Former MLB catcher and longtime Oakland A's broadcaster Ray Fosse passed away yesterday of cancer at the age of 74. Fosse had originally been diagnosed with the disease in 2005 but did not reveal his condition until he stepped away from his broadcasting duties back in August.
Fosse had been a broadcaster with the A's since 1986 and this is the role in which most people remember him. But Fosse had a good career a catcher playing 12 big league seasons albeit one riddled with injuries - none more famous then when Pete Rose barreled into him at home plate separating his shoulder in the 1970 MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati.
Fosse enjoys the distinction of being the first player ever selected by the Cleveland Indians in the inaugural MLB draft in 1965. After cups of coffee with the Tribe in 1967, 1968 and 1969, Fosse emerged as a star player in 1970 resulting in an All-Star selection and the unfortunate crash with Rose. He would still win a Gold Glove for his defensive work that season as well as the following season. Indeed, Fosse had been selected to the 1971 AL All-Star Team but did not play in Detroit due to injury.
Shortly before the beginning of the 1973 season, the Indians traded Fosse and infielder Jack Heidemann to the Oakland A's for catcher Dave Duncan and outfielder George Hendrick. Fosse would become the A's every day catcher in '73 as the team moved 1972 World Series MVP Gene Tenace to first base. He would earn two World Series rings in an Oakland uniform although Tenace would get the majority of the catching duty back in 1974 after Alvin Dark replaced Dick Williams in the dugout.
After one more season in Oakland, Fosse was sold back to the Cleveland Indians prior to the 1976 season. Late in 1977, the Tribe sent Fosse packing to the expansion Seattle Mariners. Fosse would finish his big league career with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1979. In 924 big league games, Fosse collected 758 hits for a lifetime batting average of .256 with 61 HR and 324 RBI.
Among those paying tribute to Fosse on social media included Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Jim Palmer, Reggie Jackson and Frank Thomas as well future Hall of Famer Mike Trout. There was also a moment of silence in honor of Fosse in San Francisco tonight prior to Game 5 of the NLDS between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers. One of the kindest tributes came from Bay Area radio host Dan Dibley who tweeted:
I met Ray Fosse in the press elevator at the Coli in about '07. Before I could fanboy on him he was dropping knowledge about my show with @GaryRadnich and how HE was a fan of MINE. Turns out, he made everyone feel that special. What a great man and a great loss. #RayFosseRIP
It takes someone special to make everyone they meet feel special. R.I.P.
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