John VanOrnum
| John VanOrnum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: October 20, 1939 Pasadena, California | |
| Died: July 6, 2024 (aged 84) |
John Clayton VanOrnum (October 20, 1939 — July 6, 2024)[1][2] was an American professional baseball player, manager, coach and scout. From 1980 through 1984, VanOrnum served as the bullpen coach of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball.[1]
Primarily a catcher during his six-year minor league playing career (1959–64), he was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels organizations, then managed in the Giants' farm system at the Class A and Double-A levels from 1973 to 1978. He threw and batted right-handed, and stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg).[3]
After his term as a Giants' coach under Dave Bristol, Frank Robinson and Danny Ozark,[4] VanOrnum then worked as a Major League and advance scout for the Giants, Dodgers, Angels and Atlanta Braves through 2004.
Early in his playing career, VanOrnum served as the catcher on the 1959–60 television series Home Run Derby, which was filmed at Los Angeles' Wrigley Field.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "John Van Ornum". www.retrosheet.org. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "John Van Ornum Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2023-12-15.
- ^ "Giants Coaches" SF Giants Organization. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
- ^ Nevada State Journal, July, 1960, p. 9
- 1939 births
- 2024 deaths
- Anaheim Angels scouts
- American expatriate baseball players in Mexico
- Atlanta Braves scouts
- Baseball coaches from California
- Baseball players from Pasadena, California
- Broncos de Reynosa players
- Great Falls Electrics players
- Greenville Spinners players
- Los Angeles Dodgers scouts
- Major League Baseball bullpen coaches
- Major League Baseball scouts
- Minor league baseball managers
- Odessa Dodgers players
- Reno Silver Sox players
- San Francisco Giants coaches
- San Francisco Giants scouts
- San Jose Bees players