Johnny Blanchard

Johnny Blanchard
Outfielder / Catcher
Born: February 26, 1933
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Died: March 25, 2009 (aged 76)
Robbinsdale, Minnesota
Batted: Left Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 25, 1955 for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1965 for the Milwaukee Braves
Career statistics
Batting average .239
Home runs 67
Runs batted in 200
Teams
Career highlights and awards

John Edwin Blanchard (February 26, 1933 – March 25, 2009) was a professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder and catcher from 1955 and 1959-1965.

Career

A defensive liability for the New York Yankees for most of his career, Blanchard is probably best known for his play in the 1961 World Series. He hit 2 home runs in that series against the Cincinnati Reds and batted .400 for the entire series.[1] In his career, Blanchard appeared in the World Series 5 times for the Yankees and holds the Major League record with ten World Series pinch-hit at-bats. Blanchard was the catcher who called the pitch that Bill Mazeroski hit for the first-ever series ending home run off Ralph Terry in the 1960 World Series in which the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the heavily favored Yankees.

Death

Blanchard died of a heart attack in North Memorial Medical Center in Robbinsdale, Minnesota on March 25, 2009.[2] His funeral was held at The Church of St. Mary of the Lake in Plymouth, Minnesota on Monday March 30, 2009 at 11:00AM.

References

  1. ↑ Career statistics and history at Baseball-Reference.com
  2. ↑ "Johnny Blanchard, who played with Yankees, dies of heart attack", Tim Harlow, Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 25, 2009

External links