Major League Baseball Player. Nicknamed "The Mule," he spent eight years in the major leagues as a catcher, from 1966 to 1973. The first six years with the Giants, one with Dodgers and one with the Braves. He was an All-Star in 1970 and a key member of the Giants 1971 NL West division champs. His all-star season he batted .300, with 36 doubles, 22 home runs and 107 RBIs, along with 109 walks, lifetime batting average was .261, with 66 home runs and 301 runs batted in. He is best remembered for being the principal in a controversial umpire's decision on May 31, 1968. Dietz was batting against the Dodgers' Don Drysdale, who was in the process of setting a major league record of 58 2/3 consecutive scoreless when he was hit my a pitch with the bases loaded and no outs in the ninth inning. The home plate umpire ruled that Dietz did not try to get out of the way of the ball. Dietz returned to the plate with a full count and hit a fly ball out, the next two batters were retired to finish the shutout and extend Drysdale's streak. After his retirement as a player, he served as a minor-league coach and manager. He managed the Giants' San Jose Class-A team in 1994 to 1995 and the independent Sonoma County Crushers in 1996 to 1999. Cause of death, heart attack at age 63.
Major League Baseball Player. Nicknamed "The Mule," he spent eight years in the major leagues as a catcher, from 1966 to 1973. The first six years with the Giants, one with Dodgers and one with the Braves. He was an All-Star in 1970 and a key member of the Giants 1971 NL West division champs. His all-star season he batted .300, with 36 doubles, 22 home runs and 107 RBIs, along with 109 walks, lifetime batting average was .261, with 66 home runs and 301 runs batted in. He is best remembered for being the principal in a controversial umpire's decision on May 31, 1968. Dietz was batting against the Dodgers' Don Drysdale, who was in the process of setting a major league record of 58 2/3 consecutive scoreless when he was hit my a pitch with the bases loaded and no outs in the ninth inning. The home plate umpire ruled that Dietz did not try to get out of the way of the ball. Dietz returned to the plate with a full count and hit a fly ball out, the next two batters were retired to finish the shutout and extend Drysdale's streak. After his retirement as a player, he served as a minor-league coach and manager. He managed the Giants' San Jose Class-A team in 1994 to 1995 and the independent Sonoma County Crushers in 1996 to 1999. Cause of death, heart attack at age 63.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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