Earl Battey – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Earl Battey crouched behind home plate as one of the most respected catchers in baseball during the 1960s. He racked up five All-Star selections and helped the Minnesota Twins win their first American League pennant in 1965.

His career ran for 13 seasons, from 1955 to 1967. Battey played for the Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, and Minnesota Twins.

He retired from Major League Baseball in 1967, after fighting through a bunch of injuries in his last season. That year marked the end of a career that really cemented him as one of the top defensive catchers of his time.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Battey started his journey to baseball fame in the Watts neighborhood. He became the first Jordan High School graduate to make it to the major leagues.

He worked his way through the White Sox organization, learning from veteran catcher Sherm Lollar. Things really took off for Battey after the White Sox traded him to Washington in 1960.

That trade changed everything. Battey finally got to show off his defensive skills and leadership as a regular starter.

From his early struggles in the minors to his last season with the Twins in 1967, Battey’s career shows the kind of dedication and resilience that baseball needed during the integration era.

His story includes World Series highlights, friendships with teammates like Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva, and a post-retirement focus on education and community service that went well beyond the ballpark.

Earl Battey’s Early Life and Path to Baseball

Earl Jesse Battey Jr. was born in Los Angeles on January 5, 1935. He grew up in a big, athletic family and found his love for baseball at Jordan High School in Watts.

Chicago White Sox scouts noticed him, and his journey from the neighborhoods of L.A. to pro baseball started with a $3,999 contract that set his major league career in motion.

Family Background and Childhood in Los Angeles

Earl Jesse Battey Jr. was the oldest child in a family with three brothers and seven sisters. His parents, Earl and Esther Battey, raised him in Los Angeles.

His dad worked as a construction foreman in Whittier, not far from the city. Baseball was a family thing, especially through church.

“My father pitched for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and my mother, believe it or not, caught for the Nine-O ladies team that played at church outings,” Battey once said. That early exposure to baseball in his family really shaped his interest.

The Batteys lived in a racially mixed neighborhood, so Earl didn’t experience segregation as a kid. That would change a lot once he entered baseball’s minor leagues.

Education and Jordan High School Athletics

Earl went to Jordan High School in Watts. There, he became a standout baseball player, especially as a catcher.

His skills got the attention of major league scouts. White Sox manager Paul Richards was so impressed that he even brought pitcher Billy Pierce to watch Battey play.

“When the Sox were in California training, Paul Richards after practice asked Billy to go with him to see a high-school game,” Bob Vanderberg of the Chicago Tribune reported. Richards talked up “a great young catcher who supposedly was the best in the country.”

When Earl made his major league debut on September 10, 1955, he became the first Jordan High School graduate to play in the majors. That was a big deal for his school and the community.

Signing With the Chicago White Sox Organization

White Sox scout Hollis Thurston signed Earl for $3,999. That exact figure mattered since players who signed for $4,000 or more had to stay on the big league roster for two years.

Earl’s family situation played a big part in his decision. His mother Esther was ill, and the family needed the money from his bonus.

The Chicago White Sox sent him to the minors to develop. He started out with Colorado Springs in the Western League in 1953.

After that, Earl moved to Waterloo in the Three-I League in 1954. He hit .292 and played in 129 of 135 games, earning rookie of the year honors in that league.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Earl Battey played 13 seasons in the majors from 1955 to 1967. He went from being a backup catcher with the Chicago White Sox to one of the American League‘s best defensive catchers.

His best years came with the Minnesota Twins, where he earned five All-Star selections and three Gold Glove awards.

Chicago White Sox Years

Battey started his big league career with the Chicago White Sox in 1955, after signing as an amateur free agent. Hollis Thurston, the White Sox scout, signed him to a $3,999 contract—just under the bonus rule limit.

The early years weren’t easy. Battey mostly backed up veteran catcher Sherman Lollar and struggled at the plate, hitting .174 in 1957 and .226 in 1958.

In 1959, he played only 26 games. Even though the White Sox won the pennant, Battey didn’t see any action in the World Series. Manager Al Lopez stuck with Lollar for all six games.

Injuries and limited playing time slowed Battey’s development. A knee injury in 1956 hurt his performance. “I was knocked out in a play at home plate. I suffered a knee injury that kept bothering me when I finally got back in the lineup,” he explained.

Washington Senators Transition

In April 1960, the Chicago White Sox traded Battey to the Washington Senators along with Don Mincher and cash for Roy Sievers. That trade turned out to be the break Battey needed.

With Washington, Battey finally became a regular. He caught 136 games in 1960, leading the American League in games caught, putouts, and assists. His defense earned him his first Gold Glove.

Battey hit .270 with 60 RBIs and got voted the team’s Most Valuable Player. The Senators won more than 70 games for the first time since 1953, and Battey finished eighth in AL MVP voting.

He showed off his defensive skills that season. Even though he led the league in errors and passed balls, his overall play made him one of the top catchers in baseball.

Becoming a Minnesota Twins Star

When the Senators moved to Minnesota in 1961, Battey’s career really took off. He hit .302 in his first season with the Minnesota Twins—the only time he topped .300—while hitting 17 home runs.

As the Twins catcher, Battey became a key player for some very good Minnesota teams. He made five All-Star teams between 1962 and 1966, starting in 1963 and 1965. In 1963, he hit 26 home runs and drove in 84 runs, his best offensive numbers.

Battey’s biggest moment came in 1965 when the Twins won the pennant. He hit .297 that season and started the All-Star Game. But the World Series against the Dodgers was rough—Battey managed just a .120 average.

His defense stayed strong throughout his time in Minnesota. In 1965, he threw out 26 of 54 runners trying to steal, showing off the arm that made him one of the game’s best behind the plate.

By 1967, injuries started to catch up with him. Battey played only 48 games that year, hit .165, and decided to retire on November 3.

Notable Achievements and Awards

Earl Battey earned a spot as one of the American League’s best catchers in the 1960s, picking up several All-Star nods and Gold Glove awards. His defensive skills and steady offense led to his posthumous induction into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame.

All-Star Selections

Battey made four All-Star teams with the Minnesota Twins. His first came in 1962, when he started for the American League.

That year, Battey played a career-high 148 games and hit .280—the top average among catchers in the majors.

He got his second straight All-Star selection in 1963. In that game, he picked up his only All-Star hit, a third-inning single that drove in Frank Malzone to tie the game 3-3. That season, Battey hit .285 with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs, his best year offensively.

His third All-Star appearance was in 1965 at Metropolitan Stadium, his home field. Battey led all American League players in All-Star votes that year while hitting close to .300 by mid-season.

The 1966 All-Star Game was Battey’s last. He replaced Bill Freehan in the sixth inning, even though his offensive numbers had dipped.

Gold Glove Recognition

Battey picked up three Gold Gloves in a row from 1960 to 1962, proving he was the best defensive catcher in the American League. He earned his first Gold Glove in 1960 with the Senators, hitting .270 with 15 home runs in 137 games.

His defensive dominance continued into the early ’60s. Battey led the league in assists and putouts for four straight years from 1960 to 1963. He also led the league three times in runners caught stealing.

In 1962, Battey set a major league record for catchers by picking off 15 baserunners. That helped him win his third Gold Glove and showed his great game-calling skills.

Over his career, Battey threw out 43.44% of runners trying to steal, which puts him 15th all-time. Luis Aparicio, the American League’s top base stealer, said Battey was the toughest catcher to run against in 1961.

Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame Induction

The Minnesota Twins inducted Battey into their Hall of Fame in 2004, a year after he died of cancer. The team recognized his huge impact during their early years in Minnesota.

Battey caught more games for the Twins than anyone else—831 in total. His leadership behind the plate helped the team win the 1965 pennant, their first in Minnesota.

The Twins had already named him to their 40th anniversary team in 2000, honoring the best players from the franchise’s first forty years.

His Hall of Fame induction celebrated both his numbers and his role in making the Twins a contender after moving from Washington.

Key Performances and Memorable Seasons

Earl Battey hit his peak in the mid-1960s with the Minnesota Twins. He played a huge role on the 1965 pennant-winning team and made several All-Star teams.

His best statistical years included a .302 average in 1961 and 26 home runs in 1963. His defense earned him three Gold Gloves.

The 1965 American League Pennant and World Series

The 1965 season was Battey’s best with the Twins. He helped lead the team to 102 wins and the American League pennant, finishing seven games ahead of the White Sox.

Battey started the All-Star Game that year and hit .297 during the regular season. He stood out on defense, throwing out 26 of 54 runners trying to steal.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were tough opponents in the World Series. Battey struggled at the plate, hitting just .120 with five strikeouts in seven games.

He had a hard time against Sandy Koufax, striking out twice against him—including some big moments with runners on base in Game Seven‘s 2-0 loss.

Battey also got hurt in Game Three. He hit his throat on the dugout railing while chasing a foul pop at Dodger Stadium but kept playing the rest of the series.

Statistical Highlights: Batting Average, Home Runs, and RBI

Battey’s career statistics show steady offensive production over 13 seasons. He posted a .270 batting average with 104 home runs and 449 RBI in 1,141 games.

He had his best offensive season in 1961, hitting .302, which was the only time he reached .300 in the majors. That year, he also knocked 17 home runs and drove in a solid number of runs for the then-new Minnesota Twins.

In 1963, Battey flashed his power by hitting 26 home runs. That career-best number put him fourth on a Twins team stacked with sluggers, including Harmon Killebrew, who blasted 45 homers.

He consistently produced RBIs during his prime. In 1960 with Washington, he drove in 60 runs and kept up similar numbers through his top years with Minnesota.

Between 1961 and 1966, Battey played in 805 of the Twins’ 972 games at Metropolitan Stadium. He showed remarkable durability, especially considering all the injuries he faced, like knee problems and broken bones.

Pivotal Games and Playoff Moments

Battey first tasted the playoffs with the 1959 Chicago White Sox. Even though he made the World Series roster, manager Al Lopez stuck with Sherman Lollar for all six games against the Dodgers.

The 1965 World Series gave Battey his biggest playoff moments. In Game One at Metropolitan Stadium, he helped the Twins grab an 8-2 win over Los Angeles.

Game Three changed everything for him. He crashed into the dugout railing chasing Willie Davis’s foul pop, and after that, his mobility just wasn’t the same.

Game Seven at Metropolitan Stadium felt bittersweet. Battey struck out against Koufax with a runner on in the ninth, which really summed up the Twins’ tough 2-0 loss.

The regular season had its highlights too. In 1963, Battey earned an All-Star starting spot over MVP Elston Howard, thanks to a 196-70 vote from players and coaches.

Teammates, Managers, and Rivals

Earl Battey spent his Twins years surrounded by some of baseball’s biggest names. He built strong relationships with sluggers like Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva. As catcher, he worked closely with pitchers such as Jim Kaat and Mudcat Grant. He also went up against elite opponents like Elston Howard.

Playing Alongside Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva

Battey and Harmon Killebrew developed a close bond. Killebrew respected Battey’s grit and leadership.

“Earl had two very important things going for him,” Killebrew once said. “He was a fun guy in the clubhouse. More importantly, he had everyone’s respect, because he had sore knees, sore hands, sore everything, but he stayed in the lineup.”

The 1963 Twins lineup was loaded. Killebrew hit 45 home runs. Bob Allison added 35, and rookie Jimmie Hall chipped in 33.

Battey put up 26 home runs in 1963. That’s pretty impressive for a catcher.

Tony Oliva joined later and took the American League batting crown in 1965. That year, Oliva’s bat helped the Twins win 102 games and take the pennant.

Battey batted .297 that season. The offense, paired with strong pitching, made the 1965 Twins a powerhouse.

Working With Pitchers: Jim Kaat, Mudcat Grant, and Others

As the main catcher, Battey worked hand-in-hand with the pitching staff. He caught Jim Kaat regularly, one of the team’s top starters.

He also caught Mudcat Grant (Jim Grant) during the 1965 pennant run. Grant’s pitching played a big role in their success.

Jim Perry rounded out Minnesota’s trio of main starters. Together, they anchored the Twins’ rotation in those winning years.

Battey’s defense behind the plate made a huge difference. He won three straight Gold Gloves from 1960 to 1962.

In 1965, Battey threw out 26 of 54 runners trying to steal. That arm kept opponents honest.

Reliever Al Worthington leaned on Battey’s game-calling skills. Worthington gave the Twins late-inning stability during their championship push.

Notable Opponents and MLB Figures

Battey squared off with some of the game’s best, including Elston Howard of the Yankees. Howard was his main rival for All-Star spots.

In 1963, Battey beat Howard 196 to 70 in All-Star voting by players and coaches. That says a lot about the respect he earned.

He also faced Norm Cash from the Tigers, a regular American League opponent in the ’60s.

Early in his career with the White Sox, Battey learned from Sherm Lollar, a veteran catcher and three-time Gold Glove winner.

The 1967 season brought a wild four-team pennant race. The Twins battled the White Sox, Tigers, and Red Sox in one of the game’s most unforgettable finishes.

Battey played for managers like Al Lopez with the White Sox and Sam Mele with the Twins. Mele managed him from 1961 to 1967 and often praised Battey’s catching.

Post-Retirement Life and Legacy

When Earl Battey retired in 1967, he didn’t just walk away from baseball. He stayed connected to the game and built a fulfilling life outside it. His influence reached young players, earned him honors, and inspired future catchers.

Coaching, Education, and Advocacy Work

Battey stayed involved after playing, mentoring young catchers and sharing his know-how about working with pitchers and defense.

He helped rookies, too. Tony Oliva remembered Battey helping him adjust in his first season, especially by using his Spanish to connect with the young outfielder.

Even years after retiring, Battey kept reaching out. During the 2002 season, he called Twins catcher A.J. Pierzynski a few times to talk about catching techniques and offer tips.

That approach showed Battey’s belief in passing along knowledge. He understood the struggles young players faced and genuinely wanted to help them succeed, both on and off the field.

Honors and Recognition After 1967

The Minnesota Twins honored Battey by naming him catcher on their all-time 40th Anniversary Team in 2000. That says something about his lasting impact.

He earned three Gold Gloves in a row from 1960 to 1962 for his defensive work. Those awards made him one of the league’s best behind the plate.

Battey caught 831 games for the Twins, setting a club record that stood for decades. Joe Mauer finally broke it on August 27, 2012, which highlights just how durable Battey was through his career.

Influence on Future Generations

Battey changed how people thought about catching, and his style shaped the position for a long time.

He knew how to handle pitchers in a way that future catchers tried to copy.

Harmon Killebrew once called Battey “one of the finest catchers I have ever seen.” Killebrew pointed out that Battey didn’t have much speed, but he made up for it with a strong arm and a smart approach to working with pitchers.

Battey mentored players in his own way, building real connections with guys from all sorts of backgrounds.

Teammates and even rivals respected him, which says a lot about the standard he set.

You can still see Battey’s influence in the players he taught and the techniques he passed down to younger catchers.