rick dempsey rain delay rick dempsey rain delay

Whether Murcers presence in the lineup would have made a difference is up for debate since the Orioles won out to claim the title. They wouldnt even let me warm pitchers up in the bullpen. I loved Billy; he was a little guy like me, Dempsey said. [17] After three seasons with the Dodgers, he played one season with the Milwaukee Brewers, before returning to the Baltimore Orioles for his final season in 1992.[16]. Only Gene Kelly ever sang and danced better with the water turned on. They wanted me to stay but they said I wasnt going to play. [8] In the 1979 World Series, the Orioles won three of the first four games against the Pittsburgh Pirates and seemed to be on the verge of winning the championship, when the Pirates, led by Willie Stargell, rebounded to win the final three games. Jack Cust goes swimmingAug. Author of the popular blog The Bobblist, which covers everything A to Z in the world of bobbleheads. Dempsey has been part of the game for nearly six decades, starting out as a Minnesota farmhand in the late 1960s before embarking on what proved to be a remarkable journey. He and Billy were a lot alike. SoSH Member. Managing, he says, is like batting. I know I could have played a couple more years. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images). All I wanted to do was play sports. I put the pillow in it, which he wasn't too happy about because he didn't want to be fat. With that in mind, were taking stroll down memory lane to highlight the times in Orioles history that did just that. The next time he would see Minnesota would be as a visiting player. Houston Mitchell is an assistant sports editor, writer of the Dodgers Dugout newsletter and editor of all of the sports newsletters for the Los Angeles Times. Mar 28, 2014 - Rick Dempsey rain delay entertainment. Everybody just went crazy. Friday, May 22, 2009. The worst thing was, being manager, I had to call his wife and tell her what happened, Dempsey says. Top 40 Greatest Orioles of All-Time - 2014, Ill take For The Home Team for $400, Alex. One time in Toronto, one of the Blue Jays staffers called me and asked me to do it. They wanted a lefty hitting catcher and I became Thurman Munsons backup guy. And, at the time, not a very good one. But Dempsey is also remembered as the man who turned rain delays into interpretive theater. Now, its too late for me to take a managing job. Were not talking about wins and losses so much as were trying to get guys who are supposed to be prospects to start playing the game the way its supposed to be played.. Published by Triumph Books. From that point on, every time it got gray or cloudy everywhere we went, one of the team officials would call me up and say, "Can you do your pantomime of Babe Ruth?" These guys here are just babies. When I was a kid, This Week in Baseball hosted by Mel Allen would occasionally show how Rick Dempsey entertained fans during rain delays during baseball games. So, they sent me to Auburn and I played every day.. Shortly after completing the lone no-hitter of his career in an 8-0 win over the As, Palmer was accused of poor baserunning by Judge Robinson, despite the fact that hed finished 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI as well. It ran its course and that was it.. Knowledgeable. Football Memorabilia. I didnt get to play baseball when I was a freshman or sophomore because I didnt have a way home. Rich Dauer came into the clubhouse to get me and thats when it came to me. I looked up in the stands and saw about 15 people there. Once, after the pitcher had again been racked, Dempsey mentioned that trend to another teammate as they trotted off the field. Dempsey went 3-for-6 with a walk in five games. My father and I spent the majority of it eating in the machine room on the portch. Funny, they don't remember that once in a while I got a hit. Verified account Protected Tweets @; Suggested users Well, for that I think of him pronouncing Melky Cabrera's first name as "Milky." I put a pillow in my shirt so I could look a little bit like Babe Ruth. I went into the clubhouse and was drying off because it was pretty wet out there. And plotted. He was an interim manager while playing in Puerto Rico in the early 80s. I think he and Brooks Robinson both had the same mother. Rick Dempsey: What Inspired His Rain-Delay Theatrics. John Rikard Dempsey (born September 13, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. They knew that if anyone got in trouble, I was the one who was going to end up paying for the balls. [1] Dempsey spent a few more seasons shuttling between the Twins and their minor league teams, before being traded to the New York Yankees for Danny Walton on October 31, 1972. Next on her target list: Cal Ripken Jr., who would later homer in the Orioles 9-4 win over Texas. Dempsey, who said he strives to be aggressive like Billy, smart like Earl and a motivator like Tommy, tries to be philosophical. 3, 1982Back by popular demand, Dempsey revived his pantomime performance for the Memorial Stadium faithful in July 1978, and reprised it with a twist on the final day of the 1982 season against Milwaukee. The Orioles won 10-3. I never let anybody steal bases, I never missed a runner that I had a half decent chance to throw out and I never missed a ball in the dirt., he MVP of the 1983 World Series Baltimore Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey (r) talks with ABC's commentator Reggie Jackson (C) while Orioles owner Edward Bennett Williams (L) is on the phone in the Orioles locker room after the Orioles defeat the Philadelphia Phillies in game five of the 1983 World Series, October 16, 1983 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During a delay in the UConn-USF game, during the Big East Tourney, both teams decided to take to the field and potentially "serve" the other squad. Sudakis was traded to the Angels after the season. In 2001, Dempsey was named the first base coach, replacing Eddie Murray. [7] He sometimes did this while wearing a pair of underpants over his uniform, making fun of teammate Jim Palmer's famous advertisements for Jockey brand briefs. I was in the outfield at Fenway Park on Sunday, throwing baseballs to fans in the stands who were the loudest. The place was packed because we were still playing for second place. Earl Weaver was known for many things, among them his temper and penchant for getting ejected from ballgames. Santarone would pour a layer of vinegar over the mix and let it set for a few days, then drain it and do the same with oil. The secretary had gone home and it was dark outside. [19] He is the uncle of former major league catcher Gregg Zaun. I thought that was kind of cool, that he got so many different sections at Yankee Stadium involved in that. "Players Swap Memories of Yankees-Orioles 10-Player Trade", "Rick Dempsey Looks Back on his 24 Seasons as a Big League Catcher", 1979 American League Championship Series at Baseball Reference, Rick Dempsey post-season batting statistics, "Rick Dempsey: His Career Survives Fires of Combat", "You're Looking at One for the Ages Here", Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rick_Dempsey&oldid=1132443572, Florida Instructional League Twins players, American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela, World Series Most Valuable Player Award winners, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2010, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, September 23,1969,for theMinnesota Twins, September 27,1992,for theBaltimore Orioles, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 8 January 2023, at 22:38. This is what were going to do, I told him. Dempsey spent all of 1974 with the Yankees, serving as Munsons backup for most of that time. Good thing the man has such a great sense of humor. When I first got traded, I met them in Chicago and I didnt start a game for quite a while. I remember having a hard time with Rod Carew. While Dempsey made the Major League roster in 1972, he didnt last long, hitting .200 in 25 games before being sent to Tacoma of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, where he would spend the remainder of the season. Enberg hosted the pregame show alongside Dempsey (who was still active with Baltimore at the time). Dempsey was let go in 2021 as part of the massive layoffs by MASN. 1. Finally, using his best Mexican bandito accent, he ordered the men to drop their money on the table and leave the room. With his players, and himself. No matter the ball remained secured in Komminsks glove; his body landed outside the field of play, and Ripken was rewarded with a home run all the same. I have searched far and wide across the great landscape of the Internet and have yet to find a trace of footage showing Dempsey sliding across a rain-soaked turf. Basketball Players. But at least he is gathering good material and having a few good laughs, right? Frank Robinson runs Kangaroo CourtAug. Before that, Cust was briefly an Oriole, appearing in 28 games with Baltimore from '03-04. 17, 1980Now for one a bit less good-natured, but that will live forever nonetheless. View contact information: phones, addresses, emails and networks. Then, in the late 1980s, he moved over to play near his family's home in Agoura Hills, becoming a . 3. I went to Albuquerque and won a title and had two good years there. The two tore up the lobby and in the melee Bobby Murcer got hurt and missed the final two games of the season. [3], Dempsey was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 15th round of the 1967 Major League Baseball draft out of Crespi Carmelite High School. I took two mighty swings, twisting my body as far as it would go. Your email address will not be published. Whenever I think of Dempsey as a player, two memories come to mind: his rain delay routine and his 1983 World Series MVP. The Comedic Stylings Of Rick Dempsey Published on 5/9/2007 by GC When Gary Thorne is the one embarrassed at your poor choice of words, something has gone horribly wrong. Quick with a quip. Well, there was one baseball left on the tarp, and I said to myself, I'm going to run out there and grab that baseball and get this whole stadium screaming. People still come up to me nowadays and talk about it. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images). Nov 18, 2011 73 Dislike Share Save TheHalocodplayer 8 subscribers This montage was shown during a Boston Red Sox rain delay back in 1983. You could tell he was in his element. If you ever saw it, youd never forget it. When he retired as a player, he had three broadcasting offers. Dempsey, of course, inherited their genes, and thus went on to stuff towels in his shirt during a 1977 rain delay at Fenway Park, imitating Babe Ruth and sliding across the tarp on his padded stomach. [1] He played more games as a catcher than any other player in Orioles history (1230). He also appeared in six games for the Yankees before embarking on a journey that would last another 18 years in the Major Leagues. - 'Private cocktailParties - Pvt. He told me he gave that ball to the Hall of Fame. Dempsey, of course, inherited their genes, and thus went on to stuff towels in his shirt during a 1977 rain delay at Fenway Park, imitating Babe Ruth and sliding across the tarp on his padded stomach. In addition, he serves as a game analyst for occasional games on MASN. They packed their guts with pillows to mimic the Hall of Fame duo in absurdist, legendary style. You can see him out on the field sometimes and you know he just wants to pull his hair out.. They say, "That's the guy who ran around on the tarp." They quarreled over how to pitch to batters and over virtually any other subject. He started the 1976 season as Munsons backup but was dealt to Baltimore in a blockbuster deal on June 15 that also saw Tippy Martinez, Rudy May, Scott McGregor and Dave Pagan headed to the Os in exchange for Doyle Alexander, Ken Holtzman, Grant Jackson, Jimmy Freeman and Elrod Hendricks. 5. Crazy things have happened during rain delays in the past (i.e.- Rick Dempsey), but this video might just put them all to shame. Blog Round-Up: There's Anger in the Air in Toronto, Flashback Friday: "Doubleheader Don" Aase, In Case You Were Wondering - Road Jerseys Edition. Back in those days, even though they fined players for throwing balls into the grandstand, Sparky didn't care. The long-time Baltimore catcher, however, proved over the course of his career, which encompassed parts of four decades, that he was more than one of baseball's most memorable characters. Another sad day came when it became apparent that Dempseys time in Baltimore was over. And weve given him a lot more reasons to do it than that. 6. While he was long an Orioles superfan and ballpark fixture, the 1979 World Series thrust Hagy onto the national stage. Get some baseballs and get back out on the tarp." But as she often did, Morganna stole the show. DisneyExaminer is proud to present MagicClass with Rick Dempsey, Senior Vice President of Disney Character Voices. On the franchise. Dempsey grabs the mic1986Dempsey turned his act musical in 1986, when he serenaded a rain delay crowd to Chuck Berrys classic Johnny B. Goode. Soon, Dempsey & the Invisible Orioles Magic Band was born, complete with Eddie Murray and Floyd Rayford on the drums, Mike Boddicker on bass and John Habyan and others handling backup vocals. Rick Dempsey Scouting Report 30 HITTING 40 POWER 30 RUNNING 60 FIELDING 60 THROWING 20 = NOT MLB CALIBER 30 = WELL BELOW AVG 40 = Below Average 50 = MLB AVERAGE 60 = ABOVE AVG 70 = EXCELLENT 80 = RARE, ELITE Same deal -- it was a rainy day, and Babe Ruth called his shot. Dempsey also served as an Oriole color commentator in 2000 and began another stint in 2007, as the studio analyst for O's Xtra on MASN, the cable channel that carries Orioles games. So as I skated around the tarp, everyone started to sing with me. He wrote for the Long Beach Press Telegram and Orange County Register before joining The Times in 1982 and won an Associated Press Sports Editors award for investigative reporting on betting scams. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Dempsey was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 23, 1969, with the Minnesota Twins. [5] During his tenure with the Yankees, he served as a reserve catcher to Thurman Munson, and received tutoring from Yankees coach and former catching standout Jim Hegan. Today. After jury approval, Palmer was fined. He held it until the next day before the gag was exposed. Just e-mail your list of the 12 greatest L.A. Dodgers, ranked in order, to houston.mitchell@latimes.com. We got to the World Series and I caught the last pitch and gave him the ball. I got a little notoriety in Earl Weavers eyes, Dempsey said. Rick Dempsey Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac Rick Dempsey Stats Rick Dempsey was born on Tuesday, September 13, 1949, in Fayetteville, Tennessee. He was very outspoken and he told me just hustle and play hard for me every day and youll have nothing to worry about. The other half was as MiLB.coms staff historian. And by 1988, Morganna the Kissing Bandit was well known. I just wanted to put it behind me and get to my managing career. He managed at Bakersfield in the Class-A California League to a 10th-place finish in 1993 before guiding Albuquerque of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League to a title in 1994 and a fifth-place finish in 1995. Dempsey went 0-for-2 with a walk. Mar 28, 2014 - Rick Dempsey rain delay entertainment. It was tough for a while, Dempsey says. 16, 2003Remember Cust, the left-handed slugger who had a productive four-year run with Oakland in the late 2000s? Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window). He remained the starting catcher through 1986 but hit just .208 at the age of 36. The Yankees are winning the division and Im sitting here in Baltimore, 12 games out.. In a 24-year career, Dempsey played in 1,765 games, accumulating 1,093 hits in 4,692 at bats for a .233 career batting average along with 96 home runs and 471 runs batted in. He went to Spring Training with Baltimore in 1992 and didnt make the club, getting cut the last week of camp. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. [7] He became known for his exceptional ability to handle pitching staffs, his strong throwing arm, and for his agility behind home plate. I went to Fred Claires office. Tonights rain delay in the World Series brings one name to the mind of most baseball fans: Rick Dempsey. But I held on to the ball. Otherwise, he said, he would have to use his gun. With the worst record in professional baseball. Rick Dempsey was a catcher for 24 MLB seasons and MVP of the 1983 World Series in which the Orioles beat the Phillies. Tonight's rain delay in the World Series brings one name to the mind of most baseball fans: Rick Dempsey. He was removed from the game and carted off the field in a stretcher, while the 15,491 fans on hand at the Coliseum held their collective breath. Questions, compliments, or complaints can be sent to Matthew Taylor at roarfrom34@gmail.com. I did another version of it in Milwaukee one night. Catcher Rick Dempsey #24, of the Baltimore Orioles, argues the call with the home plate umpire Larry Barnett during a game on September 12, 1982 against the Cleveland Indians at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Thanks for sharing your memories, Enchanting Sunshine. I said, "I don't think it's going to work this time.". Dempseys line for the season was just about what he told Claire it would be. Soon after, his teammates arrived, quickly setting up a poker game. Dempsey is quick to admit that bettering himself in sports, not academics, was his main focus while attending Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino. Date: July 23, 2009 Score: Chicago White Sox 5, Tampa Bay Rays 0 Site: U.S. Cellular Field Pitches (Ks): 116 (76 strikes) Game Score: 93 In 2009, Buehrle, a durable soft-tossing lefty, threw his team's first perfect game in 87 years. Dempsey knew that he wanted to keep playing. He is famous for being a Baseball Player. Sep 26, 2022 #79 Almonte is entertainingly bad in the field. The lone bench player for New Bedford at the start of the game was infielder Dan Haugh, who, along with pitcher Aaron Messier, did their best Rick Dempsey rain-delay imitation. Just opened in Oriole Park at Camden Yards - Dempsey's Brewpub and Restaurant! A steady rain postponed the Milwaukee Brewers-Baltimore Orioles game at County Stadium, but it didn't stop Rick Dempsey and Sammy Stewart from reenacting the final game of the Orioles' 1982 season against the Brewers.Dempsey has developed a reputation for his slides on rain-soaked tarpaulins. JCizzle Member. He would go and hang out with the players, drink with them and do all that stuff. I wanted to manage for the Orioles and I talked to [general manager] Roland Hemond and the farm director to see where they could place me. He believed in a strong defensive catcher. You know what I'm going to do? This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. Presenting an unusual Rick Dempsey bobblehead that talks and plays music.Rick Dempsey was the Baltimore Orioles' catcher from 1976 to 1986, and was well loved for his sense of humor. Mike Bordick, Rick Dempsey On What 2020 Season Will Offer For Orioles PressBox. [21] He then joined the New York Mets organisation, managing the Norfolk Tides in 1997 and 1998. He turned out to be the best GM I ever talked to. Rick Dempsey Rain Delay Theater, Part ISept. Then, after a while, I pretty much came to terms with the fact that were developing here. We had our share of arguments, too. The end, however, was near. "Hey Rick," I shouted, "I saw your rain delay act at Fenway back in 1977!". He retired in November 2020. The idea for a line of neckties, many characterized by vibrant colors and sheens, came directly from his work with MASN, where the on-air talent is expected to dress up and look sharp. Consider his "rain delay theater" a blend of both, and one of the more famous comedy bits in MLB history. Dupree overheard and responded by taking off his glove and throwing his best fastball at Dempseys head as the two headed toward the dugout. Mike Curtis Baltimore Colts. He was the new Dodgers GM and I waited in his office at 2 p.m. His secretary told me he was in a meeting and that he would come out and get me when he was done. [6], For the next ten and a half seasons, Dempsey would remain as the Orioles' starting catcher. Earl was not an easy guy to get along with. But Dipper is an Oriole, and a memorable one. Baseball Park. It was great.. Should the teams play become exceedingly sloppy, Dempsey might occasionally launch into a postgame tirade, but he prefers to instruct rather than belittle his players. They'll love that!". I had to do it at least once at home. That was one of the saddest days for me ever. He played both ends of a doubleheader the next day. The new spot is named after Orioles fan favorite and 1983 World Series MVP, Rick Dempsey. His teammates and members of the opposing team would stand in the dugouts and applaud with the fans, especially when Dempsey concluded his routine with a mammoth belly-flop slide into home plate on the infield tarp, his momentum carrying him for yards, a rooster tail of rainwater behind him. Baltimore became the first visiting team to win Games 3, 4 and 5 since 1961, when the New York Yankees did so vs. the Cincinnati Reds at Crosley Field. Baltimore Orioles, Baseball, Books, Milwaukee Brewers, MLB, New York Yankees, Rick Dempsey, Robin Yount, Sparky Lyle, 'Let Them Lead' Beloved Fourth-Line Grinder Earns Magical Moment, Tony Parker: Tough Love From Gregg Popovich 'Sometimes Bordered On Abuse', Thomas Morstead: From Wrong Side Of Minneapolis Miracle To Star Of Kids' Book, Nicklas Lidstrom's Crowning Moment At The Olympics In 2006, Copyright 2023 Sports Media Ventures, Inc. All Rights Reserved. There, he would pantomime Babe Ruth hitting a home run, complete with called shot. 2 comments 70% Upvoted This thread is archived New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast Sort by level 1 drexhex 8 years ago See this video for more of Dempsey's rain delay antics 5 level 1 I like our ducks aresef 8 years ago The downside is that he set my expectations too high for what I should reasonably expect of a catcher. One time, they batted out of order. Fox ought to track down footage of it and show it during Game 5 on Tuesday, which is also expected to be rained out. Football Poster. The decade wasnt always great, though. Thats not really me.. For me, languages are fascinating. Cleveland was one strange organization, Dempsey said. He quickly tossed Weaver, and Weaver responded by spewing an animated, profanity-laced tirade. Rick Dempsey was a catcher for 24 MLB seasons and MVP of the 1983 World Series in which the Orioles beat the Phillies. Think again, as Jim Palmer learned. I was dragging three pieces of luggage and a hang up bag across the parking lot. The long-time Baltimore catcher, however, proved over the course of his career, which encompassed parts of four decades, that he was more than one of baseballs most memorable characters. He added that Ripken took a liking to him and polished him up behind the plate. No, says Dempsey, a Crespi High graduate. Dempsey went on to manage the Mets Triple-A affiliate in the International League in 1997-98 and served as a coach on the Dodgers and Orioles Major League staffs between 1999-2006 before joining Baltimores broadcast team, a position he held until 2020. The first guy to come up to me in the locker room was Harmon Killebrew, Dempsey said. He went on for more than an hour, Lund says. Loved it! The people in Milwaukee just loved it. The coaches thought I might run a four-minute mile by the time I was a senior but I said no, I wanted to be a right fielder when I was a junior.. Dempsey was a darn good catcher too, mostly with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. Handled pitchers well, loved to slide on wet tarps during rain delays. Former Orioles catcher and 1983 World Series MVP Rick Dempsey is a member of the Orioles broadcast team after five years on the club's coaching staff. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say. Within a week he crashed. It proved pivotal in Baltimore eventually securing a 3-1 win. Gross tubs? He still wanted to do it, but by that time, he was too old. Rick Dempsey always was a crowd favorite. I cant leave her alone for that long. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. 22. October 7, 2012. He is remembered for one in particular, when he committed a baserunning gaffe that led to a 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Yankees in August 2003. Players would keep a box of crackers and cheddar cheese in the clubhouse . Lunds favorite: During spring training one year, Dempsey said he broke into a room shared by three teammates and hid in the closet. I used to listen to him and Jim Palmer battling. If the Dodgers are anything, it is young. The manager not only seemed constantly to be searching for a catcher who could hit home runs (ideally from the left side of the plate); he also, until 1981, pulled Dempsey for pinch hitters rather more frequently than Dempsey preferred. "Yeah, sure you did!". With the worst record in minor league baseball. Stories about how he used to pull pranks on his teammates. P.S.-- Dont forget, theres still time to vote in the 12 greatest L.A. Dodgers of all-time balloting, results of which will be revealed Friday night. Wild Bill Hagy gets the crowd goingOctober 1979With his signature look and humble backstory, Hagy, a local ice cream truck and cab driver, became a Baltimore sports icon for the way he famously led chants of O-R-I-O-L-E-S during the late '70s and early '80s from the upper deck at Memorial Stadium. [7] He was a durable player, only going on the disabled list twice in his career. The ball was worth $6.5 million. I wasnt a very good student. I got along with him really well.. It is and it isnt. So, I went back out to the tarp and did Babe Ruth hitting the homer. He played under Orioles manager Earl Weaver starting in 1967. I said, "Why would you want to do that? He will enter 2006 as the bullpen coach, replacing Ellie Hendricks. The Yankees were a game out of first heading into the final two games. It was a Catholic high school so the priests helped me a little but with my grades so Id be eligible to play sports. One of his most infamous umpire interactions came in the middle of an eventual 9-3 win over Detroit, when first-base umpire Bill Haller called a balk on Os pitcher Mike Flanagan. Nfl Football Players. But Dempsey is also remembered as the man who turned rain delays. [10], The highlight of his career came in 1983, when the Orioles won the American League Eastern Division pennant, then defeated the Chicago White Sox in the 1983 American League Championship Series, before winning the 1983 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Rick Dempsey of the Baltimore Orioles at bat during a game from his 1985 season with the Baltimore Orioles. Rick Dempsey Rain Delay Theater, Part IIOct. I was one of those kinds of players that just pulled for all of the guys.. But Dempsey is also remembered as the man who turned rain delays into interpretive theater. [2] After three and a half seasons with the Yankees, he was acquired along with Scott McGregor, Tippy Martinez, Rudy May and Dave Pagan by the Orioles for Ken Holtzman, Doyle Alexander, Elrod Hendricks, Grant Jackson and Jimmy Freeman at the trade deadline on June 15, 1976. Nobody in the Orioles dugout was laughing when it happened, but 16 years of hindsight have lightened the mood a bit. Dupree was a pitcher. [1] He played for 24 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1969 to 1992, most prominently for the Baltimore Orioles where he played for 10 years and was a member of the 1983 World Series winning team. Well, for that I think of him pronouncing Melky Cabreras first name as Milky. Either way, thinking of the guy puts a smile on my face. Got any funny rain delay stories? Dempsey was one of the best defensive catchers in the latter half of the 20th century. Gambling problem? Babe Ruth used to be with the Red Sox. Billy Martin, Earl Weaver and Tom Lasorda stories. The downside is that he set my expectations too high for what I should reasonably expect of a catcher. This is as much of an education for me as it is for them, he says. Dempsey would point to the outfield seats, then hit an invisible pitch with an exaggerated swing. I was able to catch some good pitchers. Autograph - Q&A Segment . Early in June, on a late-night bus ride home to Bakersfield from Riverside, Dempsey held court for the first time.