Merv Rettenmund

Early life

Rettenmund attended Flint Southwestern High School, playing baseball and American football. After his senior year, he caught for the Buick Colts of the Michigan American Legion, helping the team win city and state championships. He turned down a contract offer from the Detroit Tigers and accepted a football scholarship from Ball State University, where he lettered in both sports. As a football player, he set the school career record for rushing yards per attempt at 7.6 yards. In baseball, he was a two-time All-Indiana Collegiate Conference selection and set the school career home run record. He was inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1976.

Professional career

Rettenmund was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 19th round of the 1965 NFL draft, but he had signed a professional baseball contract with the Baltimore Orioles one day earlier. He began his minor league career in 1965 with the Single-A Stockton Ports. In 1966, he hit .307 with 21 home runs in 127 games in the California League, earning All-Star honors. After hitting .286 in 1967, he suffered a separated shoulder and played winter ball in Venezuela.

In 1968, he received the Minor League Player-of-the-Year award. He helped the Orioles win the 1969 and 1971 American League pennants, the 1970 World Series (hitting a home run in the deciding Game 5), and the 1973 AL Eastern Division. After the trade of Frank Robinson, Rettenmund began the 1972 season as the Orioles' starting right fielder. By 1973, injuries and slumps pushed him out of the starting lineup, and he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in December 1973.

He helped the Reds win the 1975 World Series and the Angels win the 1979 AL Western Division. He later served as hitting coach for the 1989 World Series champion Oakland Athletics, the Athletics' 1990 AL pennant-winners, and the 1998 National League champion San Diego Padres. He finished 19th in 1971 AL MVP voting after a .318 batting average, third-best in the league, with 11 home runs and 75 RBI. His production declined after 1971; from 1972 to 1980 he hit .246.

He was an effective pinch hitter, batting .276. In 13 seasons, he played 1,023 games, batting .271 with 66 home runs and 329 RBI, and recorded a .985 fielding percentage across all three outfield positions.