George Bjorkman

George Anton Bjorkman

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.
• School Oral Roberts University
• High School Chaffey High School
• Debut July 10, 1983
• Final Game October 2, 1983
• Born August 26, 1956 in Ontario, CA USA

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Biographical Information

George Bjorkman played 29 games with the Houston Astros in 1983. Due to a good ability to draw walks and some power, he had an above average OPS+. His greatest day came on July 13, 1983, when he drove in five runs and caught Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. Source: SABR article: July 13, 1983: Bjorkman knocks in five in cup of coffee for Astros [1].

George was born in southern California and spent eight seasons in the minors in four different organizations. Five of the eight years were spent in the St. Louis Cardinals organization, and he hit 28 home runs in Triple A in 1981. However. the Cardinals were a very good team in 1981 and 1982, winning the 1982 World Series, and Bjorkman was traded in the spring of 1983, which allowed him to make his major league debut with the Houston Astros that summer. Of the players who appeared at catcher for the 1983 Astros, Bjorkman was the strongest hitter. But the regular, Alan Ashby, was not to be dislodged - he caught for the Astros from 1979 to 1989. After his lone major league season, Bjorkman was traded to the Montreal Expos for fellow catcher Tom Wieghaus, but he never appeared in another big league game.

Ontario, CA has been the birthplace of several catchers. In addition to George, Del Crandall and Rod Barajas were born there. Prince Fielder was also born there, but he was not a catcher.