Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Photo of the Week: Farewell, Cat

I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a bigger Frank Catalanotto fan than me. You see the ball that's behind the Batter's Box logo at the top of this page? That ball was autographed by the Cat. Not only that -- he threw the ball to me during a game, and my wife got him to autograph it for me later.

This was back in 2003, when I made a giant banner that read VOTE CATALANOTTO in the same font and style as the VOTE DELGADO and VOTE WELLS banners on the outfield walls at the then-SkyDome, and brought it with me during All-Star voting. One game a security fellow asked to see my rolled-up sign and got so excited by it that he directed me to sit in the left field corner and unveil the sign whenever possible. I did, and that's when the Cat tossed me that ball.

Enjoy Texas, Frank. I'll miss you, and I don't think I'm the only one. And whenever someone loads up a page of Batter's Box, that ball you autographed for me will appear.

Here's Frank Catalanotto, one last time for your desktops:

Click on the image to see a desktop-sized version.

Aaron Reynolds uses Pentax cameras and lenses.

Posted by Named For Hank on Monday, December 04 2006 @ 12:00 AM EST.

Photo of the Week: Farewell, Cat | 15 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

actionjackson - Monday, December 04 2006 @ 12:39 AM EST (#159719) #

The term has become so cliche these days, but the Cat was a "true professional" in every sense of the overused phrase. None of us can ever know how much work he put into his game, but I think all you need to look at is his improvement on defense to know that he probably worked his tail off. What a hitter too. If there is such a thing as "clutch" he possesses it. He really cranks it up with men in scoring position. Each of the last 5 years his OPS with RISP has exceeded his bases empty OPS. I will miss him for his abilities in those situations and because I think, though I'll never know, that he was a good teammate. For the first time in his career, this year he walked more than he struck out and saw an average of 4.0 P/PA in his age 32 season, thanks to hard work, patience and Lasik eye surgery a couple of years ago. Mrs. Action who's not into the stats as much will him for his big brown eyes and boyish good looks.

zeppelinkm - Monday, December 04 2006 @ 08:39 AM EST (#159725) #

*Sigh*

The realities of baseball - you just can't keep everyone. Good luck in Texas Frank. You're one of "the favorites". So fun to watch battle and battle in an important at bat, only to finally drop a single into left field or yank a shot down the line over the 1st basemens head.

I'm pretty sure these past couple years, with the game on the line and a righty pitching, there was nobody I wanted up at bat more then Cat. He was sooo good at shortening his swing and doing whatever it took to get a single.

Good bye Frank. You'll be missed.

DiscoDave - Monday, December 04 2006 @ 10:53 AM EST (#159731) #

When I tell my wife that the Cat is no longer a Jay she will be very sad. I took her to a Jays game back in 2003 (vs the Expos). She wasn't and isn't a basefall fan but really loved the Cat's last name. She just loved to say it over an over again. To this day if I ask who is her favourite Jay, she responds with glee "Catalanotto!"

Frank doing some pre-game stretching

AWeb - Monday, December 04 2006 @ 11:01 AM EST (#159732) #

It's too bad Cat was the odd man out this offseason. The disconnect between Cat's signing and some of the other outfielders is startling, since he's been almost as good as Carlos Lee for the last few years, and actually possesses the skills the Dodgers are kidding themselves into seeing from Juan Pierre (contact hitter, gets on base, high average, good defense), aside from the speed. And he's not that old.

I hope he gets a fulltime spot for a few years, and continues to avoid those injuries that limited his perceived value for so long.

TimberLee - Monday, December 04 2006 @ 02:30 PM EST (#159748) #

Yeah, FCat was a favourite for several reasons. For one thing, he always seemed to me to be overlooked - people seemed surprised when he put up good numbers all the time, and you'd read about things he supposedly "couldn't do", when I suspect it was often a matter of his having figured out what he shouldn't try to do - swing for the fences, run wildly on the basepaths, fling himself into the outfield turf for show, etc. I always enjoyed seeing him come to bat because I think I could actually SEE him thinking about his approach to the next pitch. And he seemed to always try to do what I wanted him to try to do. What am I going on about? I'll miss him.

He is such a favourite that I drafted him onto my Strat-O-Matic team before he was a Blue Jay. Good luck, Frank.

Jordan - Monday, December 04 2006 @ 03:21 PM EST (#159757) #

Dollar for dollar, one of the best free-agent signings in franchise history -- I wrongly said at the time that his two-year extension was a mistake. It'd be nice to see him in the organization in some capacity when his playing days are done.

Joanna - Monday, December 04 2006 @ 11:22 PM EST (#159852) #

I was very sad to see Frankie Cats leave, especially since he always seemed like such a nice guy who geniunely loved Toronto . He is what is known as a professional hitter and made great popeye faces.

Good luck to you, Frank, I'm sorry you have to play in Texas a) because it isn't with us b) because the Rangers wouldn't know pitching if it bit them in the ass.

P.S. If you weren't married with house full of little kittens, I would have driven to the Dome and made you mine. I guess I have a little for thing for big brown eyes and discipline at the plate.

Tante cose, Catalanotto!!!!!! May everyone cheer for you when you return to the Rog Mahal.

VBF - Tuesday, December 05 2006 @ 12:00 AM EST (#159862) #

If it provides any comfort to us fans, Cat loves Texas and I recall reading that if he didn't still have family in Smithtown, he'd be living in Texas year round.

He's a complete class act. Casa del Gatto!

actionjackson - Tuesday, December 05 2006 @ 12:38 AM EST (#159875) #

It better be the Casa del Gatto when Cat's Rangers come to town. I don't want to see any able bodied person sitting for this class act's return to the 'big smoke'.

VBF - Tuesday, December 05 2006 @ 12:44 AM EST (#159879) #

I don't think he gets a standing O, and I'm not sure if he should get one? Does four solid years get you a standing O?

What should constitute a standing O? I give them away like candy, but should Cat get one from teh crowd, based on major league standards?

actionjackson - Tuesday, December 05 2006 @ 01:00 AM EST (#159883) #

Standing O's come down to emotion and emotion robs us of objectivity, so throw out the stats and go with his 'character' and 'professionalism' and all those other intangibles. Yeah, he gets a bunch of standing O's.

Parker - Tuesday, December 05 2006 @ 09:08 AM EST (#159889) #

I'd stand and cheer until my vocal chords failed. MLB needs more guys like the Cat.

Best of luck to you in the future, Frankie.

Photo of the Week: Farewell, Cat | 15 comments | Create New Account

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