Biff Bocoroba---1976
He was an All-Star?
The 1970s was loaded with some
great catching: Johnny Bench, Ted
Simmons, Manny Sanguillen, Bill
Freehan, Carlton Fisk, Thurman
Munson, Biff Pocoroba, Gary Carter,
Bob Boone.
Whoooaaa. Back up (beep, beep).
Biff Pocoroba?
Sure enough, Biff Pocoroba was an
All-Star in 1978. And yes, Biff is his
legal name.
The hind snatcher was behind the
dish for some of the worst baseball
played in Atlanta history, as the
Braves of the mid-1970s were still
searching for an identity prior to
Bobby Cox taking over the reins in
1978.
The 1970s was loaded with some
great catching: Johnny Bench, Ted
Simmons, Manny Sanguillen, Bill
Freehan, Carlton Fisk, Thurman
Munson, Biff Pocoroba, Gary Carter,
Bob Boone.
Whoooaaa. Back up (beep, beep).
Biff Pocoroba?
Sure enough, Biff Pocoroba was an
All-Star in 1978. And yes, Biff is his
legal name.
The hind snatcher was behind the
dish for some of the worst baseball
played in Atlanta history, as the
Braves of the mid-1970s were still
searching for an identity prior to
Bobby Cox taking over the reins in
1978.
In 1977, Biff enjoyed his best season, hitting .290, with eight long balls in 113 games.
With his success at age 23, he was mired in a contract dispute following the season
that eventually saw the Braves cave in and renegotiate a new 6-year deal. Biff
responded by watching his average drop to .242, but was still selected to partake in
the Mid-Summer Classic, along with teammates Jeff Burroughs and Phil Niekro.
Thus, it leads us to wonder if Ted Simmons, Johnny Bench and Bob Boone
complained to All-Star manager Tommy Lasorda about the prospect of having to
possibly catch Niekro. The conversation probably went like this:
“I don’t wanna catch him,” said Simmons.
“Yeah Tommy, I could break a finger trying to catch Niekro’s knuckler,” added Boone.
“And I am not risking my career for an All-Star Game, just look at what happened to
Ray Fosse.”
“I know fellas, but we only have so many spots on the roster,” responded Lasorda.
“Someone has to catch Niekro.”
“Let’s get Biff to do it!,” said Simmons, Boone and Bench simultaneously.
“Yeah, Biff will catch anyone,” added Bench.
“But he’s only hitting around .260 this year guys,” said Lasorda. “And you know me, I
like to win.”
“Well how about bringing him along, and if we get a big lead then let Phil and Biff
play,” said Boone. “The Braves are playing crappy again this season. No one expects
those guys to play in the game unless we are winning.”
“Alright, but you guys gotta get me some runs,” finished Lasorda. “You know how I like
to win.”
Pocoroba didn’t get an at-bat, but he did get to catch the 9th inning, which included
Phil Niekro’s one-third inning of work, in the National League’s 7-3 victory.
Injuries led to Pocoroba’s downward spiral the following seasons, as Bruce Benedict
assumed the squatting position behind home plate for Atlanta to begin the 1980s.
But yes, Biff Pocoroba was an All-Star.
(7/11/10)
With his success at age 23, he was mired in a contract dispute following the season
that eventually saw the Braves cave in and renegotiate a new 6-year deal. Biff
responded by watching his average drop to .242, but was still selected to partake in
the Mid-Summer Classic, along with teammates Jeff Burroughs and Phil Niekro.
Thus, it leads us to wonder if Ted Simmons, Johnny Bench and Bob Boone
complained to All-Star manager Tommy Lasorda about the prospect of having to
possibly catch Niekro. The conversation probably went like this:
“I don’t wanna catch him,” said Simmons.
“Yeah Tommy, I could break a finger trying to catch Niekro’s knuckler,” added Boone.
“And I am not risking my career for an All-Star Game, just look at what happened to
Ray Fosse.”
“I know fellas, but we only have so many spots on the roster,” responded Lasorda.
“Someone has to catch Niekro.”
“Let’s get Biff to do it!,” said Simmons, Boone and Bench simultaneously.
“Yeah, Biff will catch anyone,” added Bench.
“But he’s only hitting around .260 this year guys,” said Lasorda. “And you know me, I
like to win.”
“Well how about bringing him along, and if we get a big lead then let Phil and Biff
play,” said Boone. “The Braves are playing crappy again this season. No one expects
those guys to play in the game unless we are winning.”
“Alright, but you guys gotta get me some runs,” finished Lasorda. “You know how I like
to win.”
Pocoroba didn’t get an at-bat, but he did get to catch the 9th inning, which included
Phil Niekro’s one-third inning of work, in the National League’s 7-3 victory.
Injuries led to Pocoroba’s downward spiral the following seasons, as Bruce Benedict
assumed the squatting position behind home plate for Atlanta to begin the 1980s.
But yes, Biff Pocoroba was an All-Star.
(7/11/10)