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Bill Plummer
William Francis Plummer (March 21, 1947 – March 12, 2024) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher in 1968 and then from 1970 to 1978, most notably as a member of the Cincinnati Reds dynasty that won four National League pennants and two World Series championships between 1970 and 1976. He also played for the Chicago Cubs and the Seattle Mariners.
Born in Oakland, California, Plummer attended Anderson Union High School in Anderson, California. After one year at Shasta College, he was signed by the [[1965 St. Louis Cardinals] season|St. Louis Cardinals]] on April 25, 1965, as an amateur free agent, and was named a Florida Rookie League All-Star that summer. Plummer played three years in the Cardinals' minor league system. While playing for Sparky Anderson with the Modesto Reds in 1967, Phillies scout Eddie Bockman noted that Plummer was "strong, can catch everyday," has "all the desire and hustle in the world," and "recommend a Rule 5 draft on him if he is available."
The Chicago Cubs selected Plummer from the Cardinals on November 28, 1967, in the Rule 5 draft. Plummer made his MLB debut on April 19, 1968. He spent nearly all of 1968 on the bench and catching in the bullpen in Chicago due to the rules on sending Rule 5 drafted players to the minor leagues. Plummer made his major league debut with the Cubs on April 19, 1968, at the age of 21 in a 9–2 road loss to the Cardinals. Pinch-hitting for Chuck Hartenstein, he struck out against Hal Gilson. He had only one more at-bat that season and played in just two games.
The Cubs traded Plummer, Clarence Jones, and Kenneth Myette to the Reds for Ted Abernathy on January 9, 1969. He spent the season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. He was in the minors again in 1970, but was called up to the pennant-winning Reds in September, long enough to play in four games with nine plate appearances, including his first career hit. While with the Indianapolis Indians, Plummer was a 1970 American Association All-Star and 1971 American Association All-League selection.
While never a regular starter—he was Johnny Bench's backup catcher during the Big Red Machine years—he did play solid defense with a .983 fielding percentage, but was a lifetime .188 hitter. His most memorable game was in 1974, when he hit two home runs in Philadelphia off Hall of Famer Steve Carlton.
Plummer also played multiple seasons of winter league baseball, with the Lobos de Arecibo in 1970-71 and 1972-73 in Puerto Rico, Águilas del Zulia in 1975-76 in Venezuela, and the Marineros de Guaymas in 1978-79 in Mexico.
Plummer's career as a backup catcher was profiled in a Sports Illustrated article in July 1977. "I've always wondered how Bill would do if he played two months straight," said Pete Rose. "He's a physical fitness nut, and if hard work means anything, he would do all right." The article's writer said of Plummer, "He is a private person. He hoards his time and spends it with his wife Robin and two daughters, Gina and Tricia. He doesn't drink, works out, jogs and plays tennis, and during the winter he labors on his father-in-law's northern California cattle ranch."
After he retired as a player, Plummer stayed in the Mariners' system, and managed the San Jose Missions in 1980, the Wausau Timbers in 1981, the Chattanooga Lookouts in 1984 and 1985, and the Triple-A Calgary Cannons from 1986 through 1988. Plummer managed the Leones del Caracas to a Venezuelan Winter League championship in 1986–87. He also managed Caracas for the 1988–89 season.
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Bill Plummer
William Francis Plummer (March 21, 1947 – March 12, 2024) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher in 1968 and then from 1970 to 1978, most notably as a member of the Cincinnati Reds dynasty that won four National League pennants and two World Series championships between 1970 and 1976. He also played for the Chicago Cubs and the Seattle Mariners.
Born in Oakland, California, Plummer attended Anderson Union High School in Anderson, California. After one year at Shasta College, he was signed by the [[1965 St. Louis Cardinals] season|St. Louis Cardinals]] on April 25, 1965, as an amateur free agent, and was named a Florida Rookie League All-Star that summer. Plummer played three years in the Cardinals' minor league system. While playing for Sparky Anderson with the Modesto Reds in 1967, Phillies scout Eddie Bockman noted that Plummer was "strong, can catch everyday," has "all the desire and hustle in the world," and "recommend a Rule 5 draft on him if he is available."
The Chicago Cubs selected Plummer from the Cardinals on November 28, 1967, in the Rule 5 draft. Plummer made his MLB debut on April 19, 1968. He spent nearly all of 1968 on the bench and catching in the bullpen in Chicago due to the rules on sending Rule 5 drafted players to the minor leagues. Plummer made his major league debut with the Cubs on April 19, 1968, at the age of 21 in a 9–2 road loss to the Cardinals. Pinch-hitting for Chuck Hartenstein, he struck out against Hal Gilson. He had only one more at-bat that season and played in just two games.
The Cubs traded Plummer, Clarence Jones, and Kenneth Myette to the Reds for Ted Abernathy on January 9, 1969. He spent the season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. He was in the minors again in 1970, but was called up to the pennant-winning Reds in September, long enough to play in four games with nine plate appearances, including his first career hit. While with the Indianapolis Indians, Plummer was a 1970 American Association All-Star and 1971 American Association All-League selection.
While never a regular starter—he was Johnny Bench's backup catcher during the Big Red Machine years—he did play solid defense with a .983 fielding percentage, but was a lifetime .188 hitter. His most memorable game was in 1974, when he hit two home runs in Philadelphia off Hall of Famer Steve Carlton.
Plummer also played multiple seasons of winter league baseball, with the Lobos de Arecibo in 1970-71 and 1972-73 in Puerto Rico, Águilas del Zulia in 1975-76 in Venezuela, and the Marineros de Guaymas in 1978-79 in Mexico.
Plummer's career as a backup catcher was profiled in a Sports Illustrated article in July 1977. "I've always wondered how Bill would do if he played two months straight," said Pete Rose. "He's a physical fitness nut, and if hard work means anything, he would do all right." The article's writer said of Plummer, "He is a private person. He hoards his time and spends it with his wife Robin and two daughters, Gina and Tricia. He doesn't drink, works out, jogs and plays tennis, and during the winter he labors on his father-in-law's northern California cattle ranch."
After he retired as a player, Plummer stayed in the Mariners' system, and managed the San Jose Missions in 1980, the Wausau Timbers in 1981, the Chattanooga Lookouts in 1984 and 1985, and the Triple-A Calgary Cannons from 1986 through 1988. Plummer managed the Leones del Caracas to a Venezuelan Winter League championship in 1986–87. He also managed Caracas for the 1988–89 season.
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