Jesse Gonder

Catcher

Born: January 20, 1936
Monticello, Arkansas

Died: November 14, 2004 (aged 68)
Oakland, California

Batted: Left

Threw: Right

MLB debut

September 23, 1960, for the New York Yankees

Last MLB appearance

June 17, 1967, for the Pittsburgh Pirates

MLB statistics

.251

Teams

New York Yankees (1960–1961)
Cincinnati Reds (1962–1963)
New York Mets (1963–1965)
Milwaukee Braves (1965)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1966–1967)

Jesse Lemar Gonder (January 20, 1936 – November 14, 2004) was an American professional baseball player. A catcher, he appeared in 395 games in the Major Leagues over eight seasons (1960–67) for the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Milwaukee Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates. Gonder batted left-handed, threw right-handed, and was listed as 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and 180 pounds (82 kg). He played for Baseball Hall of Fame manager Casey Stengel with both the Yankees (1960) and Mets (1963–65).

He was born in Monticello, Arkansas, but attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, alma mater of Basketball Hall of Fame center Bill Russell, as well as two of Gonder's future MLB teammates, Frank Robinson and Vada Pinson. Gonder signed with Cincinnati in 1955 and began his 15-year professional career. Acquired by the Yankees' Triple-A Richmond Virginians affiliate in 1960, he made his MLB debut that September and hit a pinch home run at Yankee Stadium off Bill Monbouquette for his first big-league hit on September 30. He was a member of the Yankees for the first weeks of the 1961 season as a pinch hitter before being sent back to Richmond for the rest of the season. The Reds then reacquired Gonder in an off-season trade for pitcher Marshall Bridges.