Jerry Willard was a professional baseball player who played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams during his career. He was born on February 17, 1961, in San Diego, California, and attended San Diego State University, where he played college baseball.
Willard began his professional career in 1983 when he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 18th round of the MLB draft. He spent several years in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with the Indians in 1984. He played for the Indians for two seasons before being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 1986.
Willard played for the Giants for two seasons before being traded to the Oakland Athletics in 1988. He played for the Athletics for two seasons and was a member of the team that won the 1989 World Series. Willard then played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1990 before being traded to the Kansas City Royals in 1991.
Willard played for the Royals for two seasons before being traded to the Seattle Mariners in 1993. He played for the Mariners for one season before retiring from baseball in 1994.
Throughout his career, Willard was known for his defensive skills as a catcher. He was a solid receiver and had a strong arm, which helped him to throw out base runners attempting to steal. He was also a good handler of pitchers and was able to call a good game behind the plate.
Offensively, Willard was not a big hitter. He had a career batting average of .223 and hit only 10 home runs in 10 seasons. However, he was a good contact hitter and was able to get on base with a high frequency.
After retiring from baseball, Willard worked as a coach and instructor. He worked with several minor league teams and also served as a coach for the San Diego State University baseball team.
In conclusion, Jerry Willard was a solid defensive catcher who played for several MLB teams during his career. He was known for his strong arm and ability to handle pitchers, and was a good contact hitter. After retiring from baseball, he worked as a coach and instructor.
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