Dick Dietz

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Dick Dietz (1960s)

Richard Allen Dietz (September 18, 1941 - June 28, 2005) was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Atlanta Braves from 1966 to 1973. Born in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Dietz enjoyed his best season in 1970 with the Giants, when he batted .300 with 22 home runs and 107 runs batted in. He also drew 109 walks, giving him a superb on-base percentage of .430. In the All-Star Game that year, Dietz hit a dramatic home run in the bottom of the ninth inning that helped propel the National League to a comeback win. Dietz followed with another fine season in 1971.

In 1972, in his role as player representative during a strike that delayed the start of the season, Dietz fell from favor with the Giants' management. Soon after the strike was settled, he was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers. Unfortunately, Dietz broke his wrist on July 30 and missed much of the 1972 season. In 1973, Dietz had an excellent season as a reserve first baseman and catcher for the Braves, batting .295 with a .474 on-base percentage. However, the Braves released him after the season, and after no team signed him for 1974, Dietz' career was over at the age of 32.

Dietz is probably best remembered for his role in one of the most controversial umpiring decisions in baseball history. In 1968, facing the Dodgers' Don Drysdale, Dietz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, apparently ending Drysdale's record-setting string of scoreless innings. However, home plate umpire Harry Wendelstedt, citing a rarely enforced rule, refused to allow Dietz to take first base, claiming that Dietz did not attempt to avoid being struck by the ball. Drysdale then retired Dietz, keeping his scoreless streak alive. (Drysdale's record was eventually broken by Orel Hershiser in 1988.)

Dietz died at age 63 in Clayton, Georgia.