Bill Haselman was a professional baseball player who played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on May 25, 1966, in Long Branch, New Jersey, and grew up in California. Haselman attended UCLA, where he played college baseball for the Bruins.
Haselman was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the first round of the 1987 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Rangers in 1990 and played for them until 1995. During his time with the Rangers, Haselman was primarily a backup catcher, playing behind Ivan Rodriguez. He also played some games at first base and designated hitter.
In 1996, Haselman signed with the Seattle Mariners as a free agent. He played for the Mariners for two seasons, serving as a backup catcher and occasional pinch hitter. In 1998, Haselman was traded to the Boston Red Sox, where he played for three seasons. He had his best offensive season in 1999, hitting .298 with 7 home runs and 34 RBI in 72 games.
After his time with the Red Sox, Haselman played for the Detroit Tigers in 2001 and the Anaheim Angels in 2002. He finished his MLB career with the Texas Rangers in 2003, the team where he started his career.
Throughout his career, Haselman was known for his solid defense behind the plate and his ability to handle pitchers. He was also a versatile player, able to play multiple positions in the field. Haselman was a career .259 hitter with 47 home runs and 210 RBI in 619 games.
After retiring from playing, Haselman became a coach. He served as a minor league manager in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization from 2006 to 2010. In 2011, he was named the hitting coach for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, a Red Sox affiliate. Haselman later served as a coach in the Texas Rangers organization, including a stint as the team's bullpen coach in 2018.
Overall, Bill Haselman had a successful career as a catcher in MLB, playing for several teams over a span of more than a decade. He was known for his defensive skills and versatility, and he later went on to have a career in coaching.
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