Del Bates
From BR Bullpen
Delbert Oakley Bates
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 195 lb.
- Debut May 6, 1970
- Final Game June 5, 1970
- Born June 12, 1940 in Seattle, WA USA
- Died September 24, 2009 in Spokane, WA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Del Bates got his chance in the majors in 1970 when two of the 1970 Phillies catchers were injured on May 2. Source: Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Legends.
The obituary of Del Bates, Sr. (Delbert Bates) indicates that the father was a minor league player.
Del Jr. played in the minors for eight years, almost exclusively as a catcher. He was on the 1967 Richmond team for whom Tommie Aaron was the International League MVP.
