Glenn Ezell
Glenn Wayne Ezell
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.
- High School Amphitheater High School
- Born October 29, 1944 in Kentwood, LA USA
- Died November 9, 2020
Biographical Information[edit]
Glenn Ezell caught for 10 years in the minor leagues, including parts of five at AAA. He later managed for 10 years in the minors and coached in the minors and in the majors.
1966-1969: Mets minor leaguer[edit]
He debuted with the 1966 Auburn Mets (.333, 2 RBI) and Greenville Mets (.259/~.343/.396 in 45 games). In 1967, he was with the Durham Bulls and led Carolina League catchers in putouts (842), assists (87) and fielding percentage (.9904). He batted .243/~.316/.339 with a career-high six home runs. In 1968, Glenn put up a .258/~.305/.321 line for the Memphis Blues as a backup in his AA debut.
In 1969, he spent most of the year back in Memphis, hitting .243/~.361/.324; his .996 fielding percentage led Texas League catchers though one of his teammates fielded 1.000 in 57 games and failed to qualify for the lead. In his AAA debut, he went 0 for 4 with a walk in two games for the Tidewater Tides.
1970-1973: Twins farmhand[edit]
Ezell moved to the Minnesota Twins organization in 1970 and produced at a .299/~.410/.427 rate in 49 games. He was far away from qualifying, but would have ranked second in the Southern League in average. He backed up All-Star Rick Dempsey for the Charlotte Hornets. In 1971, the backstop was with the Portland Beavers and got his first extended look at AAA. He hit .276/~.340/.379 with a career-best 40 RBI in 94 games. The Twins moved their top farm club in 1972 to Tacoma, WA, creating the Tacoma Twins. Glenn split time there with Dempsey and Glenn Borgmann, hitting a solid .288/~.358/.348 in 87 contests (184 AB). Returning to Tacoma the next year, he backed up Borgmann and batted .257/~.333/.331 in 51 games. After the season, Minnesota dealt him with Charlie Manuel to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Jim Fairey and Mike Floyd. Glenn wound up in 1974, though, with the San Francisco Giants somehow.
1974: One last year on the field[edit]
Ezell hit .316/~.404/.387 for the 1974 Phoenix Giants in 58 games, his last year playing regularly.
1975-1981: Minor league managing[edit]
Glenn became a manager in 1975, spending two years in the Pittsburgh Pirates' chain with the Niagara Falls Pirates, guiding the club to a 29-40, 5th-place finish, followed by a 35-34, third-place finish in 1976.
The next year, moving to the San Diego Padres' organization, he guided the Reno Silver Sox to a 59-81 season. He took the field and pinch-hit on occasion and hit .375/~.400/.458 in 11 games (25 plate appearances) in his last year as a player. His career average was .268. Ezell led the 1978 Amarillo Gold Sox to a 44-89, last in the Texas League. He began 1979 with Amarillo, but was replaced by Rusty Gerhardt in May when he underwent open heart surgery.
In 1981, he resumed managing in the Padres' chain, guiding the Salem Redbirds to a 66-74 mark. He led the Amarillo Gold Sox to a 61-74 record in 1982.
1983-1994: MLB Coaching and more managing in the minors[edit]
Ezell was the bullpen coach for the Texas Rangers from 1983 to 1985.
Glenn piloted the Ventura County Gulls to a 75-67 record in 1986, their lone year of existance. He then moved to the Knoxville Blue Jays, who went 68-76.
Glenn managed the Omaha Royals to a 81-61 record in 1988 and a playoff loss to the Indianapolis Indians in the finals. He coached for the Kansas City Royals from 1989-1994.
Ezell guided the Modesto A's in 1995 to a fine 78-62 finish.
In 1996, he served as the bench and bullpen coach for the Detroit Tigers.
In 1997 Ezell was the manager of the Toledo Mud Hens until being replaced by Gene Roof due to abdominal surgery. From 1998 through 2001, he was the minor league catching instructor for the Tigers. He also replaced Dave Anderson in Toledo in 2000.
Glenn coached for the 2002 Devil Rays, then was the field coordinator of minor league operations for Detroit for three years. By 2007, Ezell was the director of player development for the Tigers.
Sources include MLB and Baseball America websites, Amphitheater High School Alumni, 1967-1975 and 1978 Baseball Guides
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