Success #14: Butch Wynegar

I've heard Butch Wynegar's name mentioned among the likes of Twins fans older than me. I didn't know anything about him until I began reading up on the team's history this winter.

Wynegar was a second round draft pick of the Twins in 1974. He lit up rookie ball that season and skipped right over Double-A and Triple-A to make the team a full season later in 2006. He made the All-Star game as a rookie, became the youngest player to ever appear in an All-Star game at 20 years old (he batted 0-0, drawing a walk in his only plate appearance), and he finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting in 1976. He made the All-Star game again in 1977 and was on his way to becoming one of the best defensive catchers in the game.

Problem was, the team stunk. And Wynegar's career with the Twins never was as bright as some predicted it would be. By 1981, Wynegar's best years in a Twins uniform were behind him but the team still gave him a 5-year, $2 million contract. However, they traded him the following season, to the Yankees, after starting the season off batting .209. Wynegar said the trade was because owner Calvin Griffith wanted to dump all the high salary players. Griffith said it was because Wynegar wasn't any good. At 20 years old the kid was catching for the American League in the All-Star game as a rookie and at 26 years old, he was being shown the door.

He found new life in a Yankee uniform though and lasted 6 seasons in New York. He caught a no-hitter from pitcher Dave Righetti on July 4. The Yankees resigned Wynegar at the end of his contract for a few more years but the pressure of playing in New York was something Wynegar had tired of. In 1986, Wynegar threatened sitting for the remainder of the year if he wasn't traded. The Angels were suitors and Wynegar finished his career as a back up catcher, for two more seasons.

Aaron Gleeman called him "Joe Mauer before there was Joe Mauer." Many thought Wynegar should have been part of Fox North's 50 Greatest Twins, when Target Field was unveiled. Gleeman has him as #31, on his list of all-time Twins greats.

Today, Wynegar is the hitting coach for the New York Yankees Triple-A team in Scranton. Obviously, no remaining bad blood.

Wynegar may be the nicest man I've heard back from, based on the success I had. Not only did he return the ball, he personalized it with my name (shown below), and stuck an old Topps rookie card of himself in the package (shown above). All I had asked for was the baseball signed. No requested inscription. He even tapped the return mailer all up and wrote "fragile" on it in Sharpie a few times.

Mailed: 2/29/12
Received: 3/21/12 (21 days)