Harry Chiti

Harry Chiti
Harry Chiti
Runs batted in	179
Teams
	Chicago Cubs (1950–1952, 1955–1956); Kansas City Athletics (1958–1960); Detroit Tigers (1960–1961); New York Mets (1962);

Harry Dominic Chiti Jr. (pronounced

Kansas City Athletics, Detroit Tigers and New York Mets. Chiti batted and threw right-handed, and was listed as 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and 221 pounds (100 kg). Born in Kincaid, Illinois, he was the father of major league coach Dom Chiti

.

Career

A competent defensive catcher with a great ability to handle the

farm system

.

After two years in the

RBI in a career-high 113 games

.

In 1956, Chiti shared catching duties with

Milwaukee Braves, in which 39 runs were scored overall. While being intentionally walked, Chiti hit Ray Crone's pitch, delivered a little too close to the outside corner of the plate, into the right field corner for a triple.^[1]^[2]

At season's end, he was sent to the

Kansas City Athletics from New York in the 1957 Rule 5 draft

.

Chiti played with the Athletics from 1958 to 1960. The next three years, he was part of transactions between the A's, Detroit Tigers,

Cleveland Indians

.

On April 25, 1962—before he played a game for the Indians—Chiti was acquired by the expansion New York Mets for a player to be named later. However, he was sent back to the Indians on June 15, 1962, after 15 games and a .195 batting average.^[3] Chiti was the "player to be named later"; he became the first MLB player to be traded for himself. Three other players have been traded for themselves: Dickie Noles, Brad Gulden, and John McDonald. Chiti never played another major league game, spending two more years at Triple-A before retiring in 1964.

Harry Chiti died on January 31, 2002, at Heart of Florida Hospital in Haines City, at the age of 69. He was survived by his wife Catherine; his daughter Cindy; his son Dom; and eight grandchildren. He is buried at Rolling Hills Cemetery in Winter Haven, Florida.

References

^ "Memorial Day brings out Wrigley memories". chicagotribune.com. May 30, 2006. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
^ "Retrosheet Boxscore: Milwaukee Braves 11, Chicago Cubs 9 (2)". www.retrosheet.org. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
^ CNN/Sports Illustrated "Worst Individual Seasons By a Team-1962 New York Mets"

External links

Career statistics and player information from ESPN, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers
Rule V Draft
Ultimate Mets Database

[1] "Memorial Day brings out Wrigley memories". chicagotribune.com. May 30, 2006. Retrieved June 2, 2017.

[2] "Retrosheet Boxscore: Milwaukee Braves 11, Chicago Cubs 9 (2)". www.retrosheet.org. Retrieved June 2, 2017.

[3] CNN/Sports Illustrated "Worst Individual Seasons By a Team-1962 New York Mets"

[1]

[2]

[3]