John Flaherty is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for six different teams during his career. He was known for his strong defensive skills and ability to handle pitchers.
Flaherty was born on October 21, 1967, in New York City. He attended George Washington High School in the Bronx, where he played baseball and basketball. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 25th round of the 1988 MLB draft and made his major league debut with the team in 1992.
Over the course of his career, Flaherty played for the Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, New York Yankees, and the Toronto Blue Jays. He was primarily used as a backup catcher and played in a total of 1,047 games.
Flaherty was known for his strong defensive skills behind the plate. He had a career fielding percentage of .994 and threw out 34% of attempted base stealers. He was also praised for his ability to handle pitchers and call a good game.
Offensively, Flaherty was not a major contributor. He finished his career with a .252 batting average, 80 home runs, and 312 RBI. However, he did have some memorable moments at the plate, including hitting a walk-off home run for the Yankees in the 13th inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics in 2004.
Flaherty was also known for his leadership and professionalism. He was a respected veteran in the clubhouse and was often called upon to mentor younger players. He was also active in the community and was a finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award in 2004.
After retiring from baseball in 2006, Flaherty became a broadcaster. He has worked as a color commentator for the YES Network, covering Yankees games, and has also worked for MLB Network and ESPN.
Overall, John Flaherty had a solid career as a major league catcher. He was known for his strong defensive skills, ability to handle pitchers, and leadership qualities. While he was not a major contributor offensively, he was a valuable asset to the teams he played for and was respected by his peers.
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