453.
^ abc"Mike Ryan Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
^"1966 Boston Red Sox Roster". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
^"1967 Boston Red Sox Roster". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
^McKelvey, G. Richard (November 15, 2007). Lost in the Sun: The Comebacks and Comedowns of Major League Ballplayers. McFarland. ISBN9780786432189.
^Ryan, Bob (August 18, 2006). "Unforgettable moment hit home 39 years ago". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
^"1967 World Series Game 4, Red Sox at Cardinals Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. October 8, 1967. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
^ abcWilliams, Dave. "Mike Ryan". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
^"Jim Hutto Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
^Bill Conlin (November 5, 2010). "Considering gray area in Phillies' search for Lopes replacement". Philadelphia Daily News.
^Breen, Matt (July 10, 2020). "Longtime Phillies coach 'Irish' Mike Ryan dies, 78". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved July 10, 2020.; "Mike Ryan passes away". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
^"Ryan, catcher on Boston's 'Impossible Dream' team, dies". Associated Press. July 11, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
^"Red Sox mourn the passing of Mike Ryan". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
Mike Ryan st SABR (Baseball BioProject)
Mike Ryan at Baseball Almanac
November 23, 2023
mike, ryan, catcher, michael, james, ryan, november, 1941, july, 2020, american, professional, baseball, catcher, played, seasons, major, league, baseball, before, becoming, longtime, coach, well, minor, league, manager, played, boston, philadelphia, phillies,. Michael James Ryan November 25 1941 July 7 2020 was an American professional baseball catcher who played 11 seasons in Major League Baseball before becoming a longtime coach as well as a minor league manager He played for the Boston Red Sox Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1964 to 1974 He batted and threw right handed stood 6 feet 2 inches 1 88 m tall and weighed 205 pounds 93 kg He was a native of Haverhill Massachusetts where he graduated from St James High School Mike RyanRyan in 1966CatcherBorn 1941 11 25 November 25 1941Haverhill Massachusetts U S Died July 7 2020 2020 07 07 aged 78 Wolfeboro New Hampshire U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutOctober 3 1964 for the Boston Red SoxLast MLB appearanceSeptember 10 1974 for the Pittsburgh PiratesMLB statisticsBatting average 193Home runs28Runs batted in161TeamsAs player Boston Red Sox 1964 1967 Philadelphia Phillies 1968 1973 Pittsburgh Pirates 1974 As coach Philadelphia Phillies 1980 1995 Career highlights and awardsWorld Series champion 1980 Ryan was signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox in 1960 and played for four of their minor league affiliates until September 1964 when he was promoted from Double A to the major leagues After spending 21 2 full seasons with Boston he was traded to the Phillies after the Red Sox 1967 American League pennant winning campaign He appeared in 392 games for the Phils over the next six years before he was dealt to the Pirates in 1974 He played only 15 games as a Buc his last on September 10 of that year but returned to the Phillies as a bullpen coach for 16 seasons beginning in their world championship 1980 season Contents 1 Playing career 2 Longtime coach 3 References 4 External linksPlaying career editAfter a one game late season trial in 1964 and an extended audition in 1965 Ryan s major league career began in earnest in 1966 Although an excellent defensive catcher he struggled as a hitter during his major league tenure In 636 games played he collected 370 hits in 1 920 at bats for a 193 batting average Of all non pitchers since 1930 with at least 1 000 at bats only one Ray Oyler at 175 has a lower average 1 During Ryan s nine full seasons in the majors he batted over 200 only three times 2 As Boston s most used catcher in 1966 3 Ryan hit 214 in 116 games Three years later again as a first string receiver who appeared in 133 games with the 1969 Phillies he hit a career high 12 home runs and batted 204 Then in 1973 in limited service backing up regular Bob Boone Ryan hit 232 in 69 at bats Ryan s solid defensive credentials were reflected by his 991 fielding percentage 2 In 1967 appearing in a team high 79 games as a catcher Ryan helped the Impossible Dream Red Sox win the American League pennant 4 He was the roommate of Tony Conigliaro 5 before Conigliaro sustained a season ending injury after being hit by a pitch on August 18 6 Ryan appeared in Game 4 of the 1967 World Series as a late inning replacement for starting catcher Elston Howard going hitless in two at bats against Baseball Hall of Famer Bob Gibson 7 Then in 1974 Ryan was a reserve on the Pirates team that won the National League Eastern Division 8 On May 2 1970 Ryan and Tim McCarver both broke their hands in a game between the Phillies and the San Francisco Giants 9 With their catching corps depleted the Phils were forced to use Jim Hutto as a defensive substitute 10 even though he was an outfielder and first baseman 11 Ryan was able to return two months later on July 6 but landed on the disabled list again on August 15 10 Consequently he played only 46 games that season 2 Longtime coach editAfter his playing career Ryan managed and coached in the Pirates and Phillies minor league organizations from 1975 to 1979 then coached at the big league level for the Phillies for 16 seasons from 1980 until 1995 10 He had surgery following the 1993 season on his right shoulder the cumulative result of his years of throwing batting practice and warming up pitchers He worked two more seasons with ongoing pain and retired after the 1995 season 12 He was on the staff of three National League champions in Philadelphia and the 1980 World Series champion and worked for seven managers Ryan s coaching tenure with the Phillies was the longest in franchise history until it was surpassed by John Vukovich in 2004 It remains the second longest coaching stint in franchise history as of 2020 update 13 Ryan died in his sleep on July 7 2020 in Wolfeboro New Hampshire at the age of 78 14 15 References edit Spatz Lyle 2007 TheSABR Baseball List amp Record Book Baseball s Most Fascinating Records and Unusual Statistics United States Simon amp Schuster p 496 ISBN 9781416532453 a b c Mike Ryan Statistics and History Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC Retrieved July 11 2020 1966 Boston Red Sox Roster Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC Retrieved July 11 2020 1967 Boston Red Sox Roster Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC Retrieved July 11 2020 McKelvey G Richard November 15 2007 Lost in the Sun The Comebacks and Comedowns of Major League Ballplayers McFarland ISBN 9780786432189 Ryan Bob August 18 2006 Unforgettable moment hit home 39 years ago The Boston Globe Retrieved July 11 2020 1967 World Series Game 4 Red Sox at Cardinals Play by Play and Box Score Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC October 8 1967 Retrieved July 11 2020 1974 Pittsburgh Pirates Roster Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC Retrieved July 11 2020 Mike Ryan baseballbiography com a b c Williams Dave Mike Ryan Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved July 11 2020 Jim Hutto Statistics and History Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC Retrieved July 11 2020 Bill Conlin November 5 2010 Considering gray area in Phillies search for Lopes replacement Philadelphia Daily News Breen Matt July 10 2020 Longtime Phillies coach Irish Mike Ryan dies 78 The Philadelphia Inquirer Retrieved July 10 2020 Mike Ryan passes away MLB com MLB Advanced Media July 10 2020 Retrieved July 11 2020 Ryan catcher on Boston s Impossible Dream team dies Associated Press July 11 2020 Retrieved July 11 2020 Red Sox mourn the passing of Mike Ryan MLB com MLB Advanced Media July 10 2020 Retrieved July 11 2020 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or Baseball Reference or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet Mike Ryan st SABR Baseball BioProject Mike Ryan at Baseball Almanac Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mike Ryan catcher amp oldid 1163143649, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
