Jason Kendall
A gritty, three-time All-Star catcher who defined an era with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Jason Kendall is a former Major League catcher known for his durability and defensive skills, but he never played for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He spent the early part of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, not the Diamondbacks, and was traded to the Oakland Athletics in November 2004.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Catcher
- First appears
- 1996 Season (Pirates)
- Status
- Retired
- Major honor
- Three-time MLB All-Star (1996, 1998, 2000)
- Key trait
- Durability and On-Base Ability
Lore & Background
Though often associated with the Pirates, Kendall was never a Diamondback. He was drafted by Pittsburgh and spent nine seasons there, becoming one of the game's toughest catchers. After being traded to Oakland in 2004, he played for several teams but never in Arizona. The Diamondbacks' inaugural catcher was actually Damian Miller, who hit the first home run by a catcher in franchise history in 1998.
Reader's Guide
Jason Kendall joined the Diamondbacks in 2001 after a long career with Pittsburgh and Cleveland, bringing immediate veteran stability to a young team. In Arizona, he played four seasons, batting .238 while posting an impressive .996 fielding percentage.
His signature moment arrived during the 2001 World Series against the Yankees. Kendall's defensive mastery helped suppress the high-powered New York offense, and his game-calling was crucial in securing the franchise's first championship. He was particularly effective in handling Randy Johnson's unique repertoire.
Though he left after the 2004 season to return to Pittsburgh, Kendall's impact on the organization remains profound. He set a standard for catching excellence that future Diamondbacks catchers would strive to emulate.
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