Michael Lynn Compton (born August 15, 1944), is an American former professional baseball catcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

, in . Compton attended Sul Ross State University. In 1965, he was signed as an amateur free agent, by the Philadelphia Phillies. On May 2, 1970, Phillies catchers Mike Ryan and Tim McCarver both had a hand broken in the same game, against the San Francisco Giants. With their catching corps depleted, the Phillies had to use Jim Hutto,

Del Bates Delbert Oakley "Del" (or "Butch") Bates Jr. (June 12, 1940 – September 24, 2009), was an American professional baseball catcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, in . In 22 career games, he had 8 hits, in ...

, Doc Edwards, and Compton at the position. Bates and Compton had never played in the Major Leagues before 1970. Edwards, the Phillies’ bullpen coach, had last played in MLB, in . Compton batted .165, in 110 at bats, with one home run. Before the 1970 season was over, he was demoted to the Triple-A Eugene Emeralds, of the

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

. Compton would spend the rest of his professional career playing for the Emeralds. Compton does hold the distinction of being one of five players to get the only hit off Tom Seaver in Seaver's career of one-hit shutouts before he finally pitched a no-hitter in 1978. On May 15, 1970, he singled in the third inning off Seaver in a 4-0 shutout. After his playing career was over, Compton managed and coached in the

farm system In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team, feeder club, or nursery club is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher ...

s of the Phillies and

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

. More recently, he has been a minor league catching coordinator and is credited with inventing a ball retrieval tool known as The Ball Hawg.

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Mike Compton
at Baseball Almanac 1944 births Living people Major League Baseball second basemen Philadelphia Phillies players Eugene Emeralds players Huron Phillies players Tidewater Tides players Minor league baseball managers Baseball players from Texas People from Stamford, Texas {{US-baseball-catcher-1940s-stub