Chris Cannizzaro

Born: 5/3/1938 in Oakland, CA, USA

Died: 12/29/2016 in San Diego, CA, USA

MLB Debut: 1960-04-17 | Final Game: 1974-09-28

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: Christopher John Cannizzaro

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Biography

Chris Cannizzaro was a professional baseball player born in 1938, who played in Major League Baseball from 1960 until 1974. Primarily a catcher, Cannizzaro was known for his solid defensive skills and game management behind the plate, which were vital during an era of significant offensive evolution in baseball. Over his 15-year career, he appeared in 740 games, accumulating 458 hits, 18 home runs, and 169 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .235. Cannizzaro's contributions to his teams extended beyond statistics, as he played an integral role in guiding pitchers and managing games, a skill highly regarded during his playing days. In 1962, Cannizzaro earned an All-Star selection, recognizing his impact in a league that was increasingly competitive and filled with emerging talent. His career spanned several notable periods in baseball, including the transition from the deadball era to a more offense-driven game in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite not being a prolific offensive player, Cannizzaro's work ethic and reliability made him a respected figure in the locker room and a valuable asset to the teams he played for, including the New York Mets and the San Diego Padres. He left a lasting legacy as a dependable catcher who exemplified the gritty determination and dedication characteristic of his generation of players.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
740	1950	132	458	66	12	18	169	3	241	354	0.235	0.319	0.309	0.628	-2368.4

Career AVG .235 vs. league average .251 across their career seasons — 6.3% below league average.

Career OBP .319 vs. league average .318 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .309 vs. league average .373 across their career seasons — 17.3% below league average.

Career OPS 0.628 vs. league average 0.691 across their career seasons — 9.2% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1960	STL	NL	7	9	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	1	3	0.222	—	—	—	—	0.0
1961	STL	NL	6	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.500	—	—	—	—	0.0
1962	NYN	NL	59	133	9	32	2	1	0	9	1	19	26	0.241	.257 (-7%)	.326 (+3%)	.393 (-31%)	.719 (-16%)	-307.5
1963	NYN	NL	16	33	4	8	1	0	0	4	0	1	8	0.242	—	—	—	—	0.0
1964	NYN	NL	60	164	11	51	10	0	0	10	0	14	28	0.311	.250 (+24%)	.312 (+17%)	.377 (-2%)	.690 (+7%)	237.1
1965	NYN	NL	114	251	17	46	8	2	0	7	0	28	60	0.183	.245 (-25%)	.310 (-13%)	.371 (-38%)	.682 (-27%)	-1147.4
1968	PIT	NL	25	58	5	14	2	2	1	7	0	9	13	0.241	.236 (+2%)	.298 (+15%)	.340 (+17%)	.638 (+16%)	149.1
1969	SDP	NL	134	418	23	92	14	3	4	33	0	42	81	0.220	.248 (-11%)	.320 (-9%)	.369 (-20%)	.689 (-15%)	-1181.3
1970	SDP	NL	111	341	27	95	13	3	5	42	2	48	49	0.279	.253 (+10%)	.325 (+12%)	.385 (-2%)	.711 (+5%)	431.1
1971	SDP	NL	21	63	2	12	1	0	1	8	0	11	10	0.190	.249 (-24%)	.316 (+1%)	.365 (-30%)	.682 (-16%)	-112.3
1971	CHC	NL	71	197	18	42	8	1	5	23	0	28	24	0.213	.249 (-14%)	.316 (-2%)	.365 (-7%)	.682 (-4%)	-112.3
1972	LAD	NL	73	200	14	48	6	0	2	18	0	31	38	0.240	.243 (-2%)	.310 (+10%)	.353 (-15%)	.664 (-4%)	-1.9
1973	LAD	NL	17	21	0	4	0	0	0	3	0	3	3	0.190	—	—	—	—	0.0
1974	SDP	NL	26	60	2	11	1	0	0	4	0	6	11	0.183	.256 (-29%)	.324 (-21%)	.369 (-46%)	.693 (-34%)	-315.6

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
C	714	617	3161	333	62	42
OF	1	0	1	0	0	0

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1960	SLN	C	6	3	19	3	0	1
1961	SLN	C	5	0	5	0	0	0
1962	NYN	C	56	42	218	34	7	3
1962	NYN	OF	1	0	1	0	0	0
1963	NYN	C	15	10	49	6	0	0
1964	NYN	C	53	47	225	28	3	6
1965	NYN	C	112	103	435	69	12	8
1968	PIT	C	25	18	111	10	3	1
1969	SDN	C	132	128	644	69	9	8
1970	SDN	C	110	100	559	44	12	5
1971	SDN	C	19	19	114	6	1	2
1971	CHN	C	70	61	311	26	6	2
1972	LAN	C	72	59	312	26	6	4
1973	LAN	C	13	4	33	0	0	0
1974	SDN	C	26	23	126	12	3	2