Taubensee spent his rookie season with the Cleveland Indians and then three seasons with the Houston Astros before he found his stroke with the Cincinnati Reds in 1995, when his .288 average kept him in the lineup as the Reds' everyday catcher. A competent fielder with a weak arm (his 19% caught stealing rate was the worst in the majors in 2000), Taubensee depended on his ability at the plate to get playing time. In 1999 he had a breakout year, hitting .311 with 21 homers, the most for a Reds catcher since Johnny Bench hit 24 in 1980.
Despite high hopes for the 2000 season, a series of wrist and leg injuries caused a sharp decline in production, and surgery to repair a bulging disc in his back ended his season after 81 games. In 2001, Taubensee donned a Cleveland Indians uniform, backing up Einar Diaz. His hitting continued to fall off, as he hit only .250 with three dingers in 116 at-bats.
(EPW)
Contribute your recollections of Eddie Taubensee by clicking here.
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»June 19, 1994: The Reds score seven runs in the first inning and go on to defeat Atlanta, 12-4. Hal Morris, Kevin Mitchell, Jeff Branson, and Eddie Taubensee all homer off Braves' starter John Smoltz in the frame, as the Atlanta hurler becomes the 14th pitcher in major league history to surrender four round-trippers in a single inning.
»June 22, 1995:
The Reds defeat the Braves, 9-8, as Cincinnati's Eric Anthony and Eddie Taubensee both hit pinch-hitter home runs in the 8th inning. It is only the 2nd time that a club has hit two pinch homers in the same frame in the National League since 1975.
»August 7, 1998:
Pete Harnisch pitches six innings of shutout ball, and Belinda and Williams continue the whitewash as the Reds roll 17–0 over Milwaukee. Reggie Sanders drives in three runs with two doubles and a homer. Sanders, Sean Casey and Aaron Boone all hit bases loaded doubles in the 12-run 6th inning. Eddie Taubensee and Barry Larkin also homer in the game.
»April 30, 1999: The Braves defeat the Reds, 3–0, on John Smoltz's one–hitter. C Ed Taubensee's 5th–inning single is Cincinnati's only safety.
BALLPLAYERS | TEAMS | CHRONOLOGY | TODAY | BOOKS | NEWSLETTER | ERRATA | FAQ
