Fred Kendall – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Fred Kendall spent 12 years in Major League Baseball, mostly as a catcher between 1969 and 1980. He grew up in Torrance, California, and made his mark as one of the original members of the San Diego Padres expansion team in 1969.

He bounced around a bit, playing for the Padres, then the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox, before wrapping things up back in San Diego.

Kendall retired from professional baseball in August 1980 after playing 877 games. He built a reputation as a steady defensive presence behind the plate.

He finished with a .234 batting average, 31 home runs, and 244 RBIs. Those numbers kind of summed up his role—a defense-first catcher at a time when teams didn’t expect much offense from that position.

His best year? That was 1973, when he got the nod as the Padres’ most valuable player.

But Kendall’s story doesn’t end with his playing days. He later coached and managed in pro baseball, passing on what he’d learned.

His legacy carried on through his son Jason Kendall, who became a three-time All-Star catcher with a 15-year MLB career. Fred’s journey shows the path of a dedicated player who helped shape a new franchise during baseball’s expansion era.

Early Life and Path to Professional Baseball

Fred Kendall started out as a talented high school athlete in Southern California. He was born in Torrance on January 31, 1949.

He played ball at Torrance High School, where he caught the eye of the Cincinnati Reds, who picked him in the 1967 draft. But fate had other plans, and the expansion draft changed his path to the majors.

Childhood and Education

Fred Lyn Kendall grew up in Torrance, California. He sharpened his baseball skills in Little League, Babe Ruth League, American Legion, and Connie Mack ball before starring at Torrance High.

In his senior year, 1967, Kendall stood out as one of California’s top high school players. He batted .425 with 22 RBIs, picking up several big honors.

His achievements included:

• All-Bay League selection
• All-California Interscholastic Federation Class AAA first team
• School’s Athlete of the Year
• League’s Baseball Player of the Year (shared honors)

Kendall played alongside future major leaguers in the talent-rich South Bay area. “The Bretts (Ken and George) were in the league at the time over at El Segundo, pitcher Dave LaRoche was at West (Torrance High), and George Foster at Leuzinger,” Kendall recalled.

Draft by Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds picked Kendall in the second round of the June 6, 1967 MLB Amateur Draft. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, he came out of a loaded draft class that included Ted Simmons, Steve Yeager, and Rick Dempsey.

Kendall made his pro debut with the Sioux Falls Packers of the Class-A Northern League. Even though he was just 18, he led the team in batting with a .301 average.

His defense, though, needed some work. He committed 8 errors and 22 passed balls in 61 games. The Florida Instruction League helped him clean up his catching.

In 1968, Kendall moved up to Double-A Asheville under manager Sparky Anderson. He hit .291 and helped the Tourists win the Southern League championship. Anderson called him one of the “Reds of the future.”

Transition to the San Diego Padres

Kendall’s path to the majors changed in the 1968 expansion draft. The San Diego Padres picked him with their seventh selection on October 14, 1968. Many in the Reds system thought the 19-year-old would slip by unnoticed.

Sparky Anderson, who had joined the Padres coaching staff, recommended Kendall to San Diego’s management. That tip ended up being huge for Kendall’s career.

“I knew I didn’t have much of a future with the Reds with Bench around,” Kendall said in 2017. “I could throw with Bench and I could hit, loved the fastball but they wouldn’t play me.”

Moving to San Diego gave him a clear shot at the big leagues. After a strong 1969 season with the Double-A Elmira Pioneers, where he made the Eastern League All-Star game, Kendall got the call to the majors.

He made his MLB debut on September 8, 1969 as the starting catcher against the Houston Astros. That night kicked off his 12-year major league career.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Fred Kendall played in the majors for 12 seasons, from 1969 to 1980. He appeared in 877 games, mostly as a catcher for three teams.

He finished with a .234 batting average, 31 home runs, and 244 RBIs. He suited up for the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Indians, and Boston Red Sox.

MLB Debut and Early Years

Kendall broke into the majors on September 8, 1969, at age 20 with the Padres. He started at catcher against the Houston Astros but went 0-for-3.

He struggled early, going hitless in his first 11 at-bats. His first big league hit came about a week later, also against Houston, off pitcher Scipio Spinks.

Kendall became part of baseball history as an original member of the 1969 expansion Padres. The team picked him in the 1968 expansion draft after the Reds left him unprotected—Johnny Bench had blocked his way to the majors.

His early years included a lot of shuttling between the minors and majors. Kendall passed rookie limits in 1971 and slowly earned more playing time as he developed behind the plate.

Teams Played For

San Diego Padres (1969-1976)
Kendall spent most of his career with San Diego, playing eight seasons there. He became the regular catcher from 1973 to 1976 and was named the club’s MVP in 1973.

Cleveland Indians (1977-1978)
On December 8, 1976, the Padres traded Kendall to Cleveland, along with Johnny Grubb and Hector Torres, for outfielder George Hendrick. He shared catching duties with Ray Fosse before taking over as first-string catcher in mid-August 1977.

Boston Red Sox (1978-1980)
Kendall joined the Red Sox in a deal that also brought Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley to Boston. Kendall and Eckersley went to the Red Sox for Rick Wise, Bo Diaz, Ted Cox, and Mike Paxton. He played his final game on August 10, 1980.

Career Highlights and Milestones

Kendall’s best season came in 1973, when he won San Diego’s MVP award. He set career highs with a .288 batting average, 10 home runs, and 59 RBIs in 145 games.

His defense kept getting better. In 1976, he caught 146 games—more than star catchers Johnny Bench or Thurman Munson that year. Kendall took pride in his durability, saying he was “especially proud I was able to prove I’m both capable and durable.”

He hit his first major league home run off future Hall of Famer Bob Gibson on a slider during a cool July night at San Diego Stadium in 1971. He also broke up a no-hitter with a two-out single in the eighth inning against Cardinals pitcher John Curtis on August 29, 1974.

Kendall caught during the last two seasons of Randy Jones’ 42 career victories with the Padres. In 1976, the National League ranked him as the second-best defensive catcher, showing his value behind the plate even if his bat wasn’t flashy.

Performance as a Catcher

Fred Kendall built a reputation as a reliable defensive catcher over his 12-season career. He handled 816 games behind the plate and held a career .987 fielding percentage.

His best defensive season came in 1976, when he posted a .994 fielding percentage, the second-best among National League catchers.

Defensive Skills and Fielding

Kendall’s defensive stats show a steady, dependable presence behind the plate. With a .987 career fielding percentage, he ranked among the more reliable catchers of his era.

He committed just 54 errors in 816 games as a catcher. That 1976 season really stood out—his .994 fielding percentage trailed only Johnny Bench in the National League.

Kendall handled 3,839 putouts and 347 assists as a catcher. He turned 58 double plays, showing he could work well with his infielders.

His defensive consistency proved especially valuable during his years as San Diego’s regular catcher from 1973 to 1976.

During those years, Kendall caught almost every game Randy Jones pitched. The two worked together for Jones’ 42 wins in 1975 and 1976. That partnership showed how much Kendall could handle a star pitcher’s workload.

Reputation Among Peers and Coaches

In 1976, Kendall earned recognition as the National League’s second-best defensive catcher. People in baseball noticed how well he stacked up against the league’s top talent.

His steady defense made him valuable to teams that were still finding their footing. The expansion Padres leaned on Kendall’s presence behind the plate in those early years.

After his playing days, Kendall moved into coaching, focusing on defense. He worked as a bullpen coach and later became the Colorado Rockies’ minor league catching coordinator from 2003 to 2005.

His coaching career included time with the Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, and Kansas City Royals. He worked with manager Buddy Bell, bringing his defensive know-how to several organizations.

Batting Statistics and Notable Achievements

Fred Kendall played 12 years and finished with a .234 batting average, 603 hits, 31 home runs, and 244 RBI across 877 games.

His best offensive season was 1973, when he hit a career-high .282 and posted his only above-average OPS+ of 106.

Career Batting Average and Hits

Kendall wrapped up his MLB career with a .234 batting average over 2,576 at-bats. In 1973, he had his best year at the plate, hitting .282 with 143 hits in 507 at-bats for the Padres.

He collected 603 career hits in his 12 seasons. That 1973 season saw him notch 143 hits, including 22 doubles and 10 home runs.

Kendall’s hitting was up and down. He struggled early, hitting just .154 in his 1969 rookie season and .000 in limited action in 1970.

After his breakout in 1973, his average dipped. He hit .231 in 1974 and dropped to .199 in 1975, which was his lowest as a regular.

Home Runs and Runs Batted In

Kendall hit 31 home runs during his MLB career. His best power year came in 1973, when he hit 10 homers. He also hit 8 home runs in both 1972 and 1974.

He drove in 244 career RBI, most of them coming with San Diego. In 1973, he set a personal best with 59 RBI, almost a quarter of his career total.

Most of Kendall’s offensive production happened with the Padres. He racked up 201 RBI and 28 home runs in San Diego.

His power numbers weren’t flashy, but he was pretty consistent for a catcher in that era. Those 6 home runs in 1972 helped cement him as the Padres’ main backstop.

OPS and Offensive Impact

Kendall put up a career OPS of .598, which really shows he played as a defense-first catcher instead of providing much offense.

His OPS+ was 72, so he hit 28% below league average.

He had his best offensive year in 1973, posting a .717 OPS and an OPS+ of 106.

That was the only season where Kendall actually hit better than league average.

With an on-base percentage of .285 and a slugging percentage of .312, he didn’t show much plate discipline or power.

Kendall drew 189 walks and struck out 240 times, which suggests he had only moderate selectivity.

Most of his offensive value came during that 1973 breakout.

He put up 2.9 WAR that year, which was basically the bulk of his career total of 1.0 WAR over 12 seasons.

Seasonal Highlights with Major League Teams

Fred Kendall played 12 years in the majors across three teams.

He was at his best with the San Diego Padres, catching for them from 1973 to 1976.

When he joined the Cleveland Indians in 1977, he showed off his defensive skills.

He finished his career with the Boston Red Sox, retiring in 1980.

San Diego Padres Tenure

The Padres picked Kendall in the 1968 expansion draft, and he spent most of his career with them.

He debuted in the majors on September 8, 1969, facing the Houston Astros.

Kendall broke out in 1973 and earned the team’s Most Valuable Player award.

That season, he set career highs: .288 batting average, 10 home runs, and 59 RBIs in 145 games.

In 1973, he also made his mark defensively by throwing out Reds speedster Joe Morgan, who had swiped eight straight bases before running into Kendall.

He threw out three Cincinnati baserunners in that series, which was pretty impressive.

Between 1973 and 1976, Kendall became the Padres’ regular catcher.

He caught nearly all of Randy Jones’ 42 wins over the last two years of that run.

In 1976, he caught 146 games—more than Johnny Bench or Thurman Munson that year.

Key Padres Statistics:

• 1973 MVP Season: .288 AVG, 10 HR, 59 RBI
• 1976: 146 games caught (career high)
• Overall Padres tenure: Primary catcher for four seasons

Year with the Cleveland Indians

The Padres traded Kendall, Johnny Grubb, and Hector Torres to the Cleveland Indians for George Hendrick on December 8, 1976.

That deal ended Kendall’s eight-year run with San Diego.

With Cleveland, Kendall started out sharing catching duties with Ray Fosse.

By mid-August, he had taken over as the starting catcher for manager Jeff Torborg, who had been a big league catcher himself.

Torborg called Kendall “a pitchers’ catcher who handles a staff superbly and is a hard-nosed, play-at-any-cost guy who gets some big hits.”

That kind of praise really speaks to Kendall’s game-calling reputation.

He played 103 games for the Indians and hit .249.

Even though he was projected to start for Cleveland in 1978, the team traded him before Opening Day.

Short Spell at Boston Red Sox

Right before the 1978 season, Kendall got traded to the Boston Red Sox along with future Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley.

Rick Wise, Bo Diaz, Ted Cox, and Mike Paxton went the other way to Cleveland.

For the first time, Kendall joined a real pennant contender.

The Red Sox had just come off a strong 1977 season and people had high hopes.

Kendall mostly served as a backup catcher and veteran presence in Boston.

He didn’t play much, appearing in only a handful of games before wrapping up his career.

His last major league game came on August 10, 1980, against the Houston Astros—the same team he debuted against 11 years earlier.

After the Padres released him, Kendall decided to retire and spend more time with his family.

Retirement and Life After Baseball

Fred Kendall hung up his spikes in 1980 after 12 big league seasons.

He moved into coaching and managing, and watched his son Jason go on to even greater MLB success.

1990s Managerial and Coaching Roles

Kendall started out coaching as a high school assistant in Torrance, California.

He returned to pro baseball in the 1990s, managing the Chicago White Sox Class A team in Utica, New York.

He managed in the White Sox system for four seasons.

His experience as a catcher made him a valuable mentor for young players learning the position.

After managing, Kendall switched to major league coaching.

He worked as bullpen coach for manager Buddy Bell with the Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, and Kansas City Royals.

From 2003 to 2005, Kendall took a role as the Colorado Rockies’ minor league catching coordinator.

He used his expertise to work with catching prospects across the organization’s farm system.

Legacies and Family: Jason Kendall

Fred Kendall left his biggest mark on baseball through his son Jason, who turned into a well-known MLB catcher. Jason spent 15 seasons in the majors and easily topped his dad’s career stats.

Jason bounced around the league, playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Kansas City Royals. He hung around from 1996 to 2010, which gave him a longer run than Fred’s 12 years.

The Kendalls became part of that rare club—father and son both making it to the big leagues. Fred openly admitted that Jason accomplished more, but he couldn’t help comparing the eras.

“Jason did a lot more than I did, but I played in era that I thought was a bit tougher than my son,” Fred said, pointing out the four-man rotations and all those Hall of Fame pitchers he had to face.