Joe Oliver is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on July 24, 1965, in Memphis, Tennessee, and attended Boone County High School in Florence, Kentucky. Oliver was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1983 MLB draft and made his debut with the team in 1989.
Oliver spent the majority of his career with the Reds, playing for them from 1989 to 1996. During his time with the team, he was known for his strong arm and defensive skills behind the plate. He was also a solid hitter, with a career batting average of .247 and 102 home runs.
In 1990, Oliver played a key role in the Reds' World Series championship run. He hit a game-winning home run in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates and caught the final out of the World Series against the Oakland Athletics.
After leaving the Reds, Oliver played for several other teams, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Boston Red Sox. He continued to be a reliable backup catcher and defensive specialist throughout his career.
Oliver retired from baseball in 2001 with a career batting average of .247, 102 home runs, and 436 RBIs. He also had a career fielding percentage of .991 and threw out 36% of attempted base stealers.
After his playing career, Oliver worked as a coach and manager in the minor leagues. He was the manager of the Dayton Dragons, a Class A affiliate of the Reds, from 2016 to 2018.
Overall, Joe Oliver had a successful career as a Major League Baseball catcher. He was known for his strong defensive skills and played a key role in the Reds' World Series championship in 1990. While he may not have been a superstar player, he was a reliable and consistent contributor to every team he played for.
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