For a decade, Bill Plummer filled the role of catcher in the major leagues with remarkable patience, often waiting on the sidelines for his chance to play. Although he had dreams of playing for the Cardinals, the team that initially signed him, his career primarily unfolded with the Reds. Despite his aspirations, he found himself behind Johnny Bench, a legendary catcher who eventually earned a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Serving as Bench’s understudy meant Plummer spent much of his time on the bench himself. Yet, when opportunities arose, it was often against the Cardinals that he showcased his abilities most prominently.
Following his playing career, Plummer transitioned to coaching and managing at the highest level of the sport. Tragically, he passed away on March 12, 2024, at the age of 76, just days shy of his 77th birthday.
In the genes
Plummer hailed from a lineage deeply entrenched in baseball. His father, Bill, who shared his name, spent five seasons in the minor leagues during the 1920s as a pitcher, while his uncle, Red Baldwin, forged a lengthy career as a minor-league catcher. Notably, both his father and uncle shared the field as teammates for the Seattle Indians during 1924-25.
During his time playing baseball at Shasta College in Redding, California, in April 1965, Plummer caught the eye of the reigning World Series champions, the Cardinals. A scout named Bill Sayles made an enticing offer of $10,000 along with the promise to fund the rest of Plummer’s college education. Recalling the moment, Plummer expressed his eagerness to seize the opportunity, particularly coming from a small rural town like Anderson, California.
The Redding Record Searchlight noted that the Cardinals’ interest in Plummer stemmed from his impressive hitting prowess, his adeptness as a catcher, and his powerful arm. At the age of 18, Plummer embarked on his journey with the Cardinals, joining their 1965 Florida Rookie League team in Sarasota under the management of George Kissell.
On the defensive front, Plummer dazzled behind the plate, earning a reputation for possessing one of the most formidable arms in the Cardinals’ organization, as highlighted by the Modesto Bee. However, when it came to batting, Plummer struggled to find his footing. His time with Class A Eugene (Ore.) in 1966 saw him batting a mere .144, with strikeouts outnumbering his hits, registering 33 strikeouts against 18 hits.
Catching on
Plummer, who joined Class A Modesto in 1967 under the management of Sparky Anderson, initially faced challenges in his relationship with Anderson. Anderson recalled a tense moment when Plummer expressed dissatisfaction with being sidelined for catcher Sonny Ruberto early in the season. Anderson confronted Plummer about his attitude, warning him that such behavior could jeopardize his position on the team. Plummer later admitted to struggling with temper issues and feeling despondent about his baseball career while in the minors, often seeking solace in alcohol.
Despite these difficulties, Anderson eventually shifted Ruberto to another position, making Plummer the primary catcher. Although Plummer faced challenges with batting, recording a high number of strikeouts compared to hits, his prowess behind the plate was notable, contributing to Modesto’s league championship victory.
In 1967, the Cardinals boasted considerable talent, clinching the World Series title that year. Among their key players was catcher Tim McCarver, and they also secured promising prospects like Ted Simmons in the amateur draft. Plummer’s aspirations to join the Cardinals were dashed when he was left off the team’s 40-man winter roster after the season, subsequently claimed by the Cubs in the November 1967 Rule 5 draft.
Forgotten man
When the Cubs selected Plummer, 21, in the draft, they were obliged to retain him on their major league roster throughout the 1968 season, or else return him to the Cardinals. However, manager Leo Durocher was hesitant to utilize a catcher with no experience beyond Class A level.
As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Plummer seemed destined for limited playing time as long as Randy Hundley remained healthy and active behind the plate for the Cubs. Hundley scarcely missed a game throughout the 1968 season, leaving little opportunity for Plummer.
Plummer’s sparse involvement in games reflected this reality. He made just two appearances that season. In his debut on April 19, 1968, against the St. Louis Cardinals, he entered as a pinch hitter but was struck out by Cardinals reliever Hal Gilson. His only other appearance came on May 12 during a game against the New York Mets, where he played two innings as a substitute catcher for Hundley.
Reflecting on his lack of playing time, Plummer recalled a particular exhibition game against the White Sox mid-season where they opted to call up a minor league catcher instead of utilizing him.
Throughout the season, Plummer found himself mostly relegated to the bullpen area at Wrigley Field, almost akin to a spectator. Mike Murphy, one of the founders of the ballpark’s Bleacher Bums, described Plummer as blending in with the crowd, waving and smiling at fans while occasionally showcasing his batting prowess during practice sessions.
Despite his popularity among fans, Plummer acknowledged that the season of inactivity had set back his career progression by a couple of years.
Reserve duty
Plummer had hoped for a chance with one of the four expansion teams in 1969 or any other club in need of a catcher. However, the Cubs traded him to the Reds in January 1969 for reliever Ted Abernathy. At that time, Johnny Bench, who had claimed the starting catching role for the Reds after winning National League Rookie of the Year and Gold Glove awards in 1968, left little opportunity for Plummer to step in. With Pat Corrales as Bench’s backup, the path to the catching position seemed blocked for Plummer.
Initially, there were discussions within the Reds organization about converting Plummer into a pitcher, but this idea was ultimately discarded. Instead, he spent the majority of the next three seasons (1969-71) in the minors before eventually emerging as Bench’s backup in 1972. Sparky Anderson, who took over as Reds manager in 1970, recognized Plummer’s defensive prowess, noting that Plummer’s throwing arm surpassed that of many other catchers.
Plummer himself highlighted the different strengths he and Bench brought to the catching position. While Bench excelled in quick releases, footwork, and handling throws from the outfield, Plummer focused on blocking the plate and applying tags, showcasing his physical presence behind the plate.
Described as adept defensively and praised for his handling of pitchers and strong arm by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Plummer was considered a reliable option behind the plate. Reds pitcher Jack Billingham acknowledged that while Plummer might not match Bench’s offensive prowess, defensively, the team didn’t suffer much when Plummer was in the lineup.
Despite a modest batting average of .186 over 797 career at-bats with the Reds, Plummer had memorable moments, particularly against the Cardinals and one of their former pitchers.
Magic moments
On June 8, 1974, when facing Steve Carlton at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, Plummer managed to hit two home runs, while Bench, stationed at third base, also contributed with another home run. Despite their efforts, the Phillies emerged victorious with a score of 6-5. In his 16 plate appearances against Carlton throughout his career, Plummer maintained an impressive .429 batting average and a .500 on-base percentage.
Plummer’s standout performance occurred nearly two years later, on June 6, 1976, during a Sunday afternoon game at St. Louis. Filling in for Bench, who was sidelined due to muscle spasms, Plummer had a remarkable game, driving in seven runs in the Reds’ 13-2 win at Busch Memorial Stadium.
His contributions included an RBI-single against Pete Falcone in the second inning, a crucial three-run triple that forced Falcone out of the game in the third inning, and a powerful three-run home run off Danny Frisella in the sixth inning. Reflecting on his accomplishment, Plummer expressed a sense of awe, stating to The Cincinnati Post, “Seven RBI. That’s almost a full season’s work for me.”
Plummer’s home run would have been a grand slam had George Foster not been picked off second base in the preceding play with the bases loaded. Additionally, his bases-clearing triple was the result of a fortunate bounce on the AstroTurf, causing his hit to sail over right fielder Willie Crawford’s head and roll to the wall. This triple marked the only one Plummer achieved in his Major League Baseball career.
A week later, when facing the Cardinals at Cincinnati, Plummer continued his impressive performance with three hits, a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored. Despite his efforts, the Cardinals ultimately prevailed with a score of 12-9. Notably, two of Plummer’s hits, including a single and a home run, were off Bob Forsch.
Plummer’s prowess against the Cardinals was evident throughout the season, as he accumulated 10 of his 19 RBI for the Reds in 1976 against St. Louis. Although he maintained a .248 batting average overall for the season, his performance soared to .381 specifically against the Cardinals.
Baseball teacher
While with Cincinnati, Plummer never got the opportunity to play in any of the four World Series appearances the Reds made. Following his release from the team in 1978, he concluded his playing career with a final season alongside the Mariners.
Transitioning into coaching, Plummer spent two decades managing in the minors, predominantly within the farm systems of the Mariners, Tigers, and Diamondbacks. He also held coaching positions at the major league level, notably with the Mariners (1982-83, 1988-91) and Rockies (1993-94).
Plummer’s sole stint as a major league manager came in 1992 with the Mariners. Despite having star players like Edgar Martinez, Ken Griffey Jr., and Randy Johnson—Martinez even clinched the American League batting title that year—the team struggled, finishing with the league’s worst record (64-98). Plummer was subsequently relieved of his duties, with Lou Piniella taking over.
Conner Menez, Plummer’s grandson, made his mark in the majors by pitching for the Giants from 2019 to 2021 and later for the Cubs in 2022.
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