Joe Ferguson (baseball)

Infobox MLB retired
name = Joe Ferguson
bgcolor1 =
textcolor1 =
bgcolor2 =
textcolor2 =


width =
caption =
position = Catcher/Outfielder
birthdate = birth date and age|1946|9|19
deathdate =
bats =Right
throws = Right
debutdate =September 12
debutyear =1970
debutteam =Los Angeles Dodgers
finaldate =June 17
finalyear =1983
finalteam =California Angels
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value =.240
stat2label =Home runs
stat2value =122
stat3label =Runs batted in
stat3value =445
teams =
*Los Angeles Dodgers (1970-1976)
*St. Louis Cardinals (1976)
*Houston Astros (1977-1978)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (1978-1981)
*California Angels (1981-1983)
highlights =
*Participated in the 1974 & 1978 World Series

Joseph Vance Ferguson (born September 19, 1946 in San Francisco, California) is a former catcher/right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for four different teams from 1970 through 1983. Listed at 6' 2", 200 lbs., he batted and threw right handed.

A strong-armed catcher, Ferguson reached the majors in 1970 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, playing for them six and a half years before joining the St. Louis Cardinals (1976), Houston Astros (1977-78), again Los Angeles (1978-81), and finished his career with the California Angels (1981-83). He became the Dodgers everyday catcher in 1973 and set a major league record for catchers by committing only three errors, leading the National League catchers in fielding percentage (.996) and double plays (17), while hitting .263 with a .369 on-base percentage. He also reached career-highs in games played (136), home runs (25), RBI (88), runs (84), doubles (26) and walks (87).

When Steve Yeager became a regular in the 1973 midseason, Ferguson shared catching duties and played right field against left handed pitchers. During Game Two of the 1974 World Series, he hit a two-run homer off Oakland Athletics pitcher Vida Blue to provide the only Dodgers' victory in the Series. He enjoyed another fine season in 1977 with Houston, catching 122 games and hitting 16 home runs with 61 RBI and a .379 OBP. Reacquired by the Dodgers in the 1978 midseason, he helped his team to reach the 1978 World Series.

After retiring, he coached at the major league level with the Texas Rangers (1986-87), working under former Dodger teammate Bobby Valentine, and the Dodgers (1988-94). He also managed in the Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres minor league systems. He currently is in his 2nd season as the manager of the Camden Riversharks Atlantic League baseball team in New Jersey.

In a 14-season career, Ferguson was a .240 hitter with 122 home runs and 445 RBI in 1013 games. In 13 postseason games, he hit .200 (7-for-35) with one home run and four RBI.

The strong-armed Ferguson may be best known for his role in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the 1974 World Series. After reaching third on an error, Sal Bando tagged up on a Reggie Jackson fly ball to center field, as Jimmy Wynn camped under it. Sprinting from his position in right field, Ferguson cut in front of Wynn to catch the ball and heave it to the plate, where Steve Yeager makes the tag as the throw just beats him.

Fact

*On July 18, 1978, his ninth inning leadoff home run at Three Rivers Stadium broke up the no-hitter bid of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Luke Walker.

*On October 3, 1980, his tenth inning leadoff walk-off homer led the Dodgers to the first of three victories against Houston, forcing a one-game playoff against the Astros for the NL West title. During that series, he was responsible for a bench-clearing incident at Dodger stadium (no brawl as cooler heads prevailed) after he kneed Astro catcher Alan Ashby at the plate after tagging him out on a throw from Davey Lopes.

ources

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/W/Walker_Luke.stm Baseball Library]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/f/fergujo01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Joe_Ferguson BR Bullpen]
* [http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/F/Pfergj101.htm Retrosheet]
* [http://riversharks.com]