Project Baseball 1976: 1976 Topps #594 - Rookie Catchers and Outfielders (Merchant, Ott, Stillman, White)

Played in one game (September 28) after the Red Sox clinched the AL East and went 2 for 4.

Appeared as a pinch hitter for the Red Sox twice in June 1976 and struck out both times. That was it for his major league career
Played in AAA in the Red Sox organization from 1974-1979
After his retirement from baseball he worked at Alabama Power as a line-clearing specialist from 1980-2000
Andy's SABR biography

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970
Played in the minors from 1970-1975
Had short stints with the Pirates in 1974 (0 for 5 in seven games) and in 1975 (1 for 5 in five games)
Played in 27 games in 1976 and batted .308 in 39 at bats
Split the catching duties with Duffy Dyer in 1977 --- batted .264 with 7 HR in 104 games
Slammed Mets 2B Felix Milan to the ground during an altercation on August 18, 1977. Milan was hurt and the injury basically ended his career.
Batted .269 with 9 HR in 112 games in 1978
Was the regular catcher for the Pirates in 1979 and batted .273 with 7 HR and 51 RBI in 117 games
Played in three games in the 1979 NLCS and went 3 for 13 (.231)
Batted .333 (4 for 12) in three games in the 1979 World Series
Batted .260 with 8 HR and 41 RBI in 1980
Traded with Mickey Mahler to the California Angels for Jason Thompson after the 1980 season
Played in 75 games for the Angels in 1981 and batted .217
Did not play in 1982
Played in AAA in 1983 and retired after the season.
Coached with the Houston Astros from 1989-1993
Currently manages the Sussex Skyhawks in the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball
Ed Ott reminisces

Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1969
Played in the Dodgers' organization from 1969-1971 and then was traded to the Baltimore Orioles as part of the Frank Robinson deal
Played in AA in 1972 and then played all or parts of four seasons (1973-1976) for AAA Rochester
Played in 13 games for the Orioles in 1975 and went 6 for 14 (.429)
Played in 20 games in 1976 and went 2 for 22 (.091)
Became a free agent after the 1976 season and signed with the Chicago White Sox
Stayed with the White Sox for the entire 1977 season and batted .210 in 119 at bats
Cut by the White Sox at the end of spring training in 1978
Played for AAA Ogden and AAA Salt Lake City in the A's and Mariners organizations from 1978-1980
Held out in 1974. Stillman was one of Rochester's better players but was thought of as enigmatic by some teammates and people around the club

Drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1970 at the age of 17
Played in the minors from 1970-1974
Was called up in September 1974 and went 4 for 10 in nine games
Started the 1975 season in Montreal but was sent down to AAA in late May
Came back to the Expos in September and ended up batting .299 in 39 games
Stayed in Montreal for the entire 1976 season and batted .245 in 114 games
Batted .190 in 16 games for Montreal in 1977 (was in AAA for most of the season)
Started the 1978 season in Montreal and was mostly used as a pinch runner (2 for 10 in 18 games)
Traded to the Chicago Cubs on June 23 for Woodie Fryman
Batted .272 in 59 games for the Cubs in 1978
Traded back to Montreal after the 1978 season with Rodney Scott for Sam Mejias
Batted .297 in 88 games for the Expos in 1979
Played in 110 games and batted .262 with 7 HR in 1980
Slumped to .218 in 59 games in 1981
Went 3 for 18 (.167) in the 1981 NLDS
Batted .313 (5 for 16) in the 1981 NLCS
Batted .243 in 69 games in 1982
Played in 40 games in 1983 and went 5 for 34 (.147). Also spent some time in AAA in 1983
Became a free agent after the 1983 season but was unsigned.
Played in Japan in 1984 and 1985
Signed by the St. Louis Cardinals before the 1986 season
Batted .125 (3 for 24) in 25 games in 1986 and was released on June 12
Has worked for the Minnesota Twins in various capacities since 1987 (except for two years in the mid-1990s when he worked for the Detroit Tigers)
Jerry has been the first base coach for the Twins since 1999.

Project Baseball 1976