Terry Bulling – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Terry Bulling built a modest but meaningful career in Major League Baseball during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He served as a backup catcher for the Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners.

He started as a 14th-round draft pick in 1974 and played parts of four seasons in the majors. Bulling’s journey really shows the quiet determination of countless players who reach baseball’s highest level without much fanfare or stardom.

Bulling finished his career with a .223 batting average, 3 home runs, and 28 RBI in 138 games before retiring in 1983. His stats were limited, sure, but he had some memorable moments. One highlight: he caught Gaylord Perry’s 300th career victory in 1982.

His professional career spanned nearly a decade, especially when you count his extensive minor league experience.

Looking at Bulling’s baseball journey, we get a sense of the typical path for a career backup player. He developed from amateur baseball all the way to his last pro season. His story gives us a glimpse into the baseball world of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and it also highlights the challenges players faced while trying to make a name for themselves in an era of expanding rosters and changing catching techniques.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Terry Charles Bulling was born on December 15, 1952, in Lynwood, California. This set the stage for his future in professional baseball.

He started his path to the major leagues at California State University, Los Angeles. There, he honed his catching skills before the Minnesota Twins picked him in the 1974 amateur draft.

Birth and Background

Terry Charles Bulling, known as “Bud,” was born on December 15, 1952, in Lynwood, California. He grew up in Southern California during the 1950s and 1960s.

At Lynwood High School, Bulling began developing his baseball talents. He stood 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed 200 pounds, giving him the build that catchers need.

The Lynwood area had a strong baseball culture. California’s year-round weather let Bulling practice and play almost nonstop as a teenager.

College Baseball at Cal State LA

Bulling kept working on his game at California State University, Los Angeles. Cal State LA gave him a chance to play college ball and compete at a higher level.

As a catcher for the Golden Eagles, Bulling showed off his defensive skills and leadership behind the plate. Scouts started to take notice.

Cal State LA’s baseball program has sent several players to the pros, and Bulling benefited from that competitive environment. It helped prepare him for the grind of professional baseball.

He used his time at the university to grow both physically and mentally as a player. The coaching staff helped him fine-tune his catching and game management.

Draft to Professional Baseball

The Minnesota Twins picked Bulling in the 14th round of the 1974 MLB June Amateur Draft. That moment kicked off his professional baseball journey.

Getting drafted in the 14th round meant he wasn’t a top prospect. Still, his solid catching and work ethic gave him a shot to chase his pro dreams.

The 1974 draft class started a new chapter for Bulling. He spent the next few years working through the minor leagues before finally reaching the majors in 1977.

Minnesota’s decision to draft him showed they saw some real potential in him as a catcher. The Twins wanted to invest in his development.

Professional Baseball Career

Terry Bulling spent nearly a decade in pro baseball, playing parts of four seasons in the big leagues with the Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners. His career ran from 1974 to 1983, with a lot of time in the minors.

Major League Debut and Early Years

Terry Bulling made his MLB debut on July 3, 1977, with the Minnesota Twins. The Twins had drafted him three years earlier.

His first season wasn’t easy at the plate. Bulling played in 15 games as a rookie and hit just .156 in limited action. That kind of struggle is pretty common for catchers breaking into the majors.

He needed more time to develop. Bulling spent more seasons in the minors, working on his skills. Those early years brought the usual growing pains of learning to hit major league pitching.

Teams Played For in MLB

Bulling suited up for two major league teams. He started with the Minnesota Twins in 1977, then moved to the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners picked him up before the 1979 season. Bulling spent two years in their minor league system before making it back to MLB in 1981. The move gave him a fresh start.

His most memorable game happened on May 6, 1982, when he caught Gaylord Perry’s 300th career win. Bulling went 2-for-3, scored twice, and drove in a run. That night became his career highlight.

He played his final MLB games in 1983 with Seattle. After going hitless in 5 at-bats to start the season, the Mariners sent him to Triple-A. His last game came on April 14, 1983, at age 30.

Career MLB Statistics:

• Games: 138
• Batting Average: .223
• Home Runs: 3
• RBI: 28
• Seasons: 1977, 1981-1983

Minor League Experience

Bulling’s time in the minors was much longer than his MLB career. He put up a .276 batting average, 34 home runs, and 248 RBI in 619 games. His minor league numbers looked better than what he managed in the majors.

He played for several teams in the Twins and Mariners organizations. The Wisconsin Rapids Twins and Orlando Twins were his main stops with Minnesota. Later, he spent time with the Spokane Indians in Seattle’s system.

His last pro season was 1983 with the Salt Lake City Gulls. That Triple-A team was his final stop before retiring. The season closed the book on nearly ten years in pro baseball.

Bulling showed he could hit for average and power in the minors. Moving up to major league pitching was a lot tougher, but that’s something a lot of players from his era faced.

Career Highlights and Performance

Terry Bulling’s four-year MLB career ran from 1977 to 1983. He posted a .223 batting average with 77 hits and 3 home runs in 138 games.

His best season came in 1981 with the Seattle Mariners. That year, he played 62 games and put up his top numbers as a catcher.

Notable Achievements and Milestones

Bulling made it to the majors in 1977 with the Minnesota Twins after being picked in the 14th round of the 1974 draft. In 1981, he finally exceeded rookie limits and became an established big leaguer.

He played 138 games over four seasons, racking up 397 plate appearances. Bulling collected 77 hits, including 11 doubles and 3 home runs.

Career Totals:

• Games: 138
• Hits: 77
• Home Runs: 3
• RBIs: 28
• Stolen Bases: 2

On defense, he handled 74 stolen base attempts. Bulling threw out 40 runners, posting a 35.1% caught stealing rate, which was pretty close to the league average of 37.3%.

Key Games and Seasons

Bulling’s best year was 1981 with Seattle. He played in 62 games and started 50 behind the plate, which was his highest total.

That season, he hit .247 with 38 hits in 154 at-bats. He drove in 15 runs and hit 2 home runs. Those numbers were his best in several categories.

In 1982, Bulling appeared in 56 games, got 34 hits, and batted .221. He hit 7 doubles that year, which was his high mark for extra-base hits in a season.

The 1983 season was short for him, with only 5 games before he retired. His last game came on April 14, 1983, against the Oakland Athletics.

Batting and Fielding Statistics

Bulling finished with a .223 career batting average over 345 at-bats. He put up a .315 on-base percentage and a .281 slugging percentage. He walked 45 times and struck out 41.

As a catcher, Bulling showed solid defensive skills. He had a .983 fielding percentage in 133 games behind the plate. He notched 597 putouts, 48 assists, and 11 errors.

Defensive Performance:

• Fielding Percentage: .983
• Putouts: 597
• Assists: 48
• Passed Balls: 7

Bulling handled starting pitchers well for both teams. He caught 72 complete games, showing off his durability and ability to call a game.

When it came to stopping stolen bases, he was about average for his era. Runners succeeded on 74 of 114 attempts (64.9%) during his career. His caught stealing rate of 35.1% lined up with the 37.3% league average at the time.

Retirement and Post-Playing Life

Terry Bulling wrapped up his pro baseball career in 1983 after struggling at the plate during spring training with the Seattle Mariners. After baseball, he shifted his focus to family and kept a low profile.

Decision to Retire in 1983

Bulling’s last season with the Mariners in 1983 started rough. He went hitless in his first five at-bats. The Mariners sent him down to their AAA team, the Salt Lake City Gulls.

That move basically ended his major league days. Bulling finished the 1983 season with Salt Lake City. At 30, he decided not to chase any more chances in pro baseball.

His four-year MLB run closed with a .223 batting average, 3 home runs, and 28 RBI in 138 games. He split his time between the Twins and Mariners.

After years bouncing between the majors and minors, Bulling never really locked down a starting job in the big leagues.

Personal Life After Baseball

When he left pro ball, Bulling chose a quiet life away from the spotlight. He spent a lot of time traveling and being with his mother, Iada. That relationship seemed to really matter to him after his playing days.

Bulling became tough to track down for collectors and fans. By 2009, people said he was living in an RV, making him one of the harder ex-players to find for autographs.

He valued his privacy in his later years. Bulling settled in Salem, Oregon, and lived there until his death in March 2014. He passed away at 61 after a fight with prostate cancer.

His family included two sons, Casey and Joshua, and three nieces. Former teammate Mike Cubbage honored Bulling by donating a bat to his family as a keepsake.

Legacy, Card Collecting, and Media Coverage

Terry Bulling’s legacy really ties back to his role as a backup catcher and his connection to Gaylord Perry’s 300th win. His baseball cards have become collectibles, and fans remember him as a classic journeyman from the early ’80s.

Terry Bulling Baseball Cards

Bulling showed up on several baseball cards during his career. His most notable appearances came in the 1983 Topps and 1983 Donruss sets. Card #519 in the 1983 Topps series is probably his best-known collectible.

The 1983 Fleer set included Bulling in a unique way. He didn’t get his own card, but he appeared as the catcher in the photo when Gaylord Perry won his 300th game against the Yankees on May 6, 1982.

Bulling’s cards don’t go for much. His 1983 Donruss card #226 usually sells for about $0.40 in near mint condition. The 1983 Topps card is priced about the same.

Collectors who want complete sets from the early 1980s often look for Bulling’s cards. They represent the era’s backup catchers and role players who, in their own way, became part of baseball history.

Reputation Among Fans and Historians

Most fans and historians remember Bulling for being a steady backup catcher, not a standout star. People in baseball circles often mention his link to Perry’s milestone as his biggest mark on the game.

He focused on defense and managing pitchers, really taking pride in those less glamorous parts of the job. Bulling never held a starting spot for any major league team, and that kind of says a lot about his career numbers at the plate.

After he retired, collectors had a tough time tracking him down for autographs. By 2009, reports said he was living in an RV, which honestly made him one of the hardest ex-players to reach for memorabilia.

He died from prostate cancer in 2014, closing the book on a quiet baseball journey. His mother Iada and his kids, Casey, Joshua, and Karissa, survived him, and they keep the memory of a hardworking pro alive, someone who filled a key role in early 1980s baseball.

Broader Baseball Context During Bulling’s Era

The late ’70s and early ’80s really shook up Major League Baseball. Big changes in labor developments and how players and management dealt with each other started to reshape everything. Free agency burst onto the scene, and suddenly salaries began shooting up toward the numbers we see today.

MLBPA and Labor Relations

During Terry Bulling’s years in the league, from 1977 to 1983, the Major League Baseball Players Association became stronger than ever. Marvin Miller led the union through some tense negotiations that changed the money side of baseball for good.

In 1981, a massive 50-day strike hit, splitting the season in two. Players walked off on June 12, 1981, mostly because they wanted fairer compensation when teams lost free agents. That strike wiped out 713 games and forced a weird split-season setup.

Key labor developments included:

• Expanded free agency rights
• Better pension benefits
• More ways to file grievances
• Stronger bargaining power

Miller didn’t just negotiate—he helped turn players from near-indentured servants into real professionals with a say in their careers. Players like Bulling got a boost from all this, enjoying better working conditions and more rights than players before them.

The union’s wins during this time set the stage for future deals. Those negotiations shaped baseball’s labor scene for years.

Salary Cap and CBA Developments

Player pay changed fast during Bulling’s career, though baseball never actually put a salary cap in place. The sport’s oddball economic setup started to form through a series of collective bargaining agreements.

The 1976 CBA gave players free agency if they had six years in the league. That move sent salaries soaring. In 1976, the average player made $51,501, but by 1983, that number had jumped to $241,497.

Owners tried to push back, using informal deals to hold down costs instead of creating official salary limits. Baseball ended up without a hard cap, setting it apart from other big sports.

CBA milestones during this period:

• 1976: Free agency established
• 1980: Compensation rules tweaked
• 1981: Strike settlement changed the framework
• 1985: Salary arbitration expanded

These deals made baseball’s economic system what it is. Instead of a salary cap like football or basketball, baseball went with a luxury tax, and that setup still sticks around.

Notable Events and Personalities

The early 1980s brought some unforgettable moments and influential figures who really shaped where baseball was heading. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn led the sport for most of Bulling’s career, dealing with labor disputes and the ever-shifting expectations of fans.

Gaylord Perry notched his 300th victory in 1982, with Bulling catching as Seattle’s backstop. That milestone stood out as one of baseball’s most prestigious achievements back then, especially when 300-game winners felt a bit more within reach.

The All-Star Game started to matter more during this time. The 1981 contest in Cleveland was the first after the strike settlement, and it gave fans a chance to see the sport’s biggest stars, even when things felt a little uncertain.

Pete Rose chased Ty Cobb’s hitting record all through the early ’80s, and honestly, it was hard to look away. When he finally broke the record in 1985, it wrapped up a storyline that had been building during Bulling’s playing days.

Television coverage really took off, with national broadcasts bringing games into more homes than ever before. That extra exposure helped baseball hang onto its popularity, even with labor issues and the rise of new entertainment options.