Rich Gedman
Born: 9/26/1959 in Worcester, MA, USA
MLB Debut: 1980-09-07 | Final Game: 1992-10-04
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 210 lbs
Full name: Richard Leo Gedman
Biography
Rich Gedman, born in 1959, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball who played from 1980 until his retirement in 1992. He made a significant impact during his career, particularly as a catcher, known for his strong defensive skills and ability to handle a pitching staff. Gedman's playing style was characterized by his resilience and determination, traits that endeared him to fans and teammates alike. Over the course of his career, he participated in 1,033 games, accumulating 795 hits, 88 home runs, and 382 RBIs, finishing with a batting average of .252.
Gedman’s contributions to the game were recognized when he received the TSN Rookie Player of the Year award early in his career. He was selected as an All-Star twice, reflecting his status as one of the more dependable catchers of his era. While he played during a time when offensive production was on the rise in baseball, his steady presence behind the plate and ability to produce in crucial moments made him a respected figure in the sport. Rich Gedman's legacy is remembered not only for his statistics but also for his influence on the game during a transformative period in baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1033 | 3159 | 331 | 795 | 176 | 12 | 88 | 382 | 3 | 236 | 509 | 0.252 | 0.304 | 0.399 | 0.703 | -637.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | BOS | AL | 9 | 24 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0.208 | 0.0 |
| 1981 | BOS | AL | 62 | 205 | 22 | 59 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 0 | 9 | 31 | 0.288 | 229.9 |
| 1982 | BOS | AL | 92 | 289 | 30 | 72 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 26 | 0 | 10 | 37 | 0.249 | -588.5 |
| 1983 | BOS | AL | 81 | 204 | 21 | 60 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 15 | 37 | 0.294 | 220.8 |
| 1984 | BOS | AL | 133 | 449 | 54 | 121 | 26 | 4 | 24 | 72 | 0 | 29 | 72 | 0.269 | 1113.2 |
| 1985 | BOS | AL | 144 | 498 | 66 | 147 | 30 | 5 | 18 | 80 | 2 | 50 | 79 | 0.295 | 1816.0 |
| 1986 | BOS | AL | 135 | 462 | 49 | 119 | 29 | 0 | 16 | 65 | 1 | 37 | 61 | 0.258 | 137.8 |
| 1987 | BOS | AL | 52 | 151 | 11 | 31 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 24 | 0.205 | -832.5 |
| 1988 | BOS | AL | 95 | 299 | 33 | 69 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 39 | 0 | 18 | 49 | 0.231 | -444.6 |
| 1989 | BOS | AL | 93 | 260 | 24 | 55 | 9 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 23 | 47 | 0.212 | -885.1 |
| 1990 | BOS | AL | 10 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1990 | HOU | NL | 40 | 104 | 4 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 24 | 0.202 | 0.0 |
| 1991 | STL | NL | 46 | 94 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 15 | 0.106 | -845.2 |
| 1992 | STL | NL | 41 | 105 | 5 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 22 | 0.219 | -297.9 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 72 | 6 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 0.292 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | ALCS | BOS | 4 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0.357 |
| 1986 | ALCS | BOS | 7 | 28 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0.357 |
| 1986 | WS | BOS | 7 | 30 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0.200 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 979 | 848 | 5274 | 431 | 92 | 62 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | BOS | C | 2 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 | BOS | C | 59 | 56 | 275 | 30 | 3 | 1 |
| 1982 | BOS | C | 86 | 74 | 397 | 29 | 10 | 5 |
| 1983 | BOS | C | 68 | 53 | 274 | 26 | 6 | 5 |
| 1984 | BOS | C | 125 | 115 | 693 | 58 | 18 | 5 |
| 1985 | BOS | C | 139 | 129 | 768 | 78 | 15 | 13 |
| 1986 | BOS | C | 134 | 124 | 866 | 65 | 6 | 10 |
| 1987 | BOS | C | 51 | 41 | 306 | 14 | 8 | 1 |
| 1988 | BOS | C | 93 | 85 | 570 | 40 | 5 | 4 |
| 1989 | BOS | C | 91 | 72 | 486 | 36 | 10 | 6 |
| 1990 | BOS | C | 9 | 6 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 1990 | HOU | C | 39 | 33 | 180 | 25 | 0 | 5 |
| 1991 | SLN | C | 43 | 27 | 192 | 13 | 5 | 4 |
| 1992 | SLN | C | 40 | 31 | 227 | 12 | 3 | 2 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 979 |
| Designated Hitter | 5 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | TSN All-Star | C |
| 1981 | TSN Rookie Player of the Year |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | SLN | NL | $200,000 |
| 1991 | SLN | NL | $150,000 |
| 1990 | BOS | AL | $920,000 |
| 1989 | BOS | AL | $1,150,000 |
| 1988 | BOS | AL | $952,727 |
| 1986 | BOS | AL | $650,000 |
| 1985 | BOS | AL | $477,500 |
| Total Career Earnings | $4,500,227 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 25th | 1.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 1981 | Rookie of the Year | AL | 2nd | 64.0 | 140 | 5 |