Oakland A’s

Date of birth: January 2, 1951 Detroit, MI

High School:  Troy HS (Troy, IL)

College: Arizona State University

First Impression; Its kind of a bad card, I mean he has his helmet on, grab a bat, show your stance, he is a catcher, grab your mitt. His 80 and 83 cards show him catching for the A’s.

Career stats player: Essian was parked behind Bob Boone in the Phillies organization and played sparingly until 1976 when he was suddenly on the White Sox after being traded from Philly to Atlanta and then 8 days later being dealt to Chicago (essentially for an aging Dick Allen). In 1978 in March he was traded with Steve Renko to the Oakland Athletics for Pablo Torrealba. Torrealba pitched 63 non descript innings out of the bullpen in his career for the Sox. There was nowhere for him on the Sox at that time since Cartlton Fisk had just joined the team. Essian looks to have been the primary catcher with Oakland in 1978 when he played his most games in a season 126.

All Time Stat: He walked 231 times and struck out 171 in 2146 plate appearances. His average was .244.

Career stats manager: 59-63. Just slightly better than Royster and Pujols, almost the same conditions. He was hired after Don Zimmer was fired. He only lasted the remainder of the 1991 season. I recall that time and thought again, geez he didnt draft Rick Wilkins and he didnt make Jerome Walton terrible and that Sutcliffe was toast and Danny Jackson was worse. He didnt sign Dave Smith as a closer who had a 6 ERA. That year a Dave Smith save cost the Cubs $11,764 and a Paul Assenmacher save cost the Cubs $73,333. But it was totally Essian’s fault.

Fun Fact: He wore 8 different number in his career, none twice.

Ever a Future Star?  No

Rookie or final card? No

Hall of Fame? Number retired? N/A

Links to stories including Jim Essian.

*Wikipedia