Terry Steinbach

Terry Steinbach
Catcher
Born: (1962-03-02) March 2, 1962
New Ulm, Minnesota
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 12, 1986, for the Oakland Athletics
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 1999, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
Batting average .271
Home runs 162
Runs batted in 745
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Terry Lee Steinbach (born March 2, 1962) is an American professional baseball catcher and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 14 seasons, from 1986 through 1999, for the Oakland Athletics and Minnesota Twins. He has coached for the Twins since 2013.

Steinbach was a three-time MLB All-Star with the Athletics' teams that reached the World Series in three consecutive years, winning the 1989 World Series.

Amateur career

Steinbach attended New Ulm High School in New Ulm, Minnesota. The Cleveland Indians selected Steinbach in the 16th round of the 1980 Major League Baseball Draft, but Steinbach chose not to sign. He enrolled at the University of Minnesota, and played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers' college baseball team. With the Golden Gophers, Steinbach played as a third baseman.[1] In 1983, he was named the Big Ten Conference Co-Player of the Year, with Rich Stoll of the University of Michigan.[2]

Professional career

The Oakland Athletics selected Steinbach in the ninth round of the 1983 Major League Baseball Draft. Steinbach signed with the Athletics, and made his professional debut in the minor leagues. After two years as a third baseman, the Athletics moved Steinbach to catcher, and played him for two years in Class AA of the minor leagues.[3]

Steinbach made his major league debut on September 12, 1986 against the Cleveland Indians when he hit a home run off of Greg Swindell in his first major league at-bat. He went on to be the starting catcher for Athletics' teams that won three straight American League pennants from 1988 to 1990, and the World Series in 1989. After leaving the Athletics following his career year in 1996, he played his last three years with the Minnesota Twins.

He was elected to the American League All-Star team 3 times (1988, 1989 and 1993). His 1988 selection was highly controversial because Steinbach had posted modest numbers in the first half of the season. However, during the game he accounted for both AL runs with a home run and sacrifice fly, and was named the game's MVP.

Steinbach caught two no-hitters during his career (Dave Stewart in 1990, Eric Milton in 1999).

Coaching

From 2008 to 2012, Steinbach was a coach for the Wayzata High School boys varsity baseball team in Plymouth, Minnesota. Steinbach's son Lucas played with the team during this time before graduating in June 2012.[4] He also worked as the Twins' minor league instructor for thirteen years.[3]

On October 22, 2012, the Twins hired Steinbach to be the bench coach and catching instructor on manager Ron Gardenhire's coaching staff, succeeding Steve Liddle.[5][6] Stuart Turner, a catching prospect for the Twins, credited Steinbach's tutelage in spring training for his improvement as a catcher.[7] In 2014, Steinbach managed games in April and August, when Gardenhire was unable to attend the game.[8][9]

Personal life

Steinbach and his wife, Mary, have three adult children. Their two sons both play college baseball.[3][5]

Terry's brother, Tom, was a teammate on the Golden Gophers' baseball team. Tom was the right fielder.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Michigan Daily - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Big Ten Conference Baseball Record Book" (PDF). BigTen.org. p. 124. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 "Minnesota Twins' new coaches: Tom Brunansky, Terry Steinbach, Bobby Cuellar". TwinCities.com. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Minnesota Twins Name Terry Steinbach New Bench Coach". Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota Patch. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Rested Steinbach catches on with Twins". Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Twins add Steinbach, Brunansky and Cuellar to big league coaching staff". Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Twinsights: Catching prospect Stuart Turner learns from Terry Steinbach". TwinCities.com. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Twinsights: Ron Gardenhire leaves team to attend Michael Hirschbeck's funeral - Twins Now". TwinCities.com. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Minnesota Twins: Terry Steinbach fills in for ailing Gardenhire". TwinCities.com. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  10. ↑ "The Michigan Daily - Google News Archive Search". Retrieved September 25, 2014.

External links

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