Catalanotto Retires

One of the more underrated players in recent times, in my estimation, was Frank Catalanotto.
The veteran utility guy retired today after 14 big league seasons and a lifetime .291average. I know what you are thinking, "He batted .291?" Yes he did, with five teams over the course of his career, the Tigers, Rangers (twice), Blue Jays, Brewers and Mets.
I followed his career closely for one simple reason. In 1998, while at a Blue Jays-Yankees game in the Bronx, I sat next to Catalanotto's dad. His son was playing for the Tigers at the time so I asked him why he was at this game? He said, "I'm a Yankees fan."
So, that is how I started following Catalanotto's career. He ends up with 1,113 career hits (one less than Bucky F. Dent, mentioned in the previous post) with 84 homers and 457 RBI's. He never played in the post-season.
A superstar career? No. An All-Star career? No. But Frank Catalanotto had a very solid, respectable Major League career. Real solid.