Tim Blackwell – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Tim Blackwell probably isn’t a name most baseball fans toss around, but his ten-year run in Major League Baseball really shows the grit and work ethic of a dedicated defensive catcher. He carved out a spot for himself during the 1970s and 1980s, even if he didn’t always get the spotlight. Born August 19, 1952, in San Diego, California, Blackwell spent his career as a catcher for four different teams from 1974 to 1983. He suited up for the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Expos, and Chicago Cubs.

Blackwell wrapped up his MLB days with a .228 batting average, 238 hits, 6 home runs, and 80 RBIs in 426 games. He built a reputation as a reliable backup, mostly because of his glove rather than his bat.

Boston picked him in the 13th round of the 1970 amateur draft, and that set the stage for a decade at the sport’s highest level.

Blackwell, a switch-hitter, got his first real shot in the majors when Carlton Fisk went down with a season-ending injury in 1974. He had his best offensive year with the Cubs in 1980, batting .272 as their main catcher.

His journey took him from minor league development to coaching and managing after his playing days. Blackwell’s story feels pretty familiar—he’s one of those guys who stuck around by being persistent and always solid behind the plate.

Tim Blackwell’s Career Overview

Tim Blackwell played ten seasons in Major League Baseball from 1974 to 1983, always serving as a defensive specialist behind the plate. He ended up with a .228 career batting average, 6 home runs, and 80 RBIs in 426 games. His best year at the plate came in 1980, when he hit .272 for the Chicago Cubs.

Major League Debut and Early Years

Blackwell made his MLB debut on July 3, 1974, with the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. He got the call-up after Carlton Fisk went down with a knee injury.

In his first game against the Baltimore Orioles, Blackwell picked up two singles in four trips to the plate. Boston manager Darrell Johnson liked his defensive work and hustle, saying Blackwell picked up on studying hitters quickly.

He batted .246 as a rookie, drove in 8 runs, and posted a .971 fielding percentage. When Fisk came back in 1975, Blackwell shifted into a reserve role on the pennant-winning Red Sox.

Early on, Blackwell bounced between teams and the minors a lot. After Boston sold him to Philadelphia in 1976, he barely played and hit just .091 in 1977.

Retirement in 1983

Blackwell played his last major league season in 1983 with the Montreal Expos. On May 17, 1983, he pinch-hit in the 14th inning and flied out to right field in what would be his final MLB game.

The Expos cut him on May 31, 1983, closing the book on his ten-year MLB career. At just 30, Blackwell said, “I’m only 30 years old I’m not through yet.”

He kept playing for a bit, signing with the California Angels, who sent him to Triple-A Edmonton. There, he hit .245 with 24 RBIs in 192 at-bats. That was his last season as a pro player.

After hanging up his spikes, Blackwell moved into coaching and managing in the minors. He worked as a catching instructor and managed teams for different organizations.

Teams Played For

Blackwell suited up for four MLB teams:

Boston Red Sox (1974-1976): He spent the most time with Boston, making his debut and backing up Carlton Fisk.

Philadelphia Phillies (1976-1977): Short stay with not much playing time before a trade to Montreal.

Montreal Expos (1977-1978, 1982-1983): Two separate stints, including his final year backing up Gary Carter.

Chicago Cubs (1978-1981): His best years, especially in 1980 when he hit .272 as the main catcher while Barry Foote was out.

He had his best season with Chicago in 1980, playing in 103 games and leading National League catchers in double plays with 16.

Playing Tenure With MLB Teams

Tim Blackwell played ten seasons across four teams from 1974 to 1983, mostly as a backup catcher. His longest run came with the Chicago Cubs, where he had his most productive stretch both as a reserve and sometimes as a starter.

Boston Red Sox Years

Blackwell debuted on July 3, 1974, with the Boston Red Sox at age 21. He got called up during a pennant race to fill in for an injured Carlton Fisk while Boston sat atop the AL East.

The Red Sox lost their momentum late in 1974 and finished third. In 1975, Blackwell backed up Fisk and Bob Montgomery as Boston won the AL East.

Blackwell’s defense looked sharp, but he struggled with the bat, hitting .197 in 1975. The Red Sox picked Montgomery as their backup catcher for the playoffs, and Boston went on to beat the A’s in the ALCS before falling to the Reds in the World Series.

Boston moved on from Blackwell in April 1976, selling his contract to the Phillies.

Philadelphia Phillies Period

The Philadelphia Phillies picked up Blackwell in April 1976, using him as a backup behind Bob Boone. He didn’t stick around long.

His role stayed limited, and he couldn’t get his bat going in Philly either.

The Phillies traded him to the Montreal Expos in 1977 for Barry Foote. That move ended his brief time in Philadelphia and started his first stint with Montreal.

Montreal Expos Contributions

Blackwell’s first go-round with the Montreal Expos in 1977 didn’t go so well. He backed up Gary Carter, who was one of the game’s best catchers.

He struggled even more at the plate, hitting just .091. With Carter playing nearly every day, Blackwell couldn’t get into any kind of hitting groove.

The Expos let him go in January 1978 after a tough year. He came back to Montreal for his last MLB season in 1983, again backing up Carter before calling it quits at 30.

Chicago Cubs Prime

After Montreal released him, Blackwell signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1978. This turned out to be the best move of his career, and he spent four seasons with the Cubs.

He started off as a backup to Dave Rader and Barry Foote. In 1980, Foote’s injury opened the door, and Blackwell became the Cubs’ main catcher. That year, he hit .272, smacked 16 doubles, 5 home runs, and drove in 30 runs in 103 games.

He really shined on defense in 1980. Blackwell led NL catchers in double plays, range factor, and runners caught stealing, and he finished second in assists behind Gary Carter.

Jody Davis took over as the Cubs’ main catcher in 1981, but Blackwell still chipped in. He finished that year with a .993 fielding percentage in 56 games before heading into free agency.

Notable Seasons and Milestones

Tim Blackwell had a few standout moments, and his 1980 season definitely marked his peak. Stepping up as the Cubs’ starter, he put together his best numbers.

Breakout Year in 1980

Blackwell hit his stride in 1980 when he became the Cubs’ primary catcher. Barry Foote’s back injury gave him the opening.

At 27, Blackwell changed his swing with help from hitting coach Billy Williams. “It’s like starting from scratch,” he admitted about the overhaul. Bullpen coach Gene Clines kept him fired up from the dugout, and Blackwell could hear Clines’ encouragement all over the ballpark.

1980 Season Statistics:

• Batting Average: .272
• Games Played: 103
• At-Bats: 320
• RBIs: 30
• Doubles: 16

He played solid defense, too. Blackwell led NL catchers in double plays with 16. The Sporting News wrote, “Blackwell put the ball on second base as no Cubs catcher has since Randy Hundley.”

That year was a huge leap from his .164 average in 1979. The 1980 season proved Blackwell could handle an everyday job, not just a backup gig.

Key Performances by Season

Blackwell’s MLB debut came July 3, 1974, at Fenway Park against the Orioles. He picked up two hits in his first game, including a single in his first at-bat. He’d just been called up after Carlton Fisk’s injury.

His rookie season looked promising, with a .246 average and steady defense. Still, when Fisk returned in 1975, Blackwell slid back into a backup role and hit only .197.

Career Highlights by Team:

• Boston Red Sox (1974-1976): Strong debut, then struggled as a backup
• Philadelphia Phillies (1976-1977): Barely played, hit .091 in 1977
• Montreal Expos (1977-1978, 1982-1983): Short stints backing up Carter
• Chicago Cubs (1978-1981): Best years, especially 1980

The Cubs gave him his longest look. Even after his big 1980 season, he stayed productive in 1981 with a .234 average in 58 games until rookie Jody Davis took over.

Final MLB Season

Blackwell’s last MLB season came in 1983 after he signed a three-year, million-dollar deal with the Montreal Expos. He backed up All-Star Gary Carter but didn’t play much.

His last big league at-bat happened on May 17, 1983, in the 14th inning as a pinch-hitter. Blackwell flied out to right, but Montreal won 3-2. The Expos released him two weeks later.

“I’m only 30 years old, I’m not through yet,” Blackwell told the Ottawa Citizen after getting released. He signed on with the Angels’ Triple-A Edmonton team to keep playing.

Final Career Numbers:

• Games: 426
• Batting Average: .228
• Hits: 238
• Home Runs: 6
• RBIs: 80

Blackwell’s career stretched from 1974 to 1983, covering parts of ten seasons with four teams. His offense never wowed anyone, but his defense and knack for working with pitchers kept him in the big leagues for nearly a decade.

Career Statistics and Achievements

Tim Blackwell’s ten-year MLB career didn’t light up the scoreboard, but he proved himself as a strong defensive catcher. He finished with 238 career hits and 6 home runs, showing he was more about defense than power.

Batting and Offensive Records

Blackwell ended his MLB career with a .228 batting average over 426 games and 1,044 at-bats. His best year at the plate was 1980 with the Cubs, when he hit .272.

That season, he also set a personal best with 16 doubles. He had a .328 on-base percentage for his career, showing some patience even if the power wasn’t there.

He collected 238 total hits in his ten years. Most of his 80 RBIs came from situational hitting, not long balls.

Blackwell’s best offensive stretch came as the Cubs’ main catcher in 1980. He drove in 30 runs that year, his highest single-season total.

Home Runs and RBIs

Power hitting just wasn’t Tim Blackwell’s thing. Over ten seasons, he hit only 6 career home runs.

In 1980, he hit 5 home runs—almost all his career power in one year. Most of his 80 career RBIs came from clutch hits when runners were in scoring position.

Since he usually played as a backup catcher, he didn’t get many chances to drive in runs. The 1980 season really stands out, with half his career home runs and 30 of his 80 RBIs coming that year.

Injuries pushed him into the starting catcher spot for Chicago, and he made the most of it. His stats fit the mold of a classic defensive specialist catcher from that era.

Blackwell offered more value with his defensive abilities than with his bat.

Overall Impact and WAR

Nobody talked about stats like WAR (Wins Above Replacement) during Blackwell’s playing days, but his defense really mattered to his teams. In 1980, he led National League catchers in several defensive categories.

He posted a .981 career fielding percentage, showing he could be counted on behind the plate. In 1980, he finished second among NL catchers in assists, right behind Gary Carter.

That same season, he led the league in double plays, range factor, and baserunners caught stealing. The next year, he put up a .993 fielding percentage in 56 games and finished second among league catchers.

His defensive skills and knack for calling games kept him in the majors for a decade, even though he didn’t hit much.

Playing Style and Position

Tim Blackwell built his reputation as a defensive specialist behind the plate. He had a strong arm and called games well.

He could switch-hit, which gave him some versatility, but he never really did much damage at the plate.

Catching Skills and Defense

Blackwell stood out as a defensive catcher with impressive skills. He had a strong, accurate throwing arm and a quick release, making him tough on base stealers.

Pitchers liked working with him, and he knew how to call a game. His pitch-calling abilities made him a real asset.

In 1980, while playing for the Cubs, Blackwell led National League catchers in a few key categories. He topped the league in:

• Double plays
• Range factor
• Baserunners caught stealing

He also finished second in assists among NL catchers that year, just behind Gary Carter. In 1981, he kept up his defensive performance with a .993 fielding percentage over 56 games, again finishing second among league catchers.

Over 10 seasons, he posted a .981 career fielding percentage. His defense kept him around, even if his bat didn’t.

Switch-Hitting Abilities

Blackwell batted from both sides, which gave managers some options. Being a switch-hitter helped with matchups, but it didn’t turn him into much of a hitter.

He finished his career with a .228 batting average, 6 home runs, and 80 RBIs over 426 games. His best year at the plate came in 1980 with the Cubs.

That season, he hit .272, racked up 16 doubles, 5 home runs, and 30 RBIs while taking over as the team’s main catcher. Still, his switch-hitting never really translated into consistent production.

He did manage a .328 on-base percentage for his career, so he could work a walk and get on base here and there, even if hits were hard to come by.

Life After MLB

Tim Blackwell moved on from playing and spent over twenty years as a minor league manager and instructor. He helped develop young players across several organizations and leagues.

Coaching and Managerial Roles

After he retired in 1983, Blackwell jumped right into coaching. He started out as a catching instructor and minor league manager.

In 1985, he landed his first managerial job with the Clinton Giants in the Midwest League. That San Francisco Giants Class A affiliate went 71-69 under his leadership.

People in the minors quickly noticed his managerial skills. In 1989, Blackwell managed the Pittsfield club in the New York-Penn League for the Mets organization.

That team made the playoffs, and Blackwell picked up Manager of the Year honors. He kept things rolling with the Mets, leading St. Lucie to a 76-58 record and another playoff berth in 1990.

The next year, he managed Columbia to an 86-54 finish and won the playoff championship. In 1994, Blackwell managed the St. Paul Saints in the Northern League, an independent league team.

Working under Mike Veeck, his team won the playoff championship. Blackwell later managed in the Baltimore, Colorado, Milwaukee, and White Sox organizations.

He held notable positions with the Frederick Keys and Bowie Baysox for Baltimore, and the Winston-Salem Warthogs for Chicago.

Post-Retirement Activities

After his playing days, Blackwell really threw himself into player development and instruction. He spent years as a catching instructor during his time as a manager, sharing his defensive know-how with young catchers.

He managed teams all over, from rookie ball up to Double-A. You’d find Blackwell leading clubs in the Pioneer League, California League, Carolina League, and Eastern League.

“I’m only 30 years old, I’m not through yet,” Blackwell said after Montreal let him go in 1983. Honestly, he backed that up with a coaching career that lasted much longer than most expected.

In 2006, Blackwell took on the role of pitching coach for the San Diego Surf Dawgs in the Golden Baseball League. That job brought him back to independent baseball after a long stint in the affiliated minors.

He wrapped up his known managing career with the Winston-Salem Warthogs from 2007 to 2008. The team jumped from a 64-74 record to 71-68 and even made the playoffs in his second year.

Blackwell spent over 25 years in pro baseball, counting both his decade as a player and all those years managing in the minors.