George Mitterwald
Catcher · Career Stats, Bio & Records (1966-1977)
George Mitterwald was a catcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1966 to 1977 for the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago Cubs, a span of 12 seasons. In 887 career games, he hit .236 with 623 hits, 76 home runs, and 301 RBI.
- AVG (Batting Average):
- Hits divided by at bats. .300 is the traditional mark of an excellent hitter.
- HR (Home Runs):
- Hits on which the batter circled the bases and scored, almost always by clearing the outfield fence.
- RBI (Runs Batted In):
- Runs that scored as a direct result of a batter's plate appearance.
- OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging):
- On-base percentage plus slugging percentage, the quickest single summary of offensive value. .900 or better is star-level.
Data updated
- Position
- Catcher
- Bats / Throws
- R / R
- Height / Weight
- 6'2" / 195 lb
- MLB Debut
- 1966-09-15
- Last Game
- 1977-09-24
Full name: George Eugene Mitterwald
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 887 | 2,645 | 251 | 623 | 93 | 7 | 76 | 301 | 14 | 222 | 607 | .236 | .296 | .362 | .658 | -2,351 |
Career AVG .236 vs. league average .252 across their career seasons — 6.7% below league average.
Career OBP .296 vs. league average .320 across their career seasons — 7.5% below league average.
Career SLG .362 vs. league average .371 across their career seasons — near league average.
Career OPS .658 vs. league average .691 across their career seasons — near league average.
Season-by-Season Batting
Click a stat to plot it across every season.
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | Lg AVG | Lg OBP | Lg SLG | Lg OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | MIN | AL | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .200 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1968 | MIN | AL | 11 | 34 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | .206 | — | — | — | — | 0.0 |
| 1969 | MIN | AL | 69 | 187 | 18 | 48 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 17 | 47 | .257 | .248 (+3%) | .320 (+2%) | .369 (+3%) | .689 (+3%) | 92.6 |
| 1970 | MIN | AL | 117 | 369 | 36 | 82 | 12 | 2 | 15 | 46 | 3 | 34 | 84 | .222 | .253 (-12%) | .325 (-11%) | .385 (+1%) | .711 (-5%) | -301.2 |
| 1971 | MIN | AL | 125 | 388 | 38 | 97 | 13 | 1 | 13 | 44 | 3 | 39 | 104 | .250 | .249 (avg) | .316 (avg) | .365 (+7%) | .682 (+3%) | 209.7 |
| 1972 | MIN | AL | 64 | 163 | 12 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 37 | .184 | .243 (-25%) | .310 (-27%) | .353 (-32%) | .664 (-30%) | -747.2 |
| 1973 | MIN | AL | 125 | 432 | 50 | 112 | 15 | 0 | 16 | 64 | 3 | 39 | 111 | .259 | .256 (+1%) | .325 (avg) | .378 (+7%) | .703 (+4%) | 316.7 |
| 1974 | CHN | NL | 78 | 215 | 17 | 54 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 | 1 | 18 | 42 | .251 | .256 (-2%) | .324 (-5%) | .369 (+3%) | .693 (avg) | -42.6 |
| 1975 | CHN | NL | 84 | 200 | 19 | 44 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 0 | 19 | 42 | .220 | .257 (-15%) | .327 (-13%) | .374 (-8%) | .701 (-10%) | -353.3 |
| 1976 | CHN | NL | 101 | 303 | 19 | 65 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 28 | 1 | 16 | 63 | .215 | .255 (-16%) | .320 (-22%) | .360 (-20%) | .681 (-21%) | -1048.0 |
| 1977 | CHN | NL | 110 | 349 | 40 | 83 | 22 | 0 | 9 | 43 | 3 | 28 | 69 | .238 | .264 (-10%) | .329 (-10%) | .401 (-6%) | .730 (-8%) | -478.1 |
| Career · 11 seasons | 887 | 2,645 | 251 | 623 | 93 | 7 | 76 | 301 | 14 | 222 | 607 | .236 | — | — | — | — | -2,351 | ||
Lg columns show the league average for that season, with the player's figure as a percentage above or below it. Career totals the seasons listed above.
Game Log & Splits
View full game log (887 games) →Per-game data from Retrosheet (regular season, through 2025).
Batting — Home / Away
| Split | G | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 451 | 1317 | 131 | 326 | 45 | 173 | .248 |
| Away | 436 | 1328 | 120 | 297 | 31 | 128 | .224 |
Last 10 Games — Batting
| Date | Tm | Opp | Res | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977-09-24 | CHC | PIT | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1977-09-20 | CHC | PHI | L | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1977-09-18 | CHC | NYN | W | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1977-09-12 | CHC | STL | L | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977-09-11 | CHC | NYN | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1977-09-10 | CHC | NYN | L | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1977-09-09 | CHC | NYN | W | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977-09-08 | CHC | WSN | W | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977-09-07 | CHC | WSN | L | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977-09-04 | CHC | SDP | W | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 36 | 28 | 262 | 16 | 2 | 17 |
| C | 796 | 687 | 4289 | 434 | 64 | 54 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | MIN | C | 3 | 1 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1968 | MIN | C | 10 | 10 | 69 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 1969 | MIN | C | 63 | 48 | 340 | 33 | 5 | 6 |
| 1969 | MIN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1970 | MIN | C | 117 | 108 | 740 | 62 | 3 | 8 |
| 1971 | MIN | C | 120 | 109 | 656 | 53 | 10 | 7 |
| 1972 | MIN | C | 61 | 44 | 272 | 33 | 5 | 4 |
| 1973 | MIN | C | 122 | 114 | 676 | 59 | 6 | 6 |
| 1974 | CHN | C | 68 | 57 | 335 | 40 | 10 | 4 |
| 1975 | CHN | 1B | 10 | 7 | 68 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| 1975 | CHN | C | 59 | 40 | 247 | 32 | 7 | 4 |
| 1976 | CHN | 1B | 25 | 21 | 192 | 10 | 1 | 11 |
| 1976 | CHN | C | 64 | 54 | 320 | 40 | 7 | 2 |
| 1977 | CHN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | CHN | C | 109 | 102 | 621 | 78 | 8 | 13 |
Career Games by Position
Circle size = games played at each position.
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Catcher | 796 |
| First Base | 36 |
| Left Field | 2 |
| Designated Hitter | 3 |
College History
| School Name | City | State | Years Attended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chabot College | Hayward | CA | 1964, 1965 |
Most Similar Players
Career comps based on counting + rate stats and primary position. Score is relative — closest peer anchors at ~98%.
George Mitterwald (highlighted) compared to peers across the same era.
George Mitterwald: the record in brief
George Mitterwald's major league career runs from a debut on September 15, 1966 to a final game on September 24, 1977. The season rows list, in order, the Minnesota Twins (1966 to 1973) and the Chicago Cubs (1974 to 1977). Mitterwald is listed as a catcher at 6 feet, 2 inches and 195 pounds. The bio says Mitterwald both batted and threw right-handed. Mitterwald was born on June 7, 1945, in Berkeley, CA, USA. Mitterwald's full given name, per the bio, is George Eugene Mitterwald.
In 887 games and 2,645 at bats, Mitterwald batted .236 with 623 hits, plus 76 home runs and 301 RBI. The on-base percentage is .296 and the slugging percentage .362, for an OPS of .658. The league as a whole hit .252 across Mitterwald's seasons, which puts the .236 career mark 6.7% below average. The single-season home run high is 16, set in 1973. Mitterwald collected a career-high 112 hits in 1973. 1973 was the strongest of the full seasons by average: .259 against a league .256, a 1% edge. The seasons in which Mitterwald beat the league batting average were 1969 and 1973.
Frequently Asked Questions about George Mitterwald
- What years did George Mitterwald play?
- George Mitterwald played in Major League Baseball from 1966 to 1977.
- Was George Mitterwald a pitcher?
- No. George Mitterwald was a position player (Catcher).
- How many home runs did George Mitterwald hit?
- George Mitterwald hit 76 career home runs with 623 hits.
- What teams did George Mitterwald play for?
- George Mitterwald played for 2 teams: the Minnesota Twins (1966, 1968–1973) and the Chicago Cubs (1974–1977).
- What were George Mitterwald's career stats?
- In 887 games, George Mitterwald had 623 hits, 76 home runs, 301 RBI, 251 runs, and 14 stolen bases, with a .236 batting average.
- What position did George Mitterwald play?
- George Mitterwald played primarily as a catcher, the position where he appeared in the most games.
- How tall was George Mitterwald and how much did he weigh?
- George Mitterwald was listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 195 pounds.
- How many home runs did George Mitterwald hit each season?
- George Mitterwald's home runs by season: 0 in 1966, 0 in 1968, 5 in 1969, 15 in 1970, 13 in 1971, 1 in 1972, 16 in 1973, 7 in 1974, 5 in 1975, 5 in 1976, and 9 in 1977. His most in one season was 16, in 1973.
- What was George Mitterwald's career batting average?
- George Mitterwald batted .236 over his career, with 623 hits in 2,645 at bats.
- How many RBI did George Mitterwald have?
- George Mitterwald drove in 301 runs in his career.
- Is George Mitterwald in the Hall of Fame?
- No. George Mitterwald has not been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.