| Mike Fitzgerald | |
| Position: | Catcher |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Birth Date: | 13 July 1960 |
| Birth Place: | Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | September 13 |
| Debutyear: | 1983 |
| Debutteam: | New York Mets |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | October 4 |
| Finalyear: | 1992 |
| Finalteam: | California Angels |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Batting average |
| Stat1value: | .235 |
| Stat2label: | Home runs |
| Stat2value: | 48 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 293 |
| Teams: |
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Michael Roy Fitzgerald (born July 13, 1960) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from through for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos and California Angels.[1]
Fitzgerald was selected by New York Mets in the 6th round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft.[2] He made his major league debut with the New York Mets on September 13, 1983.[1] Fitzgerald hit a home run in his first major league at bat, becoming the 57th player in major league history to accomplish the feat.[3] [4] In 1984, he led National League catchers in range factor and fielding percentage, becoming only the fourth catcher in major league history to win a fielding title in his rookie year.[5] [6] Fitzgerald was selected as the catcher for the Baseball Digest Rookie All-Star team, and for the 1984 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster.[7]
On December 14, 1984, the New York Mets traded Fitzgerald along with Hubie Brooks, Herm Winningham and minor league pitcher Floyd Youmans to the Montreal Expos for catcher Gary Carter.[8] He became the Expos starting catcher, posting his best offensive year in its 1986 season with a .282 batting average, six home runs and 37 runs batted in.[1] In October 1991, the Expos granted Fitzgerald free agency; he signed to play for the California Angels in their 1992 season.[8] After one year as the Angels' starting catcher, he retired as a player.[1]
In a ten-year major league career, Fitzgerald played in 848 games, accumulating 545 hits in 2316 at bats for a .235 career batting average along with 48 home runs and 293 runs batted in.[1] He ended his catching career with a .988 fielding percentage.[1]