Ed Herrmann

Edward Martin Herrmann (August 27, 1946 – December 22, 2013) was an American professional baseball player born in San Diego, California. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Chicago White Sox, the New York Yankees, the California Angels, the Houston Astros and the Montreal Expos from 1967 through 1978. He batted left and threw right handed. While playing for the Evansville White Sox in , he led the Southern League in putouts, assists and in fielding percentage.

Herrmann made his Major League Baseball debut for the White Sox at the age of 20 on September 1, 1967. Herrmann had his best season offensively in 1970 when he posted a .283 batting average with 19 home runs and 52 runs batted in. In a game against the Oakland Athletics on June 24, 1973, Herrmann hit a three-run home run, a two-run double and a two-run single, for a total of seven runs batted in, one short of the White Sox team record of eight.

Herrmann developed a reputation as one of the best knuckleball catchers in the American League from his work with such knuckleball pitchers as Hoyt Wilhelm, Wilbur Wood and Eddie Fisher. Wood won twenty or more games for four consecutive years between 1971 and 1974 with Herrmann as his catcher. Unfortunately for Herrmann, trying to catch the unpredictable knuckleball pitch also contributed to his leading American League catchers four times in passed balls allowed.

Herrmann had a contract dispute with the White Sox during spring training in , and after ten years with the White Sox organisation, he was traded to the New York Yankees on April 1 of that year. He served as a third-string catcher for the Yankees during the 1975 season, working behind Thurman Munson and ahead of Rick Dempsey, before he was purchased in February 1976 by the California Angels. Herrmann played only a half season with the Angels during which he platooned alongside right hand hitting catcher Andy Etchebarren. In June 1976, Herrmann was traded to the Houston Astros, where he replaced Milt May as the Astros' starting catcher. Herrmann was the Astros catcher on July 9, when pitcher Larry Dierker threw a no-hitter against the Montreal Expos. He worked as back up catcher to Joe Ferguson in 1977, posting a .291 batting average in 56 games. He retired at the end of the season. He also coached four travel teams to national championships. Besides, he participated in charity golf tournament events year-round for the Anaheim Angels, the Chicago White Sox, along with other major charities.