Charlie O'Brien
From BR Bullpen
Charles Hugh O'Brien
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.
- School McLennan Community College, Wichita State University
- High School Bishop Kelley High School
- Debut June 2, 1985
- Final Game June 21, 2000
- Born May 1, 1960 in Tulsa, OK USA
Contents |
[edit] Biographical Information
The brother of minor league first baseman John O'Brien, catcher Charlie O'Brien is credited with inventing the "Hockey Style" mask worn by most catchers today.
Charlie played for eight different major league franchises. He earned his living as a back-up catcher renowned for his defensive prowess, a reputation which was sealed when he spent a number of years as Greg Maddux's personal catcher with the Atlanta Braves in the early 1990s. He was never much of a hitter in the major leagues - his personal bests were the 13 homers and 44 RBIs he hit with the 1996 Toronto Blue Jays - it was not always that way. In college, he set school slugging records for Wichita State University, hitting 25 home runs and driving in 116 runs as the Shockers reached the finals of the 1982 College World Series.
O'Brien hit the second and last triple of his major league career in 1997, leading to the following quote from teammate Dan Plesac: "Let's put it this way. The last time Charlie hit a triple, they were still showing games in black and white."[1]
His son Chris O'Brien, a highly-regarded switch-hitting catcher, is attending Wichita State as well and is expected to be a part of the school's baseball team starting in 2009.
[edit] Notable Achievement
- Won a World Series with the Atlanta Braves in 1995
[edit] Further Reading
- Bob Lutz: "O'Brien ready to carry on family tradition", Wichita Eagle, August 5, 2008.
