George Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive.
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32 Facts About Birdie Tebbetts
2.
Birdie Tebbetts played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from 1936 to 1952.
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3.
Birdie Tebbetts was born in Burlington, Vermont, but his family moved to Nashua, New Hampshire a few months after he was born.
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4.
Some reports state that Birdie Tebbetts acquired his nickname as a boy after an aunt observed that his voice sounded like a bird chirping, while other reports state the nickname was acquired while attending Providence College.
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5.
Birdie Tebbetts was a star athlete at Nashua High School where he attained All-State status as a football quarterback and as a baseball catcher.
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6.
Birdie Tebbetts signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers after they agreed to pay his college tuition.
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7.
Birdie Tebbetts attended Providence College where he became an All-American in baseball before graduating with a degree in philosophy in 1934.
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9.
Birdie Tebbetts was held hitless in the 1940 World Series as the Tigers lost to the Cincinnati Reds in a seven-game series.
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10.
Birdie Tebbetts led AL catchers in assists and in baserunners caught stealing.
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11.
Birdie Tebbetts developed a reputation for antagonizing opposing players, constantly hectoring them in an effort to have them make mistakes and give his team an advantage.
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12.
Birdie Tebbetts led American League catchers in assists for a third consecutive year.
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13.
Birdie Tebbetts was named the starting catcher for the American League in the 1942 All-Star Game.
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14.
Birdie Tebbetts joined the military services in August 1942 and was assigned to recruiting duties in Waco, Texas during the Second World War.
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15.
Birdie Tebbetts honed his managerial skills as a player-manager for the Waco Army Flying School's baseball team.
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16.
Birdie Tebbetts lost three years of his baseball career to his military service.
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17.
Birdie Tebbetts was elected to be the starting catcher for the American League in the 1949 All-Star Game.
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18.
In 1950, the 37-year-old Birdie Tebbetts shared catching duties with Matt Batts as he posted a career-high.
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19.
Birdie Tebbetts spent the final two seasons of his career as a backup catcher for perennial All-Star Jim Hegan.
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20.
Birdie Tebbetts played his final major league game on September 14,1952 at the age of 38 although in a news report in December 1952, Birdie Tebbetts admitted that his actual age was 43, saying that he subtracted five years off his age after he left college.
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21.
In 1957, Birdie Tebbetts had the Reds in first place at mid-season, earning him a place on the cover of Time magazine in July of that year.
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23.
Birdie Tebbetts served in the Braves front office from 1959 through September 1961, but found that he missed the excitement of being on the playing field.
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24.
In October 1962, Birdie Tebbetts signed a three-year contract to manage the Cleveland Indians, saying that he felt he owed a long-standing debt to new Indians General Manager, Gabe Paul.
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25.
Birdie Tebbetts returned to the minor leagues as a manager in 1967, managing the Marion Mets in the Appalachian League.
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26.
From 1968 to 1997, Birdie Tebbetts scouted for the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and the Florida Marlins.
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27.
Reggie Jackson credited Birdie Tebbetts' scouting reports for helping him hit three home runs in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series.
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28.
Birdie Tebbetts retired in 1997, having spent 60 years in baseball, including 53 years in the majors.
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29.
Birdie Tebbetts was appointed to the Veterans Committee of the Baseball Hall of Fame in February 1979.
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30.
Birdie Tebbetts received the Judge Emil Fuchs Award in 1986 for his long and meritorious service in baseball.
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32.
On May 28,2009, Birdie Tebbetts was announced as a Local Legend of Nashua, New Hampshire, and commemorated with a plaque to be placed in Holman Stadium.
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