Cal Neeman

Calvin Amandus Neeman (February 18, 1929 – October 1, 2015) was an American professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from 1957 to 1963 for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators.

A native of Valmeyer, Illinois, he threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 192 pounds (87 kg).

[1] He spent six seasons in the Bombers' farm system (missing 1951–52 while performing United States Army service in the Korean War) until his selection by the Cubs in the 1956 Rule 5 draft.

Neeman led all National League catchers in games caught (118), double plays, putouts and caught-stealing as a Cubs' rookie in 1957.

But his production declined drastically in 1959 and he spent the final five years of his MLB tenure as a backup catcher, with parts of 1961–63 back in the minor leagues.