Mike O’Berry – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Mike O’Berry spent seven years in Major League Baseball as a backup catcher. He played for six different teams before hanging up his cleats in 1985.

Born Preston Michael O’Berry in Birmingham, Alabama, he carved out a respectable career as a journeyman player. He provided reliable defense behind the plate for some of baseball’s most storied franchises.

O’Berry started his professional baseball journey with the Boston Red Sox organization in 1975 and wrapped up his career with the Montreal Expos in 1985. He became known as a dependable backup catcher during an era when teams really needed those kinds of players.

His career batting average was just .191, with 3 home runs and 27 RBIs in 197 games. But that hardly tells the full story of a guy whose value went way beyond the numbers.

After he retired, O’Berry jumped into coaching and managing. He kept contributing to baseball through minor league management and high school coaching, helping young players develop and building some championship-caliber teams along the way.

Early Life and Development

Mike O’Berry grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, and got his start in baseball through youth leagues and high school competition. His defense behind the plate caught the eyes of college scouts, and he earned a scholarship at the University of South Alabama, playing for the legendary Eddie Stanky.

Birthplace and Family Background

Preston Michael O’Berry was born on April 20, 1954, in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up in a working-class family with parents who really supported his baseball dreams.

His dad, Andrew Preston O’Berry, worked as a draftsman in an iron works. He spent a lot of time with Mike at local ballparks.

Mike’s mom, Betty Ann, mostly stayed at home but later worked in the high school library. “My dad spent a lot of his time with me at the ballpark,” O’Berry once recalled.

He grew up with two sisters and a younger brother, making for a pretty supportive environment for sports. Mike graduated from Ensley High School in Birmingham. His dad’s dedication to playing catch in the backyard really helped him build those early skills.

Initial Interest in Baseball

O’Berry started playing organized baseball around age 8 or 9 in Little League’s “farm year” program. At first, he pitched and played third base before he figured out that catching was his thing.

“When I was 9, I started out pitching and played third. I wasn’t catching when I started playing,” he said. But when a major-league club in his local league needed a catcher, O’Berry stepped up and said, “I’ll try anything.”

Back in the early ’60s, the neighborhood baseball scene was nonstop. “Back then we played all day every day. We got up and had breakfast and went outside and came home at dark,” O’Berry remembered.

He stuck with catching from a young age, sharpening the defensive skills that would later define his professional career.

Amateur and College Baseball Years

O’Berry put together a strong high school career at Ensley High School, batting .333 overall. He was runner-up MVP in the East-West All-Star Game at Rickwood Field in the spring of 1972.

He earned a scholarship to the University of South Alabama that July. There, he played for head coach Eddie Stanky, a former major league player and manager who knew how to spot talent.

At South Alabama, O’Berry played with Dave Stapleton, who also made it to the majors. Both were among six Jaguars drafted in 1975, with the Boston Red Sox picking both.

The Red Sox selected O’Berry in the 22nd round of the June 1975 draft. Scout Milt Bolling signed him, seeing his defensive upside even if his college numbers weren’t flashy.

Major League Baseball Career

Mike O’Berry played seven seasons in Major League Baseball as a backup catcher. He suited up for six different teams from 1979 to 1985.

He struggled at the plate, batting just .191 for his career, but his defense and way with pitchers kept him on big-league rosters.

Draft and Debut with Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox picked O’Berry in the 22nd round of the 1975 amateur draft when he was 21. He spent four seasons in the minors before finally making his MLB debut on April 8, 1979, at age 24.

O’Berry debuted in Cleveland and picked up his first hit with a single to right field in the sixth inning. It took until June 17 for him to get his second hit, which was a home run off Ken Kravec of the Chicago White Sox.

The Red Sox used O’Berry as a backup behind Carlton Fisk and Gary Allenson. He played in 43 games as a rookie, batted .169, and didn’t do much offensively. Still, coaches liked his glove and his arm.

During the season, the Red Sox sent O’Berry down to Pawtucket for two months when Bob Montgomery returned. He came back in late August and ended the year with 68 plate appearances.

Tenure with Chicago Cubs

O’Berry landed with the Chicago Cubs on October 23, 1979, as the player to be named later in a trade for Ted Sizemore. His time with the Cubs was full of call-ups and send-downs.

In 1980, he opened the year in the minors, playing 57 games for Double-A Midland and nine for Triple-A Wichita. He got called up in late May when Barry Foote had muscle spasms, but he played just one inning.

O’Berry returned to the Cubs in July and came back again as a September call-up. His best game was September 12 against the Mets, when he had three hits and two RBIs in a 14-inning marathon. He drove in the winning runs with a bases-loaded single in the 14th.

He wrapped up 1980 with a .208 batting average, five RBIs, and seven runs scored in limited action. The Cubs traded him to Cincinnati on October 17, 1980, for pitcher Jay Howell.

Playing for Cincinnati Reds and California Angels

O’Berry found more stability with the Cincinnati Reds, playing for them in 1981 and 1982. He served as a backup after Johnny Bench moved away from catching following 1980.

He worked with hitting coach Ted Kluszewski over the winter, trying to become more of a pull hitter. That didn’t really work out, so he went back to his old style and aimed to hit .250 or .260 by going the other way.

The Reds mostly used O’Berry as a platoon catcher against lefties and as a late-inning defensive sub. He liked the stability of staying with one team for more than a season.

After Cincinnati, O’Berry joined the California Angels. His time there was short, and he continued as a backup catcher with limited offense.

Years with New York Yankees and Montreal Expos

O’Berry finished his major league run with the New York Yankees and Montreal Expos. He kept playing that defensive specialist and backup catcher role.

Throughout his career, O’Berry racked up a .984 fielding percentage, handling 760 chances with only 12 errors. His glove and arm kept him in the big leagues even when his bat didn’t.

He wrapped up his major league career in 1985 with the Montreal Expos. In seven seasons, he played 197 games, batted .191, and hit three home runs with 27 RBIs.

His career really showed what the backup catcher role was about: defense and working with pitchers mattered more than the numbers on offense.

Career Performance and Playing Style

Mike O’Berry’s seven-year MLB career was all about his defense behind the plate. He struggled offensively, but teams needed steady backup catchers like him.

Catching Abilities and Defensive Skills

O’Berry flashed solid defensive skills throughout his time as a catcher. His fielding percentage started at .957 with Boston in 1979, then jumped to .983 with Cincinnati in 1981.

He had a strong arm, too. In 1980 with Chicago, O’Berry threw out 12 of 28 attempted base stealers—a 42.9% success rate, well above the league average of 31.2%.

His defensive value really stood out in Cincinnati. He caught 20 complete games in 1981, showing the trust pitchers and coaches had in his game-calling abilities.

Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 190 pounds, O’Berry was a solid target behind the plate. His defense kept him in the majors, serving as a reliable backup for six different clubs.

Batting Statistics and Key Metrics

O’Berry’s numbers at the plate were rough. He batted .191 over 197 games, with just 72 hits in 376 at-bats. He only managed 3 home runs and 27 RBIs in seven years.

His best offensive year was 1984 with the New York Yankees. He hit .250, picking up 8 hits in 32 at-bats—pretty good for him.

Plate discipline was an issue. O’Berry struck out 77 times and walked 43 times, ending up with a .274 on-base percentage. His best single-season OBP was .364 with Cincinnati in 1982.

He hit .196 in the National League and .185 in the American League, showing not much difference between leagues.

OPS and Offensive Value

O’Berry’s career OPS (on-base plus slugging) was .522—way below average for big league hitters. His OPS+ of 46 meant he produced offense at less than half the rate of an average MLB player.

He didn’t hit for power. His career slugging percentage was .247, with just 10 doubles, 1 triple, and 3 home runs for 93 total bases.

His peak offensive season came in 1982 with Cincinnati, when he posted a .630 OPS and drew 10 walks in 45 at-bats for a .364 OBP.

Most years, his offensive value sat below replacement level. O’Berry’s career WAR was 0.6, so his defense made up for the lack of offense—pretty typical for backup catchers back then.

Notable Achievements and Milestones

Mike O’Berry had some memorable moments, even as a backup. His major league debut and later success as a minor league manager stand out.

Significant Games and Moments

O’Berry made his MLB debut on April 8, 1979, with the Boston Red Sox against the Cleveland Indians. That was the start of his seven-year big league journey.

He played his final game on October 4, 1985, for the Montreal Expos against the New York Mets. He finished his playing career at age 31.

O’Berry served as a backup catcher for six different teams, moving around a lot and usually staying a season or two with each club.

The Red Sox drafted him in the 22nd round of the 1975 amateur draft. He was 21 then, picked 516th overall out of the University of South Alabama.

Career Highlights Before Retirement

O’Berry put up modest offensive stats in his MLB career: a .191 average, 3 home runs, and 27 RBIs. His defense as a catcher, though, kept him in the majors for seven seasons.

Teams valued how he handled pitching staffs and gave them depth behind the plate. O’Berry played for some big-name franchises: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, California Angels, New York Yankees, and Montreal Expos.

After retiring in 1985, he moved into managing minor league teams. He led the Bluefield Orioles to their first Appalachian League championship in 1992, maybe his best season as a manager.

Role in Minor Leagues and Coaching

After he retired from Major League Baseball in 1985, O’Berry jumped into managing minor league teams. Over the years, he piled up 380 wins and 303 losses across several organizations.

O’Berry coached the Bluefield Orioles to an Appalachian League championship. After that, he moved back to Alabama to coach high school baseball.

Transition to Minor League Management

O’Berry kicked off his managerial career in 1992, about seven years after he stopped playing. Throughout the 1990s, he took on leadership roles with different minor league organizations.

From 1992 to 1998, he managed four teams in various leagues. That was a pretty active stretch for him.

He managed:

• Bluefield Orioles (Appalachian League)
• Albany Polecats
• Frederick Keys
• Tennessee Tomahawks

O’Berry leaned on his experience as a defensive-minded catcher when he managed. He really understood the basics of the game from behind the plate.

He finished his managerial run with 380 wins and 303 losses. That kept his winning percentage comfortably above .500.

Bluefield Orioles Championship

O’Berry’s biggest moment as a manager came with the Bluefield Orioles. Under his leadership, the team won the Appalachian League championship.

The Appalachian League is a rookie-level minor league. It’s where a lot of players get their first taste of pro ball.

Winning that championship stood out as the high point of O’Berry’s managing days. It proved he could develop young players and build teams that win.

The Bluefield Orioles belonged to the Baltimore Orioles organization. O’Berry’s work there helped shape some future big leaguers.

His success in Bluefield showed he still had plenty to offer after his playing days ended. He knew how to teach and motivate younger players, and that’s not something everyone can do.

Pelham High School Coaching Career

In 2001, O’Berry came back to the Birmingham area to coach the Pelham Panthers high school baseball team. That marked a shift from pro baseball to the high school level.

Pelham High School sits in Pelham, Alabama, bringing O’Berry back to his roots. He’d grown up in the area and gone to Ensley High School himself.

Coaching high schoolers gave him a chance to work with players at the amateur level. It was a different challenge compared to managing pros, for sure.

With the Pelham Panthers, O’Berry got to give back to his community. He shared his major league experience with young Alabama players.

His role at Pelham kept him involved in baseball education and player development. O’Berry’s commitment to the sport didn’t end with his playing or managing career.

Legacy and Life After Retirement

Mike O’Berry moved from his playing career into managing minor league teams, staying involved in baseball through the 1990s. People knew him as a skilled defensive catcher and a mentor to younger players, and that reputation stuck with him after he stopped playing.

Impact on the Baseball Community

O’Berry’s influence in baseball went way beyond his stats. Folks respected him for his defensive skills and how well he handled pitchers, making him a valuable mentor for younger guys.

After 1985, O’Berry managed minor league and independent teams between 1992 and 1998. During those six years, he passed on a lot of his baseball know-how to up-and-coming players.

He caught for six different major league teams, which gave him some pretty unique insights into how organizations work. That experience came in handy when he worked with prospects chasing their big league dreams.

O’Berry took part in events like the annual Baton Rouge Kids Baseball Clinic. Through those clinics, he introduced young players to proper catching techniques and the basics of the game.

Recognition and Reputation

During his seven years in the majors, O’Berry built a reputation as a defensive specialist. His .984 career fielding percentage says a lot—he handled 760 chances and made only 12 errors.

Players and coaches often praised his ability to handle pitchers. Mike Torrez, for one, called out O’Berry’s excellent work behind the plate with the Red Sox.

Early in his pro career, people noticed his defensive skills. By his second year with the Red Sox organization, some even called him “the best receiver in the organization,” even though Carlton Fisk was the star starter.

O’Berry’s reputation as a teacher made him a sought-after coach and manager in the minors. He knew catching fundamentals and game strategy, and that helped him develop future players.

Contributions Outside Professional Baseball

O’Berry got involved in youth baseball clinics because he genuinely wanted to give back to the community. At the Baton Rouge Kids Baseball Clinic, he shared his experience with young players and, honestly, seemed to enjoy it as much as they did.

From 1992 to 1998, he managed in the minor leagues. Those years really let him build up his coaching skills.

He worked with independent league teams, showing how much he cared about helping players at every stage. These teams usually give players a second shot at making it to pro baseball, or even just staying in the game a little longer.

Since he specialized in defense, O’Berry brought a lot to the table when it came to teaching catching. Young catchers picked up tips from him about pitch calling, managing the game, and handling their defensive duties.