A. J. Pierzynski

A.J. Pierzynski
Chicago White Sox – No. 12
Catcher
Bats: Left Throws: Right
debut
September 9, 1998, for the Minnesota Twins
Career statistics (through October 15, 2007)
Batting average	.284
Runs batted in	440
Home runs	85
Teams
Minnesota Twins (1998-2003) San Francisco Giants (2004) Chicago White Sox (2005-present)

Anthony John "A.J." Pierzynski [Peer-zin-skee] (born December 30, 1976) is an American Major League Baseball catcher who has played for the Chicago White Sox since 2005. Pierzynski formerly played with the Minnesota Twins (1998-2003) and San Francisco Giants (2004). Pierzynski was also a wrestler for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

Pierzynski had the longest streak of consecutive error-less games among active Major League catchers (150). A.J. made the 2002 American League All-Star Team as a reserve catcher while playing for the Minnesota Twins.

Biography

Anthony John Pierzynski was born December 30, 1976 in Bridgehampton, New York. He attended Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, Florida, where he won All-State honors in baseball. New York Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon was one of Pierzynski's high school teammates. He graduated high school in 1994 and also signed a letter of intent to play baseball at the University of Tennessee, where he had many arguments with roomates about doing the laundry.

Major League career

Pierzynski was drafted by the Minnesota Twins on June 2 , 1994, out of high school. After four years in the Twins organization, he was called up to the Major League team, and made his debut on September 9, 1998. He went on to appear in six more games that season, batting ten times and collected three base hits and a RBI. He spent the next five seasons, through the 2003 season, with Minnesota, though he was not a regular starter until 2001. From 1998-2000, he appeared in just 49 games for the Twins. In 2003, Pierzynski reached a .312 batting average, a career high that still stands. After the 2003 season, the Twins traded Pierzynski to the San Francisco Giants for Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano, and Boof Bonser. He spent one season in San Francisco before being signed as a free agent by the Chicago White Sox on January 6, 2005.

On Sunday, July 2, 2006 it was announced on the ESPN All-Star Selection Show that Pierzynski would be one of the five American League players in the All-Star Final Vote. Soon afterwards the Chicago White Sox organization began an election campaign using the slogan "Punch A.J." Fans could vote on MLB.com or by using their mobile phones. When voting concluded, Pierzynski received 3.6 million votes, the most votes in the American League, subsequently sending him to his second All-Star appearance.

Pierzynski and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Pierzynski was involved in a controversial play that occurred on October 12, 2005 in Game Two of the 2005 American League Championship Series versus the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. With the score tied and two out in the bottom of the ninth, with two strikes, Pierzynski swung at a low pitch from Angels pitcher Kelvim Escobar and missed, for strike three. Josh Paul, the Angels catcher, rolled the ball to the mound and left the infield. Pierzynski realized strike three had been called, but he had not been called out and ran to first base in case the umpire had ruled that the Angels catcher had not legally caught the strike three pitch (see Uncaught third strike rule). Home Plate Umpire Doug Eddings indeed ruled that the ball hit the ground and then went into the catcher's glove, so the pitch was uncaught and Pierzynski was safe at first. A pinch-runner, Pablo Ozuna, replaced Pierzynski and stole second base. Third baseman Joe Crede delivered a base hit three pitches later, scoring Ozuna for the winning run.

Controversies

A May 2006 issue of Sports Illustrated featured a survey taken among 470 baseball players about what player they would most like to see get beaned. Pierzynski received eighteen percent of the vote, which was higher than any other player. Forty-two percent of those surveyed in the AL Central Division (which the White Sox play in) voted for Pierzynski.

On May 28, 2007, in a game versus the Minnesota Twins, Pierzynski twice ran down the first base line with his feet on the inside of the base, possibly nipping Twins first baseman Justin Morneau with his spikes. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire was furious with the umpires, which resulted in a long tirade of yelling. However, he was not ejected. Gardenhire claimed that first base umpire Greg Gibson gave the Twins bench a throat slashing motion to quiet them down. Pierzynski denied any attempt to step on Morneau.

Professional wrestling appearances

On December 8, 2005, A.J. Pierzynski appeared on TNA iMPACT!, a professional wrestling television program aired by the professional wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Accompanied by White Sox strength trainer Dale Torborg, Pierzynski presented TNA wrestlers A.J. Styles, Chris Sabin and Sonjay Dutt with memorabilia from the 2005 World Series. The ceremony was, however, interrupted by wrestler Simon Diamond and his "Diamonds in the Rough" faction. Diamond, who was himself once offered a contract by the San Diego Padres, mocked Pierzynski's .256 batting average, telling him that he needed a designated hitter. Diamond then slapped Torborg, leading to a brawl. As a result of the incident, Pierzynski made his professional wrestling managerial debut at TNA Turning Point 2005 on December 11, 2005, accompanying Torborg, Sabin and Dutt to ringside for their match against the Diamonds in the Rough. Pierzynski's team won the bout following interference from New York Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon, who handed Pierzynski a home plate with which to hit Diamond.

Recently, Pierzynski was given a TNA X Division Championship Replica Belt by TNA, and he announced that the belt would be the (unofficial) award for the White Sox Player of the Game.

On October 10, 2006, Pierzynski appeared on ESPN2's Cold Pizza, wearing the X-Division Championship belt, and challenged WWE Champion John Cena, who was also a guest that morning, to a Title vs. Title steel cage match whenever Cena wanted to have it.

On the January 18th, 2007 edition of TNA iMPACT!, Pierzynski and Torborg attacked Lance Hoyt, helping James Storm win, who was also aided by Miss Tennessee.

See also

• Chicago White Sox all-time roster

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs
• Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers
• A.J. Pierzynski at The Internet Movie Database