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Andrew Auguste Etchebarren
Baltimore Orioles
Catcher
Born: June 20, 1943, Whittier, CA
Signed: Signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent before 1961 season
Major League Teams: Baltimore Orioles 1962, 1965-75; California Angels 1975-77; Milwaukee Brewers 1978
World Series Appearances: Baltimore Orioles 1966, 1969, 1970-71
Died: October 5, 2019, Santee, CA (age 76)
A veteran of 15 big league seasons, Andy Etchebarren is best known as a catcher for the Orioles dynasty that went to four World Series between 1966 and 1971, winning titles in 1966 and 1970. A regular in his early years, in which he was named an All-Star in 1966 and 1967, Etchebarren would shift into a platoon role with the Orioles in the late 1960s and through the early 1970s. He played in a career-high 121 games in 1966 while also hitting career bests in home runs (11) and RBIs (50). His next best season came in 1968 when he batted .233 with five home runs and 20 RBIs while serving in a catching platoon with Elrod Hendricks (#277). Manager Earl Weaver (#516) opted for the Etchebarren-Hendricks platoon for four seasons, with Etchebarren going on to share catching duties with Johnny Oates in 1972, and then moving into a back-up role for Earl Williams in 1973 and 1974. He'd leave Baltimore in June 1975 for Anaheim, and Etchebarren would play in his final four seasons with the Angels and (very briefly) the Brewers. In 948 games, he batted .235 with 49 home runs and 309 RBIs.
Died: October 5, 2019, Santee, CA (age 76)
A veteran of 15 big league seasons, Andy Etchebarren is best known as a catcher for the Orioles dynasty that went to four World Series between 1966 and 1971, winning titles in 1966 and 1970. A regular in his early years, in which he was named an All-Star in 1966 and 1967, Etchebarren would shift into a platoon role with the Orioles in the late 1960s and through the early 1970s. He played in a career-high 121 games in 1966 while also hitting career bests in home runs (11) and RBIs (50). His next best season came in 1968 when he batted .233 with five home runs and 20 RBIs while serving in a catching platoon with Elrod Hendricks (#277). Manager Earl Weaver (#516) opted for the Etchebarren-Hendricks platoon for four seasons, with Etchebarren going on to share catching duties with Johnny Oates in 1972, and then moving into a back-up role for Earl Williams in 1973 and 1974. He'd leave Baltimore in June 1975 for Anaheim, and Etchebarren would play in his final four seasons with the Angels and (very briefly) the Brewers. In 948 games, he batted .235 with 49 home runs and 309 RBIs.
Following his playing days, Etchebarren went on to be a long-time major league coach and minor league manager. He coached in the majors with the Angels (1977), Brewers (1985-91) and Orioles (1996-97). He managed in the minor leagues between 2000 and 2012, leading the York Revolution of the Atlantic League to league championships in 2011 and 2012.
December 15, 2024 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
On Sunday, December 15th, Doug and I attended the latest Philly Show, spaciously spread out inside Hall A of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. I wrote a full show report over at The Phillies Room, including some thoughts on attending the show with our oldest son, who first graced the Philly Show floors back in 2012.
Having had success the prior two shows at Uncle Dick's Cards with his well-organized, neon common binders, I opted to pull up a chair once again at the friendly dealer's array of tables. The aim was simple: Clear out Uncle Dick's 1969 Topps commons, starting off where I had left off the year before with card #501 and going through the end of the set, card #664. In less than 25 minutes, I completed my quest, and this is the 79th of 98 commons pulled from the binder. After a generous dealer discount due to my bulk purchase, this card cost me a little less than $1.50.
The Card / Orioles Team Set / Accuracy Index +5
Catchers tend to get the cooler baseball cards, and Etchebarren's card here is no exception. I feel as if this card is used a lot when an example of a 1969 Topps card is needed. The write-up on the back of the card explains why his season was cut short in 1968, and also comments on his above average defense. Baseball Reference confirms Etchebarren's .423 average against the Yankees in 1968.
Accuracy Index: Etchebarren's card earns a +5.
1969 Season
Etchebarren appeared in 73 games overall, batting .249 with three home runs and 26 RBIs. He was Weaver's opening day catcher, and he'd make 59 starts behind the plate to Henricks' 80 starts and Clay Dalrymple's (#151) 23 starts. Etchebarren started Games 2 and 5 of the 1969 World Series against the Mets, but went 0 for 6, as the Mets won in five games.
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First Mainstream Card: 1966 Topps #27
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (13): 1966-78
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2020 Topps Decades' Best (Series One) #DB-27
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 97 in the Beckett online database as of 6/7/25.
Sources:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
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