Biff Pocoroba: Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|American baseball player (1953–2020)}}

'''Biff Benedict Pocoroba''' (July 25, 1953{{spnd}}May 24, 2020) was an American [[baseball]] [[catcher]] who played ten seasons in [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). He played his entire career for the [[Atlanta Braves]] from 1975-84 to 1984. Although his primary position was catcher, Pocoroba played at [[third baseman|third base]] as well.

Pocoroba was born in [[Burbank, California]], on July 25, 1953.<ref name=AP>{{cite news|title=Former Braves C Biff Pocoroba dies at 66; All-Star in 1978|url=https://apnews.com/10884e0f385c684afe3877d113bdf924|first=Paul|last=Newberry|date=May 27, 2020|accessdate=May 28, 2020|agencywork=Associated Press}}</ref> He was the second of Victor and Ida Pocoroba's seven children.<ref name="AJC obit">{{cite news|title=Pocoroba, Biff obituary|url=https://www.ajc.com/classifieds/obituaries-announcements/pocoroba-biff/mBZGO8QjX34Ck7Bj2g8wuK/|date=May 27, 2020|accessdate=May 28, 2020|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529105108/https://www.ajc.com/classifieds/obituaries-announcements/pocoroba-biff/mBZGO8QjX34Ck7Bj2g8wuK/|archivedate=May 29, 2020}}</ref> He attended [[Canoga Park High School]],<ref name=AP/> where he displaced [[Bob Adams (first baseman)|Bob Adams]] – a fellow future major league player – as the school team's starting [[catcher]] in 1969. He was also selected as an All-City player.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Short, Memorable Tour of Detroit: Twice Around the Bases on Home Runs Fulfilled Adams’Adams' Major League Dream|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-24-sp-16578-story.html|first=Irene|last=Garcia|date=June 24, 1995|accessdate=May 28, 2020|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528175640/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-24-sp-16578-story.html|archivedate=May 28, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

Pocoroba graduated from Canoga Park High in 1971.<ref name="AJC obit"/> He was subsequently drafted by the [[Atlanta Braves]] in the 17th round of the [[1971 Major League Baseball Draft|that year's MLB draft]].<ref name=AP/>

Pocoroba began his professional baseball career with the [[Wytheville Cubs|Wytheville Braves]], a [[minor league baseball|minor league]] baseball team that were members of the [[Appalachian League]].<ref name=BRm>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pocoro001bif|title=Biff Pocoroba Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=May 28, 2020}}</ref> He had just one [[plate appearance]] with the [[Richmond Braves]] in 1972, before spending the rest of the year with the [[Greenwood Braves]]. There, he batted .259 with seven [[home run]]s and 29 [[Run batted in|runs batted in]] (RBIs) in 42 [[games played]], enough to earn him a promotion to the Class-AA [[Savannah Braves]] of the [[Southern League (baseball1964–2020)|Southern League]] in the following season. He played 193 games for that team from 1973 to 1974. Although he hit three fewer home runs and one fewer RBI in his second season, he managed to raise his [[Batting average (baseball)|batting average]] from .234 to .311.<ref name=BRm/>

During his stint in the minor leagues, Pocoroba was noted for demonstrating good defense together with "strong on-base skills".<ref name=Calcaterra>{{cite web|title=Former Braves catcher Biff Pocoroba dies|url=https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2020/05/27/former-braves-catcher-biff-pocoroba-dies/|first=Craig|last=Calcaterra|date=May 27, 2020|accessdate=May 28, 2020|publisher=NBC Sports|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529112237/https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2020/05/27/former-braves-catcher-biff-pocoroba-dies/|archivedate=May 29, 2020}}</ref> As a rookie, Pocoroba attracted attention during spring training in 1975 by throwing out 11 straight would-be [[Stolen base|base stealers]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061005135520/http://www.baseballlibrarybaseballbiography.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/P/Pocoroba_Biff.stmbiff-pocoroba Biff Pocoroba at Baseballlibrary.com]</ref>

Pocoroba made his Major League Baseball debut on April 25, 1975, at the age of 21,<ref name=BR>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pocorbi01.shtml|title=Biff Pocoroba Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=May 28, 2020}}</ref> entering as a defensive replacement in a 5–3 loss to the [[San Diego Padres]] at [[SDCCU Stadium|San Diego Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN197504250.shtml|title=April 25, 1975 Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres Play by Play and Box Score|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|date=April 25, 1975|accessdate=May 28, 2020}}</ref> He endeared himself with fans despite the Braves performing poorly during his tenure there.<ref name="AJC Burns">{{cite news|title=Former Braves All-Star Biff Pocoroba dies|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/former-braves-all-star-bill-pocoroba-dies/ZZJreFRUJEpsdEa75I0OrK/|first=Gabriel|last=Burns|date=May 27, 2020|accessdate=May 28, 2020|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529012855/https://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/former-braves-all-star-bill-pocoroba-dies/ZZJreFRUJEpsdEa75I0OrK/|archivedate=May 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Snyder>{{cite web|title=Biff Pocoroba, former Atlanta Braves All-Star, dies at 66|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/biff-pocoroba-former-atlanta-braves-all-star-dies-at-66/|first=Matt|last=Snyder|date=May 27, 2020|accessdate=May 28, 2020|publisherwork=CBS Sports|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529111914/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/biff-pocoroba-former-atlanta-braves-all-star-dies-at-66/|archivedate=May 29, 2020}}</ref> This was partly attributed to "the sound of his name".<ref name="AJC Burns"/> His best season was in 1977, when he achieved a career-best 113 games played, a .290 batting average, eight home runs, 24 [[Double (baseball)|doubles]], and 44 RBIs.<ref name=AP/><ref name=BR/> It was the only season in his career in which he played over 100 games.<ref name=Calcaterra/> Defensively, he finished second in the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] (NL) in [[passed ball]]s (15) and [[stolen base]]s allowed (103). However, he compensated for this by recording the third highest [[range factor]] per nine innings (6.99) as catcher, while finishing fifth in [[Assist (baseball)|assists]] (78) and [[fielding percentage]] (.989) at his position and catching the fifth highest number of [[Baserunning|baserunners]] stealing (52).<ref name=BR/> He also earned the NL [[Major League Baseball Player of the Week Award|Player of the Week Award]] for the week of May 16 to 22 that same year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/mlb-players-of-the-week.shtml|title=MLB Major League Baseball Players of the Week|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=May 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Abdul‐Jabbar Is Chosen M.V. P. for a Fifth Time|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/05/24/archives/abduljabbar-is-chosen-mvp-for-a-fifth-time.html|first=Sam|last=Goldaper|date=May 24, 1977|accessdate=May 28, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> During that period, he batted .555 with two home runs and seven RBIs, culminating with a [[Pinch hitter|pinch-hit]], [[Walk-off home run|walk-off]] [[Grand slam (baseball)|grand slam]] against the [[Montreal Expos]] on May 17.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sports Briefs|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/holland-sentinel-may-25-1977-p-11/|page=11|date=May 25, 1977|accessdate=May 28, 2020|agency=United Press International|newspaper=The Holland Sentinel|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529024626/https://newspaperarchive.com/holland-sentinel-may-25-1977-p-11/|archivedate=May 29, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ATL/ATL197705170.shtml|title=May 17, 1977 Montreal Expos at Atlanta Braves Play by Play and Box Score|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|date=May 17, 1977|accessdate=May 28, 2020}}</ref> After the season concluded, he requested to be traded, but eventually signed a seven-year contract to remain with the Braves.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Week (April 30–May 6) – NL West|url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1978/05/15/the-week-april-30-may-6|date=May 15, 1978|accessdate=May 28, 2020|first=Herman|last=Weiskopf|page=58|work=SI.com|publisher=Sports Illustrated|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529025811/https://vault.si.com/vault/1978/05/15/the-week-april-30-may-6|archivedate=May 29, 2020}}</ref>

Pocoroba was selected to the NL [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team as a [[reserve (sport)|reserve]] in 1978.<ref name=AP/> He entered as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning of [[1978 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|the game]]. After catching [[Bruce Sutter]] for the first two [[Out (baseball)|outs]], he recorded the final out with his Braves teammate [[Phil Niekro]].<ref name=AP/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1978-allstar-game.shtml|title=July 11, 1978 All-Star Game Play by Play and Box Score|work=Baseball-Reference.com|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|date=July 11, 1978 |accessdate=May 29, 2020}}</ref> That year, Pocoroba finished with a .242 batting average, six home runs and 34 RBIs in 92 games. Defensively, he led NL catchers in [[range factor]] per game (6.29), but allowed the fourth-most stolen bases (82) and again finished second in passed balls (12).<ref name=BR/> Injuries to his shoulder took its toll on Pocoroba, who played an average of 53 games from 1979 to 1983.<ref name="AJC Burns"/> Consequently, his lost out on playing time and was demoted to the role of a backup and pinch hitter.<ref name=Calcaterra/><ref name=AP/> He played more games as a [[third baseman]] (21) than as a catcher (9) during the 1981 season,<ref name=BR/> serving as a replacement for the injured [[Bob Horner]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bruce Benedict talks about former teammate Biff Pocoroba|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/braves/news/bruce-benedict-remembers-former-teammate-biff-pocoroba|date=May 28, 2020|accessdate=May 31, 2020|first=Bill|last=Shanks|work=SI.com|publisher=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>

After retiring from baseball, Pocoroba operated a specialty meat business called Sausage World,<ref>{{cite news|title=Column: Remembering an old family friend, Biff Pocoroba|url=https://apnews.com/eb26b4ddd6d5ec06eb555075a3b36002|first=Paul|last=Newberry|date=May 28, 2020|accessdate=May 28, 2020|agencywork=Associated Press}}</ref> together with his brothers, Joe and Steve.<ref name=Caruso>{{cite news|title=Silver Bullets women's baseball team may be sold|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/1997/12/22/newscolumn1.html|first=Gary|last=Caruso|date=December 22, 1997|accessdate=May 28, 2020|newspaper=Atlanta Business Chronicle}}</ref> It was located in [[Lilburn, Georgia|Lilburn]], in the suburbs of [[Atlanta]],<ref name=AP/><ref name=Reddy>{{cite news|title=Catch up with Braves legend at farmers market|url=https://www.forsythnews.com/local/business/catch-up-with-braves-legend-at-farmers-market/|first=Frank|last=Reddy|date=December 22, 2008|accessdate=May 28, 2020|newspaper=Forsyth County News|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528171937/https://www.forsythnews.com/local/business/catch-up-with-braves-legend-at-farmers-market/|archivedate=May 28, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> and he worked there for almost three decades.<ref name=Reddy/> He recalled how his grandfather made the family sausage when he was young,<ref name=Reddy/> and some of the gourmet sausages made by the company came "from old family recipes".<ref name=Caruso/>

[[Category:SportspeopleBaseball players from Burbank, California]]