“All I know is when he came to the ballpark, whether it was a home or road game, he had his game face on every day,” Niekro said Wednesday evening when reached at his home. The last of those outs was delivered by his teammate and future Hall of Famer, the knuckleballer Phil Niekro. He entered the Midsummer Classic at what was then known as San Diego Stadium in the top of the ninth inning, crouching behind the plate for the final three outs of the NL’s 7-3 victory. They’re almost like members of the family.īiff Pocoroba was not a great player by any means, though he was good enough to stick with the Braves for nearly a full decade - good enough, even, to earn a spot in the 1978 All-Star Game. It’s curious how certain athletes can become intertwined with your life, taking on an outsized role that defies all logic and reason. “As he retired, he took on being a full-time Papa and chauffeur to his 15 grandchildren,” the obituary said. The funeral home notice said his “number one passion was for his family.” And what a family it was. My wife and I actually went on a quest to find him a few years ago - only to discover, sadly, that he had retired from the specialty sausage shop he ran for more than two decades in suburban Atlanta. Pocoroba, for reasons I will explain shortly, always held a special place in our home. The former Atlanta Braves catcher died last weekend at age 66, a loss I couldn’t let pass with a mere mention of his modest baseball achievements and a decade-long career spent mostly with some truly awful teams. Pocoroba, who played in the 1978 All-Star Game and was a backup on the Braves team that won an improbable NL West title in 1982, has died at age 66. FILE - In this July 12, 1983, file photo, the Phillie Phanatic jumps onto the back of Atlanta Braves catcher Biff Pocoroba, who didn't see the Phillies mascot coming a warmup before a baseball doubleheader in Philadelphia. If having such a splendid, awe-inspiring name was the primary qualifier, he’d be enshrined in Cooperstown for sure. No doubt, one of the greatest baseball monikers of all time. This article was published (1225 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Free Press 101: How we practise journalism."Biff Pocoroba, former Braves catcher, dies at 66" - MLB. "Biff Pocoroba, former Braves catcher and musician, dies at 66" - Atlanta Journal-Constitution "Biff Pocoroba, All-Star catcher for Braves, dies at 66" - ESPN He is remembered as a beloved member of the Braves organization and a talented musician. Pocoroba passed away on June 24, 2020, at the age of 66. He played guitar and sang in a band called the "Biff Pocoroba All-Stars." He also worked as a radio DJ in Atlanta after his playing days were over. Off the field, Pocoroba was known for his love of music. He retired from baseball in 1984 with a career batting average of. He missed significant time in 19 due to a knee injury and a broken wrist, respectively. He was named to the National League All-Star team that year and won a Silver Slugger award.ĭespite his success, Pocoroba's career was plagued by injuries. In 1978, he had his best season, hitting. He made his debut with the team in 1975 and quickly became a fan favorite. Pocoroba was drafted by the Braves in the 17th round of the 1971 Major League Baseball draft. Born on July 25, 1953, in Burbank, California, Pocoroba was known for his strong arm and defensive skills behind the plate. Biff Pocoroba was a catcher for the Atlanta Braves during the 1970s and 1980s.
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