George Mitterwald
Born: 6/7/1945 in Berkeley, CA, USA
MLB Debut: 1966-09-15 | Final Game: 1977-09-24
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'2" | Weight: 195 lbs
Full name: George Eugene Mitterwald
Biography
George Mitterwald, born in 1945, was a notable position player who made his mark in Major League Baseball from 1966 to 1977. Over the course of his career, he played in 887 games, showcasing his skills primarily as a catcher and outfielder. Mitterwald compiled a total of 623 hits, which included 76 home runs and 301 runs batted in, culminating in a batting average of .236. He also contributed on the basepaths, finishing his career with 14 stolen bases.
Mitterwald played during a transformative period in baseball history, marked by the emergence of power hitters and evolving strategies in the game. While his statistics may not place him among the elite, his ability to handle pitchers and provide depth to his teams was invaluable. His versatility allowed him to adapt to various roles, contributing to teams such as the Chicago Cubs and the Minnesota Twins, where he left a lasting impression on fans and teammates alike. Mitterwald's career stands as a testament to the dedication and resilience required to thrive in the competitive landscape of professional baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 887 | 2645 | 251 | 623 | 93 | 7 | 76 | 301 | 14 | 222 | 607 | 0.236 | 0.296 | 0.362 | 0.658 | -2859.7 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | MIN | AL | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.200 | 0.0 |
| 1968 | MIN | AL | 11 | 34 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0.206 | 0.0 |
| 1969 | MIN | AL | 69 | 187 | 18 | 48 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 0 | 17 | 47 | 0.257 | 92.6 |
| 1970 | MIN | AL | 117 | 369 | 36 | 82 | 12 | 2 | 15 | 46 | 3 | 34 | 84 | 0.222 | -366.4 |
| 1971 | MIN | AL | 125 | 388 | 38 | 97 | 13 | 1 | 13 | 44 | 3 | 39 | 104 | 0.250 | 209.7 |
| 1972 | MIN | AL | 64 | 163 | 12 | 30 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 37 | 0.184 | -835.8 |
| 1973 | MIN | AL | 125 | 432 | 50 | 112 | 15 | 0 | 16 | 64 | 3 | 39 | 111 | 0.259 | 316.7 |
| 1974 | CHC | NL | 78 | 215 | 17 | 54 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 28 | 1 | 18 | 42 | 0.251 | -48.8 |
| 1975 | CHC | NL | 84 | 200 | 19 | 44 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 26 | 0 | 19 | 42 | 0.220 | -408.2 |
| 1976 | CHC | NL | 101 | 303 | 19 | 65 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 28 | 1 | 16 | 63 | 0.215 | -1244.0 |
| 1977 | CHC | NL | 110 | 349 | 40 | 83 | 22 | 0 | 9 | 43 | 3 | 28 | 69 | 0.238 | -575.5 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0.333 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | ALCS | MIN | 2 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.500 |
| 1969 | ALCS | MIN | 2 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.143 |
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 | C | 59 | 40 | 247 | 32 | 7 | 4 |
| 1975 | CHN | 1B | 10 | 7 | 68 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
| 1976 | CHN | C | 64 | 54 | 320 | 40 | 7 | 2 |
| 1976 | CHN | 1B | 25 | 21 | 192 | 10 | 1 | 11 |
| 1977 | CHN | C | 109 | 102 | 621 | 78 | 8 | 13 |
| 1977 | CHN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by 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 |