Rick Ferrell

Richard Benjamin Ferrell

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 160 lb.
• School Guilford College
• High School Guilford High School (Greensboro)
• Debut April 19, 1929
• Final Game September 14, 1947
• Born October 12, 1905 in Durham, NC USA
• Died July 27, 1995 in Bloomfield Hills, MI USA

Inducted into Hall of Fame in 1984

BR page

Biographical Information

1933 Goudey #197

Hall of Fame Catcher Rick Ferrell was the brother of major league pitcher Wes Ferrell and minor leaguers George Ferrell and Marvin Ferrell. In fact, there were seven brothers in the family, all of whom played baseball, and the six others were pitchers; Ferrell caught them all. There was also, a cousin, Beverley "Red" Ferrell, who played minor league ball from 1934 to 1941. Many people are convinced that the wrong one of the two major league brothers was inducted into Cooperstown.

The other side of the argument, though, is that Ferrell set the record for the most games caught by an American League catcher, a record which stood for several decades. He was strong on defense and was better than most catchers on offense. The eight All-Star Games that he was named to testify that he was seen as a big star in his own time (the first All-Star Game happened when he was already in mid-career or he might have been named to more). After his playing days were over, he spent forty years as a scout and baseball executive.

As of 2007, Ferrell has the 5th most passed balls in the modern era, 142. This was the result of having to catch a number of knuckleball pitchers during his long career.

After his playing career ended, Ferrell was a Washington Senators coach for four seasons from 1946 to 1949, including time as a player/coach in 1947) and and a Detroit Tigers coach from 1950 to 1953. Ferrell was the GM of the Tigers from 1959 to 1962 and assistant GM from 1963 to 1975. He then served as a special assistant to the GM until 1978.

Preceded by John McHale

Detroit Tigers General Manager 1959-1962

Succeeded by Jim Campbell

Notable Achievements

• 8-time AL All-Star (1933-1938, 1944 & 1945)
• Baseball Hall of Fame: Class of 1984

Further Reading

• Kerrie Ferrell and William M. Anderson: Rick Ferrell, Knuckleball Catcher: A Hall of Famer's Life Behind the Plate and in the Front Office, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2010.
• Dick Thompson: The Ferrell Brothers of Baseball, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2005.

Related Sites

• Rick Ferrell at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Minors page