Bill Plummer

Backup catcher for the Big Red Machine and longtime minor league manager.

William Francis Plummer (March 21, 1947 – March 12, 2024) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher in 1968 and then from 1970 to 1978, most notably as a member of the Cincinnati Reds dynasty that won four National League pennants and two World Series championships between 1970 and 1976. He also played for the Chicago Cubs and the Seattle Mariners.

Quick Facts

Born: 21 March 1947
Birthplace: Oakland, California, U.S.
Died: 12 March 2024
Place of death: Redding, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Debut league: MLB
Debut date: April 19
Debut year: 1968

Lore & Background

Plummer was born in Oakland, California, and attended Anderson Union High School in Anderson, California. After one year at Shasta College, he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals on April 25, 1965, as an amateur free agent. He was a Florida Rookie League All-Star that summer. The Chicago Cubs selected him from the Cardinals on November 28, 1967, in the Rule 5 draft. He made his MLB debut on April 19, 1968, at age 21. The Cubs traded him to the Reds on January 9, 1969. He was Johnny Bench's backup catcher during the Big Red Machine years. He played for the Seattle Mariners in 1978. After his playing career, he managed in the Mariners' system and other organizations, including managing the Seattle Mariners in 1992. He died on March 12, 2024, at his home in Redding, California, after a heart attack.

Did You Know?

Plummer hit two home runs in a 1974 game off Hall of Famer Steve Carlton.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Chico State University while managing the Chico Heat in the late 1990s.
His grandson, Conner Menez, has played in MLB.
A documentary about his career, titled 'Plum: A Baseball Life,' was released in October 2021.