- Gene Oliver
Eugene George Oliver (
March 22 1935 –March 3 2007 ) was an Americancatcher andfirst baseman inMajor League Baseball . From by|1959 through by|1969, Oliver played for theSt. Louis Cardinals (1959, 1961-63), Milwaukee & Atlanta Braves (1963-67),Philadelphia Phillies (1967),Boston Red Sox (1968) andChicago Cubs (1968-69). He batted and threw right-handed.Oliver was a regular catcher for the Cardinals in by|1962 and the Phillies in by|1967, but most of his career he served as a back-up. Oliver had a strong arm and was good at blocking the plate. As a batter, he had some power and decent speed for a catcher.
In by|1965, Oliver reached a high-career mark of 21
home run s with the Milwaukee Braves, enabled the team to set aNational League record with six 20-HR hitters in one season. OnJune 8 of that year, Torre, Mathews, Aaron and Oliver hit 10th-inning home runs in a Braves victory over the Cubs, setting a major league record for most home runs in an extra-inning game.The Phillies and Braves switched catchers in 1967, with
Bob Uecker going to Atlanta. After the trade, Oliver suffered a severe knee injury that shortened his career. He played the ukulele.In a 10-season career, Oliver hit .246 with 93 home runs, 320 runs batted in, 268 runs scored, 111 doubles, five triples, and 24
stolen base s in 786 games.Gene remained close to his former Cubs teammates and acted as Social Director for the Randy Hundley Cubs Fantasy Camp. He passed away shortly after the 25th camp.
ee also
*
Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game External links
*baseball-reference|id=o/olivege01
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/O/Oliver_Gene.stm BaseballLibrary] - career highlights
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