Steve Demeter
Stephen Demeter (January 27, 1935 – February 3, 2013) was an American professional baseball player and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman for two seasons.
| Steve Demeter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Third baseman | |||
| Born: January 27, 1935 Homer City, Pennsylvania | |||
| Died: February 3, 2013 (aged 78) Parma, Ohio | |||
| |||
| MLB debut | |||
| July 29, 1959, for the Detroit Tigers | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| May 6, 1960, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .087 | ||
| Home runs | 0 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1 | ||
| Teams | |||
Career
Demeter played for the Detroit Tigers in 1959. Prior to the 1960 season he was traded to the Cleveland Indians for Norm Cash. The trade turned out to be one of the most lop-sided trades in Major League Baseball history, as Demeter played only four games for the Indians before being returned to the minor leagues, from which he never returned.[1] Cash went on to win the 1961 AL batting championship and was one of the top sluggers of the 1960s, hitting 377 career home runs.[2]
Demeter was a fixture of the Rochester Red Wings teams of the mid- to late 1960s, hitting 272 minor league home runs in his long career, and has been inducted into both the Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame, in 1990, and the International League Hall of Fame, in 2009.
He served one year (in 1985) as a coach with the MLB Pittsburgh Pirates, working at first base through June 13, and then as bench coach, and also managed for nine seasons in the Pirates' farm system, at the helm of the Sherbrooke Pirates (1972), Salem Pirates (1973; 1976–77), Charleston Charlies (1974–75), Shreveport Captains (1978), and Buffalo Bisons (1979–80). He also was a roving instructor and scout for the Bucs.
Personal life
Demeter's grandson, Derek Dietrich, is a professional baseball player.[3]
References
- Pattison, Mark (2002). Detroit Tigers Lists and More: Runs, Hits, and Eras. United States: Wayne State University Press. p. 377. ISBN 9780814330401.
- Segall, Grant (February 6, 2013). "Fans mostly remember minor league star Steve Demeter for the Norm Cash trade". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 6, 2013.
- Star News Online
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Retrosheet
- Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Franchise established |
Sherbrooke Pirates manager 1972 |
Succeeded by Tim Murtaugh |
| Preceded by Joe Morgan |
Charleston Charlies manager 1974–1975 |
Succeeded by Tim Murtaugh |
| Preceded by Tim Murtaugh |
Shreveport Captains manager 1978 |
Succeeded by Andy Gilbert |
| Preceded by Franchise established |
Buffalo Bisons manager 1979–1980 |
Succeeded by Johnny Lipon |
| Preceded by Alex Monchak |
Pittsburgh Pirates first base coach 1985 April 9–June 13 |
Succeeded by Willie Stargell |
| Preceded by Milt Graff |
Pittsburgh Pirates bench coach 1985 June 14–October 6 |
Succeeded by Bill Virdon |