Major League Baseball Player, Coach. For eleven seasons (1964 to 1974), he was a catcher with the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates. Born Michael James Ryan, he attended St. James High School in Massachusetts, prior to being selected by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1960. He made his Major League debut on October 3, 1964 and two seasons later (1966), he secured the starting catcher position. In 1967, he experienced an American League Pennant with the Boston Red Sox team known as the 'Impossible Dream" and recorded two plate appearances during the 1967 World Series. While with the Phillies in 1969, he produced a career high 91 hits of which included 12 home runs. In 1971, Ryan caught the ceremonial ball dropped from a helicopter during the pregame opening of Veterans Stadium. In 636 career regular season games, he compiled 370 hits with a lifetime .193 batting average. After retiring as a player, he coached in the Minor League (1975 to 1979) with the Pirates and Phillies. He returned to the Major Leagues in 1980 and served as the Phillies bullpen coach from (1980 to 1995), and was on staff when Philadelphia won the World Series in 1980. He went on to coach on two additional pennant winning teams (1983 and 1993 Phillies).
Major League Baseball Player, Coach. For eleven seasons (1964 to 1974), he was a catcher with the Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates. Born Michael James Ryan, he attended St. James High School in Massachusetts, prior to being selected by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1960. He made his Major League debut on October 3, 1964 and two seasons later (1966), he secured the starting catcher position. In 1967, he experienced an American League Pennant with the Boston Red Sox team known as the 'Impossible Dream" and recorded two plate appearances during the 1967 World Series. While with the Phillies in 1969, he produced a career high 91 hits of which included 12 home runs. In 1971, Ryan caught the ceremonial ball dropped from a helicopter during the pregame opening of Veterans Stadium. In 636 career regular season games, he compiled 370 hits with a lifetime .193 batting average. After retiring as a player, he coached in the Minor League (1975 to 1979) with the Pirates and Phillies. He returned to the Major Leagues in 1980 and served as the Phillies bullpen coach from (1980 to 1995), and was on staff when Philadelphia won the World Series in 1980. He went on to coach on two additional pennant winning teams (1983 and 1993 Phillies).
Bio by: C.S.
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