Sal Butera
Born: 9/25/1952 in Richmond Hill, NY, USA
MLB Debut: 1980-04-10 | Final Game: 1988-09-26
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs
Full name: Salvatore Philip Butera
Biography
Sal Butera, born in 1952, was a professional baseball player who made his mark in the Major Leagues from 1980 to 1988. Primarily recognized as a position player, Butera played in 359 games throughout his career, where he established himself as a reliable backup catcher and utility player. He recorded a total of 182 hits, including 8 home runs, and drove in 76 runs, finishing his career with a batting average of .227. Despite not being known for his speed, as evidenced by his 0 stolen bases, Butera's contributions were significant in various roles on the teams he played for.
Butera's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, as the game was evolving with changes in player roles and strategies. While he may not have been a superstar, his dedication and versatility allowed him to carve out a niche for himself in the league. His playing style reflected the gritty, hard-nosed approach that characterized many players of the era, contributing to the teams' successes during his tenure. Sal Butera left an indelible mark on the clubs he represented, and his journey through Major League Baseball remains a testament to the value of perseverance and adaptability in professional sports.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 359 | 801 | 63 | 182 | 24 | 3 | 8 | 76 | 0 | 86 | 85 | 0.227 | 0.302 | 0.295 | 0.597 | -2028.8 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | MIN | AL | 34 | 85 | 4 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0.271 | -254.0 |
| 1981 | MIN | AL | 62 | 167 | 13 | 40 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 22 | 14 | 0.240 | -242.8 |
| 1982 | MIN | AL | 54 | 126 | 9 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 17 | 12 | 0.254 | -201.2 |
| 1983 | DET | AL | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1984 | WSN | NL | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 1985 | WSN | NL | 67 | 120 | 11 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 13 | 12 | 0.200 | -421.5 |
| 1986 | CIN | NL | 56 | 113 | 14 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 21 | 10 | 0.239 | 45.3 |
| 1987 | CIN | NL | 5 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0.182 | 0.0 |
| 1987 | MIN | AL | 51 | 111 | 7 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 0.171 | 0.0 |
| 1988 | TOR | AL | 23 | 60 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0.233 | -158.0 |
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | WSN | NL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | - |
| 1986 | CIN | NL | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.00 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.667 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | WS | MIN | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| 1987 | ALCS | MIN | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.667 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| C | 348 | 255 | 1382 | 149 | 35 | 16 |
| P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | MIN | C | 32 | 28 | 106 | 9 | 6 | 0 |
| 1981 | MIN | C | 59 | 51 | 254 | 41 | 9 | 0 |
| 1981 | MIN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1982 | MIN | C | 53 | 41 | 230 | 26 | 3 | 5 |
| 1983 | DET | C | 4 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | MON | C | 2 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | MON | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | MON | C | 66 | 40 | 227 | 20 | 4 | 5 |
| 1986 | CIN | P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | CIN | C | 53 | 31 | 215 | 17 | 5 | 2 |
| 1987 | CIN | C | 5 | 3 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | MIN | C | 51 | 40 | 213 | 21 | 4 | 3 |
| 1988 | TOR | C | 23 | 19 | 97 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 2 |
| Catcher | 348 |
| First Base | 1 |
| Designated Hitter | 3 |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | CIN | NL | $62,500 |
| 1986 | CIN | NL | $102,500 |
| Total Career Earnings | $165,000 | ||
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk County Community College | Brentwood | NY | 1971, 1972 |