A die-hard Red Sox fan who attended Carl Yastrzemski's last game in 1983, Ausmus set two goals for himself as a youth: to become a major-league ballplayer, and to attend Dartmouth. Both dreams came true. Ausmus graduated with a degree in government in 1991, and later became a solid big-league backstop, known for his strong arm and smart handling of pitchers.
Ausmus, who played high school ball with future NHL defenseman Brian Leetch, was selected by the New York Yankees in the 47th round of the 1987 draft. He initially refused to sign, but eventually relented when the Yankees agreed to allow him to attend classes at Dartmouth while working his way up the minor-league ladder. Ausmus moved to the Colorado Rockies organization in the 1992 expansion draft, and finally made it to the majors when he was traded to the San Diego Padres midway through the 1993 season.
Ausmus was pressed into duty as the regular catcher on the last-place Padres, a team that had used four other catchers that season in an effort to replace the departed Benito Santiago. He kept the job for three years, maturing as a hitter and continuing to enhance his reputation behind the plate. He nabbed 39% of opposing baserunners in 1995, second in the NL only to the Marlins' Charles Johnson, and swiped 16 bases himself, the most by any catcher since Craig Biggio stole 19 in 1991.
But Ausmus -- a notoriously slow starter -- hit just .184 in 103 at-bats to begin the 1996 season, and lost his starting job to Brian Johnson in May. A month later, he was traded to Detroit with Andujar Cedeno for John Flaherty and Chris Gomez. After the season, he was sent back to the National League as part of a ten-player deal between Detroit and Houston.
In his first year with the Astros, Ausmus appeared in a career-high 130 games, garnering more than 100 hits, 20 doubles and 40 RBI for the first time in his career and leading the league in caught-stealing percentage. The following season, he finished second to Charles Johnson in the NL Gold Glove voting but was traded back to Detroit in January.
"I don't put up All-Star-type numbers," Ausmus always insisted, but he finally earned a chance to attend the Midsummer Classic as the lone Tigers representative in 1999. He had been selected by Yankees manager Joe Torre, who had no idea that Ausmus' old room in Connecticut still featured a prominent sign: "Yankees Stink."
Ausmus usually hit second for the Tigers, but started seven games in the leadoff spot --the first Tigers catcher to do so since Bruce Kimm in 1976. He had also never before appeared in more than 130 games as a catcher, but in 2000 Ausmus caught 150 games, starting 140. In doing so, Ausmus also set the AL single-season record for fewest passed balls. However, he didn't seem to impress the Tigers enough, because he was returned to the Astros in a six-player deal in December. (JGR)
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»December 10, 1996: The Tigers make their biggest trade since 1957, sending four players to Houston in exchange for five Astros. Detroit C Brad Ausmus, P Jose Lima, lefties C.J. Nitkowski and Trever Miller, and IF Daryle Ward go to the National League for starters Brian Hunter and Orlando Miller, Doug Brocail and Todd Jones, and a player to come later. Brocail, also involved in the 1994 12-player swap between San Diego and Houston, will be Detroit's Opening Day pitcher in April.
»August 2, 1997: Houston C Brad Ausmus becomes the first catcher to wear the Fox Sports Catcher-Cam, a small camera on the top of his mask, in the Astros' 6–0 win over the Mets.
»August 23, 1998:
Leadoff man Craig Biggio's double, two home runs, and six RBIs pace the Astros to a 13–3 victory over the Cubs. C Brad Ausmus also contributes to the cause with four hits and five ribbies for Houston. OF Sammy Sosa hits a pair of homers for Chicago, giving him 51 on the year.
»January 14, 1999:
The Tigers obtain C Brad Ausmus and P C.J. Nitkowski from the Astros in exchange for C Paul Bako, pitchers Dean Crow, Mark Persails and Brian Powell, and 3B Carlos Villalobos.
»July 4, 2000:
In the Tigers 11–0 blowout over Tampa Bay, Shane Halter takes over the catching duties in the 8th from Detroit's Brad Ausmus. Halter has now played every position in the majors: with the Royals, he pitched on July 17, 1998. Dave Mlicki is the winner with Dean Palmer powering a pair of home runs.
»September 21, 2002:
Behind Wade Miller's 12th straight win, Houston beats the Cardinals, 6–3. Miller's streak ties a club record. Lance Berkman has a double and homer, driving in three runs, and Eli Marrero hits a home run for the 3rd straight game. Miller's batterymate Brad Ausmus collects his 1000th career hit, but also ties the NL record with his 30th GIDP of the season. Ernie Lombardi had 30 GIDP to set the mark.
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