Rick Stelmaszek

Richard Francis Stelmaszek (October 8, 1948 – November 6, 2017) was an American Major League Baseball catcher, and bullpen coach for the Minnesota Twins.

Stelmaszek spent 32 consecutive seasons (–) on the Twins' coaching staff and was the longest-tenured coach in Minnesota history. Stelmaszek trails only Nick Altrock, who spent 42 consecutive years (–) as a coach with the old Washington Senators (the predecessor to the Twins' franchise), and Manny Mota, who worked as a Los Angeles Dodgers coach for 34 straight years (1980–2013), as the longest-tenured coach in continuous service with one franchise in MLB history.

Early years Stelmaszek was drafted on June 6, 1967, by the Washington Senators in the 11th round (205th overall) of the 1967 Major League Baseball draft out of Mendel Catholic High School in Chicago, but didn't sign until August 28, keeping him from his minor league debut until .

The following year, Stelmaszek was assigned to low Single-A Geneva Senators and spent time between Geneva and the high Single-A Salisbury Senators, batting a combined .232 with five home runs and 37 runs batted in (RBI) in 101 games. However, after going hitless in nine at-bats, he was back in the minors within a month. During the offseason, the Washington franchise moved to Arlington, Texas, and became the Texas Rangers.

Major League career After spending all of in the minors, splitting time between Hawaii, Indianapolis and Denver, Stelmaszek earned a second call to the majors in . He was batting .111 in seven games with the Rangers Stelmaszek would last only 22 games with the Angels, batting .154 with 3 RBI.

Prior to spring training , Stelmaszek was dealt to the New York Yankees for Gerry Pirtle, during which he did not get into any games. He returned to the Rangers' organization in , but again spent the season at Triple-A, this time with the Tucson Toros. Stelmaszek would spend 1978, his last year playing organized ball, in the Minnesota Twins organization as a player-manager for the Single-A Wisconsin Rapids.

The Twins signed him to a contract extension through in November . Stelmaszek missed spring training and the first month of the 2011 season due to eye surgery. Former Twins catcher Phil Roof served as his replacement during his recovery. On October 3, 2012, following a 2–1 season-ending loss to the Toronto Blue Jays which capped the first back-to-back 96-loss seasons for the Twins, interim General Manager Terry Ryan announced the firing of Stelmaszek after 32 seasons with the club.

Stelmaszek was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in December 2016. On April 3, 2017, he was honored to throw out the first pitch at Target Field as the Twins opened their 57th season. Beforehand, he explained his goal: "Throw the ball and then walk from the mound to the dugout without falling." Stelmaszek died on November 6, 2017, aged 69.

Longtime Twins reliever Glen Perkins had this to say following Stelmaszek's death: