Andy Etchebarren---1978
What an awesome face. Andy
Etchebarren could have been a great
character actor with his long face,
dark features and tough looks. Take
the cap off and put him in a pin-
striped suit and he’s standing behind
Bogart just waiting to pistol-whip
some sap who double-crossed
Bogey. Give him a Winchester, a pair
of boots and he would have been
perfect standing alongside Jimmy
Stewart on a dusty cowtown street.
Unfortunately Hollywood never called
as Etchebarren hid his face behind a
catcher’s mask for 15 seasons.
A defensive-minded catcher,
Etchebarren was a two-time All-Star
and a two-time World Champion with
the Baltimore Orioles. During the late
1960s and into the 1970s, he formed
a semi-platoon with Elrod Hendricks
as the duo helped guide the Orioles
staff to five playoff appearances in
six seasons (1969-71 and 1973-74).
Tough sliders from righties used to
eat him up, so Etchebarren primarily
handled catching duties when the
Birds faced southpaws and
curveballing right-handers. He
finished with a career .235 average
in 948 games.
Etchebarren had two interesting
distinctions during his career, as he
called pitches for the famous Steve
Barber/Stu Miller combination no-
hitter on April 30, 1967 (See our
Steve Barber post in the 1960s
Baseball Cards section). He also is
remembered for being the final batter
to face Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax;
as the right-handed hitter grounded
into a double-play to end the sixth
inning of Game 2 of the 1966 World
Series.
In all, Etchebarren had a nice career
on the diamond, though we think he
could have had a great career on the
silver screen.
(6/16/08)
Etchebarren could have been a great
character actor with his long face,
dark features and tough looks. Take
the cap off and put him in a pin-
striped suit and he’s standing behind
Bogart just waiting to pistol-whip
some sap who double-crossed
Bogey. Give him a Winchester, a pair
of boots and he would have been
perfect standing alongside Jimmy
Stewart on a dusty cowtown street.
Unfortunately Hollywood never called
as Etchebarren hid his face behind a
catcher’s mask for 15 seasons.
A defensive-minded catcher,
Etchebarren was a two-time All-Star
and a two-time World Champion with
the Baltimore Orioles. During the late
1960s and into the 1970s, he formed
a semi-platoon with Elrod Hendricks
as the duo helped guide the Orioles
staff to five playoff appearances in
six seasons (1969-71 and 1973-74).
Tough sliders from righties used to
eat him up, so Etchebarren primarily
handled catching duties when the
Birds faced southpaws and
curveballing right-handers. He
finished with a career .235 average
in 948 games.
Etchebarren had two interesting
distinctions during his career, as he
called pitches for the famous Steve
Barber/Stu Miller combination no-
hitter on April 30, 1967 (See our
Steve Barber post in the 1960s
Baseball Cards section). He also is
remembered for being the final batter
to face Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax;
as the right-handed hitter grounded
into a double-play to end the sixth
inning of Game 2 of the 1966 World
Series.
In all, Etchebarren had a nice career
on the diamond, though we think he
could have had a great career on the
silver screen.
(6/16/08)
