Matt Batts – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Matt Batts spent ten years catching in Major League Baseball, bouncing between five teams from 1947 through 1956. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he made a splash right away—he hit a home run during his very first at-bat with the Boston Red Sox on September 10, 1947. That’s one way to introduce yourself.

Batts decided to retire from pro baseball on May 8, 1956, after his last game as a Cincinnati Reds catcher. He chose to hang up his mask instead of going back to the minors.

He played during a fascinating stretch of baseball history, sharing the field with legends and witnessing some unforgettable moments. Batts caught Satchel Paige‘s pitches and was behind the plate when Virgil Trucks threw his second no-hitter in 1952.

Over his MLB career, Batts put up a .269 batting average, 26 homers, and 219 RBIs in 546 games. His journey took him from the Red Sox to the St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and finally the Cincinnati Reds, where he finished up in spring 1956.

Early Life and Background

Matt Batts grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where he fell in love with baseball playing out on the city’s gravel streets. He faced family tragedy early on, but his athletic talent was obvious and eventually led him to professional baseball.

Birthplace and Childhood

Matthew Daniel Batts was born October 16, 1921, in San Antonio. He lived on the north side of town, though the city’s rapid growth later put his old neighborhood much closer to the center.

Matt lost his mother, Margaret, when he was about a year old. His father, Matthew Sr., worked as a fireman and later married Margaret’s sister, Brettie. That brought Matt a half-sister, Eva.

Batts’ earliest baseball memories? Playing on those San Antonio gravel streets. “I was always the one that hit the furthest and all of that,” he remembered. His bat and his arm stood out early, and those tools would serve him well as a catcher later on.

He didn’t just stick to baseball. Batts had what he called “a great arm,” and he claimed he could throw a baseball from home plate over the left field fence. That’s a heck of a flex.

Education and Amateur Baseball

Batts went through San Antonio’s schools, playing baseball in junior high and quickly making a name for himself as “quite a hitter.” He was bigger than most kids his age, so teams wanted him.

When he got to high school, the city axed its baseball program due to budget cuts. Batts found other ways to play, joining American Legion ball and local semi-pro leagues.

He played so well in Legion ball that he earned All-State recognition in Texas. Batts also played for semi-pro teams around San Antonio, making about five bucks a game. Not bad for a teenager back then.

Batts enrolled at Baylor University, where he played on the freshman baseball team. That squad was so good, they could beat the varsity. Still, his college days didn’t last long—after about a year and a half, he signed a pro contract with the Boston Red Sox. That move ended his college eligibility.

Batts also competed in track and field, setting a Texas high school javelin record that stood for years.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Matt Batts spent a decade in the big leagues, from 1947 to 1956, working mostly as a backup catcher for five teams. He made an immediate splash with his MLB debut and built a reputation for having a strong arm and steady defensive skills.

MLB Debut and Rookie Performance

Batts made his MLB debut on September 10, 1947, with the Boston Red Sox. He pinch-hit for Harry Dorish that day but struck out.

The next day, things got interesting. Batts started both games of a doubleheader against Cleveland. In game one, he went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run. Then he followed up by going 3-for-3 in the second game.

He finished his debut run with eight hits in 16 at-bats—that’s a .500 average over 10 games. Not a bad way to get noticed by the Red Sox brass.

Batts, at 25, reached the majors after climbing through the minors in Canton, Ohio, and Toronto before Boston called him up.

Roles and Playing Style

Throughout his career, Batts mostly played as a backup catcher for five different teams. People called him a “slap hitter”—he focused on making contact rather than hitting for power.

His arm strength was his biggest asset. Batts used to say he “could throw one from home plate over the left field fence.” That arm made him valuable behind the plate.

The 1953 season in Detroit gave Batts his most playing time. After Joe Ginsberg got traded in June, Batts became the Tigers’ main catcher. He hit .278 with six homers and 42 RBIs in 374 at-bats.

Batts admitted that being a backup was tough. He said inconsistent playing time made it hard to get into a hitting groove. “The more someone can play, and get up to the plate, and hit every day, every day, every day he can hit better,” he explained.

Boston Red Sox Years

Matt Batts spent his early MLB years with the Boston Red Sox, from 1947 to 1951. He made a memorable debut and settled in as a reliable catcher during his five seasons there.

Seasons with Boston Red Sox

Batts kicked off his major league career with the Red Sox on September 10, 1947. He homered in his first at-bat—talk about making an entrance.

In his rookie year, Batts only played seven games but made the most of them. He batted .500 with eight hits in 16 at-bats, including that first homer.

The 1948 season was his first full year in the majors. Batts played 46 games, hitting .314 with 37 hits and 24 RBIs.

He got more playing time in 1949, showing up in 60 games. His average dipped to .242, but he still managed 38 hits and 31 RBIs.

In 1950, Batts had his busiest year with Boston. He played 75 games, recording 65 hits and batting .273 with 34 RBIs.

His last season with the Red Sox came in 1951. Batts played just 11 games before a trade sent him to the St. Louis Browns. He hit only .138 in that short stretch.

Key Achievements in Boston

Batts’ biggest moment in Boston? That first at-bat home run on September 10, 1947. Not many players get to say that.

His best statistical season for the Sox came in 1948, when he batted .314 and posted an .832 OPS. That year, he showed he could help both offensively and defensively.

During his Red Sox tenure, Batts provided steady defense behind the plate and came through with timely hits when needed.

He racked up 152 hits during his Boston years, driving in 96 runs across five seasons and maintaining a .272 average with the team.

Batts’ versatility behind the plate made him a valuable piece for Boston. He managed pitching staffs well and displayed the skills that kept him in the majors for a decade.

St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers Tenure

Batts found his most productive offensive season with the St. Louis Browns in 1951, batting .302 while catching for Satchel Paige. His move to Detroit marked a shift from backup to starting catcher, and he caught Virgil Trucks’ second no-hitter in 1952.

Transition to St. Louis Browns

Batts joined the Browns in May 1951 after a rough start with Boston. Steve O’Neill had taken over managing the Red Sox, and Batts later said, “he didn’t like me for some reason.” The trade happened after Batts managed just 4 hits in 29 at-bats with Boston.

The change did him good. Batts played 79 games for the Browns, batting .302 with 5 homers and 31 RBIs—his highest MLB average.

He became one of the first white catchers to work with Satchel Paige, the American League’s first black pitcher from the Negro leagues. That was a pretty big deal during baseball’s integration era.

Batts struggled defensively with the Browns. He led all MLB catchers in errors (13) and passed balls (11), despite not playing a full season. He also allowed 28 stolen bases, ranking fifth among AL catchers.

Impact at Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers picked up Batts in the 1951 offseason, and he started out backing up Joe Ginsberg. In 1952, Batts played 56 games, batting .237 with 3 homers and 13 RBIs.

His most memorable Detroit moment came August 25, 1952, when he caught Virgil Trucks’ second no-hitter of the year. That’s a rare feat for any catcher.

Batts’ role grew in 1953 after Ginsberg got traded. He became the Tigers’ starting catcher, appearing in 116 games and hitting .278 with 6 homers and 42 RBIs—career highs.

In 1953, Batts handled 514 total chances, the most of his career, but he also led AL catchers in passed balls with 13. His .986 fielding percentage came with 7 errors, ranking him fifth among NL catchers.

Detroit traded Batts to the Chicago White Sox in late May 1954, after he played just 12 games and hit .286.

Later MLB Years: Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds

Batts wrapped up his major league career with the Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds in the mid-1950s. The White Sox became his fifth MLB team, and the Reds gave him one last shot at the big leagues.

Chicago White Sox Period

The Tigers traded Batts to the Chicago White Sox in late May 1954. He’d only played 12 games with Detroit that year, batting .286.

With the White Sox, Batts filled in as a backup catcher for the rest of the 1954 season. He played 55 games and struggled at the plate, batting .228 with a .299 on-base percentage.

Even so, Batts chipped in 3 home runs and 19 RBIs in Chicago. His combined stats between Detroit and Chicago that year: a .235 average over 67 games.

The White Sox marked Batts’ last full season as an active MLB player. His glove stayed reliable, but his bat just wasn’t what it used to be.

Final Seasons with Cincinnati Reds

In December 1954, the White Sox traded Batts to the Baltimore Orioles, who then sold him to the Cleveland Indians in April 1955. He never played a big league game for either club.

Batts spent most of 1955 with the Indianapolis Indians, Cleveland’s AAA team. He hit just .231 in 51 games before Cincinnati picked him up in July after their backup catcher got hurt.

The Reds gave Batts his final shot at the majors. He played 26 games in 1955, batting .254 with 13 RBIs but no home runs.

His 1956 season with Cincinnati was short and not too memorable. Batts had only 3 plate appearances, going 0-for-2 with a walk.

His last major league appearance came on May 8, 1956, when he grounded out as a pinch hitter. That was the end of his ten-year MLB run, spanning five teams and a lot of baseball history.

Retirement in 1956 and Post-Baseball Life

Matt Batts wrapped up his Major League Baseball career on May 8, 1956, catching for the Cincinnati Reds. He didn’t want to accept a demotion to the minor leagues, so he decided to retire and look for something new.

Reasons for Retirement

Batts chose to retire in 1956 instead of heading back to the minors. His last game was on May 8, 1956, catching for the Cincinnati Reds.

He spent ten seasons in the majors, from 1947 through 1956. During that time, he played for five teams: the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns, Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, and Cincinnati Reds.

By the end of his run, Batts put up some solid stats. He finished with a .269 batting average, 26 home runs, and 219 RBIs in 546 games. His fielding percentage hit .985, which really showed off his defensive skills behind the plate.

When the idea of going back to the minors came up, Batts simply decided to hang up his catcher’s mask for good. He wanted to move on and try something different in life.

Post-Retirement Activities

After he left baseball, Batts jumped into youth baseball development. He often stopped by Baton Rouge to help out with baseball clinics during spring training.

Batts and his wife launched a printing company after he retired. That business let them give back to the baseball community in ways that mattered to them.

Through their company, they donated programs and tickets to baseball clinics. They also supported Louisiana State University’s baseball program with their contributions.

Batts stayed close to the game through these community efforts. His work with youth clinics helped shape the next wave of players in Louisiana.

Legacy, Memorials, and Final Resting Place

Matt Batts made a real impact on baseball communities, especially through his post-retirement work with youth programs and charity in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He passed away on July 14, 2013, at the age of 91. Folks remember him through all sorts of memorial tributes.

Recognition and Influence

After he stepped away from Major League Baseball in 1956, Batts threw himself into youth baseball development in Baton Rouge. He even started the Baton Rouge Cougars for LSU University High students, hoping to boost baseball in the area.

He worked closely with East Baton Rouge Sheriff Bryan Clemmons on juvenile programs. Batts once said, “Instead of deputies arresting juveniles,” he recalled, “we would pick them up and talk to them and see if we couldn’t get things straightened out.”

His printing company, Batts Printing, donated programs and tickets to clinics and LSU baseball. Former LSU coach Skip Bertman once said, “Matt Batts really was an unsung hero who was legendary for helping kids play better ball.”

Political figure James Carville praised Batts, saying, “The city lost one of its great citizens and treasures in Matt.” Former sportscaster Mike Rhodes remembered him as “an unsung but true legend who finished very well as a man.”

Cemetery and Ashes Scattering

Matt Batts passed away at his home in Baton Rouge on July 14, 2013. He was 91.

His wife Arleene died just a few months earlier, on April 23, 2013. They’d been married for 68 years—quite a run by any standard.

Family and friends gathered for memorial services at Rabenhorst Downtown in Baton Rouge on July 20, 2013. Dr. Ken Ward, who coordinates Chaplain Services for the Louisiana Legislature, led the service.

You can find his memorial listed as grave plot 86209431. Instead of sending flowers, the family asked folks to donate to the Miracle League, since Batts always cared about giving kids the chance to play baseball.