Steve Yeager

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Yeager's path to the majors began when the Dodgers selected him in the fourth round of the 1967 draft. He climbed through the farm system, playing for the rookie-level Ogden Spikers, Single-A Dubuque Packers, Daytona Beach Dodgers, and Bakersfield Dodgers. In 1969 with Bakersfield, he threw out 26 runners, but also fractured his leg in a first-inning home-plate collision with Reno Silver Sox player Ron Pietila—finishing the game unaware of the severity. Promoted to Double-A Albuquerque, he spent the next two-and-a-half seasons there, hitting .276 with 77 RBIs in 490 at-bats over 1970 and 1971, throwing out 84 runners, and earning a Texas League All-Star nod as a catcher in 1971. In spring training 1972, he won the Dodgers writers' Dearie Mulvey Memorial Trophy as the best rookie. Tommy Lasorda said that season, "You won't beat that arm of his." With the Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes in 1972, he played 82 games, batting .280 with 45 RBIs and a .502 slugging percentage in 257 at-bats. He made his Major League debut on August 2, 1972. After backing up Joe Ferguson in 1973, he split time with Ferguson for the pennant-winning 1974 club, hitting .266 with 12 home runs. Thereafter, Yeager became the Dodgers' starting catcher. In 1976, he led NL catchers with 77 assists. In 1977, he finished second in Gold Glove voting. He led NL catchers in caught-stealing percentage in both 1978 (46.7%) and 1982 (43.1%). Lou Brock called Yeager "the best-throwing catcher in the game." During one nationally televised game, a radar gun clocked his throw to second base from a crouch at 98 mph. In 1974, he led the National League with 806 putouts. While with the Dodgers, he caught Jerry Reuss' no-hitter on June 27, 1980. A knee injury in 1982 and a broken wrist the next year severely limited his playing time. He was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Ed Vande Berg on December 11, 1985, and retired after hitting .208 in 130 at-bats in 1986.

In Their Own Story

The 1981 World Series against the New York Yankees was the peak of Yeager's career. By then, he was backing up Mike Scioscia. His Series stats weren't overwhelming—4-for-14 (.286)—but two of those hits were home runs, including a game-winner off Ron Guidry in Game 5. When the Series ended, Yeager shared the World Series Most Valuable Player award with teammates Pedro Guerrero and Ron Cey.

Reader's Guide

Era at the club level: Yeager's Major League career spanned from 1972 through 1986. He spent 14 of those 15 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, from 1972 through 1985, and his last year, 1986, with the Seattle Mariners. He helped the Dodgers get to the World Series in 1974, 1977, 1978, and 1981. Playing style: A defensive specialist. His specialty was defense and his command of the game on the field. He was very good at managing the game from his position and was even more highly regarded for his abilities with young pitchers. Despite a reputation for subpar offense, he was a clutch hitter with an average of .321 when hitting with the bases loaded during his career, and hit 4 home runs in 21 World Series games. He also had success hitting off pitcher Ken Forsch, managing to hit 5 home runs against him in his career. With the Dodgers, whenever knuckleballer Charlie Hough pitched, Yeager would use a special enlarged catcher's mitt and would hold it in a cupped style, palm facing upward, instead of the normal upright 'target' position. Greatest achievements: Co-MVP of the 1981 World Series. Caught Jerry Reuss' no-hitter on June 27, 1980. Led NL catchers in assists in 1976 (77). Led NL catchers in baserunners caught stealing percentage in 1978 (46.7%) and 1982 (43.1%). Had 806 putouts in 1974, the most in the National League. Won the Dodgers writers' Dearie Mulvey Memorial Trophy as the best rookie in spring training 1972. Legacy: Yeager's throat protector, invented at his urging by Dodger trainer Bill Buhler after Yeager's 1976 injury, is now worn by most catchers throughout the Majors and other leagues. He later coached Dodgers catchers from 2012 to 2018.

Did You Know?

• Yeager was co-MVP of the 1981 World Series with teammates Pedro Guerrero and Ron Cey.
• In one nationally televised game, a radar gun caught Yeager's throw to second base from a crouch at 98 mph.
• Yeager's cousin is the late test pilot Chuck Yeager.
• After a 1976 injury where a bat shard pierced his esophagus, Yeager urged the invention of the throat protector now worn by most catchers.