Gedman was The Sporting News' AL Rookie Player of the Year in 1981 and by the age of 25 had become one of baseball's most promising catchers, but was plagued by injuries, holdouts, and inconsistency thereafter.
With a wide-open, weight-back batting stance, Gedman hit 24 homers in 1984 and followed with career highs in average (.295) and RBI (80) in 1985 while throwing out nearly half of opposition basestealers. His average dipped to .258 in 1986, and in 1987 he remained unsigned until May 1, then hit only .205 before injuring his thumb in mid-July.
In 1988 and 1989, Gedman platooned with Rick Cerone. He was traded to Houston for a minor-leaguer in June 1990 and spent the last two seasons of his career with the Cardinals as a backup to Tom Pagnozzi. (SCL/JGR)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»July 27, 1984:
The Red Sox and Tigers almost match shutouts, as the Tigers win 9–1 and the Red Sox come back, 4–0. Rich Gedman's 9th inning homer in the opener off Dan Petry is the only Sox score. Wade Boggs lines four hits and Bob Ojeda allows just three hits in the nitecap to win.
»September 18, 1985: Catcher Rich Gedman hits for the cycle and drives in seven runs as the Red Sox rout Toronto, 13–1.
»January 8, 1987: Ten free agents (Tim Raines, Lance Parrish, Bob Horner, Andre Dawson, Rich Gedman, Ron Guidry, Bob Boone, Doyle Alexander, Toby Harrah, and Gary Roenicke) fail to meet a midnight deadline and thus will not be allowed to re-sign with their former clubs until May 1st if they are not offered contracts by new teams. The general lack of interest in the players will become the focus of the Players' Association's first anti-collusion suit against the owners.
»May 1, 1987: Free-agents Ron Guidry (Yankees), Rich Gedman (Red Sox), Bob Boone (Angels), and Tim Raines (Expos) all re-sign with their former clubs on the first day that they are allowed to do so. Doyle Alexander will re-sign with the Braves on May 5th.
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