[1] He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Cleveland Indians.

[3] Born in Detroit, Michigan, Essian was signed at age 18 by the Philadelphia Phillies as an undrafted amateur free agent, out of Arizona State in 1969.

Having amassed only 24 major league at-bats during three seasons with the Phillies, on May 7, 1975, Essian was traded (along with Barry Bonnell and cash considerations) to the Atlanta Braves for Dick Allen and Johnny Oates; on May 15, Essian was selected by the Chicago White Sox (from Atlanta), as the player to be named later, thereby completing the December 1974 trade in which the Braves had originally acquired Allen from the White Sox.

[6] After three seasons with the Oakland Athletics, he returned to the White Sox in 1981 where, he served as a back up catcher to future Baseball Hall of Fame member Carlton Fisk.

Though the Marlins were a Single-A team, ownership was aggressive in signing former major league players in order to increase interest and game attendance.

The Marlins added Essian and such fading big league players as Broderick Perkins, Juan Eichelberger, Derrel Thomas, Ed Farmer, and Mike Torrez.