This week, Twins Daily checks in on a good-natured southern gentleman who once brought a legend to tears.

Subject: Matthew LeCroy

Why You Remember Him: Catchers are inherently memorable. This is just a theory, but as with hockey goaltenders, it takes a different breed to voluntarily have projectiles launched at you at fearsome speeds. As if this weren’t hazardous enough, they expose their most delicate area to the baseball (ask Mitch Garver) while a large man swings a wooden spindle within mere inches of his brainpan. They’re just built different, I guess. Even the non-greats find a place in your memory palace. From Junior Ortiz to Mike Redmond, I celebrate them all.

Matthew LeCroy was a catcher (and designated hitter/first baseman) for the Twins from 2000-2005. Prone to striking out, he managed to belt 17 dingers in 2003 and 2005. In a clubhouse already brimming with characters, the South Carolina native stood out as the kind of guy who allegedly tried to get Eddie Guardado to eat possum.

LeCroy’s defensive liabilities were exposed most notably in 2006, when he signed with the Washington Nationals. Manager Frank Robinson pulled him from a game against the Astros after the latter gave up seven stolen bases and committed two errors. Robinson fought back tears as he explained the decision after the game, clearly not wanting to humiliate the veteran. Robinson was a tough, tough SOB who came up during the civil rights era, but Matty LeCroy trying to play catcher on a bum knee got him up in his feelings.

LeCroy returned to the Twins in 2007, his final major league season. Twins Daily was unable to confirm if he ever got Guardado to consume the protein-rich possum flesh.

What You Don’t Remember: Frank Robinson appeared in an episode of the CBS sitcom Yes, Dear with Ernie Banks and Johnny Bench. There were 122 episodes of Yes, Dear. It was on TV for years. I couldn’t tell you a single other thing about this show.

What’s He Up To: Managing former Twins Triple-A affiliate Rochester.

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Always like  LeCroy's bat when he was with the Twins.  

My favorite memory of LeCroy came in a ST game (not sure of the year) when Ron Gardenhire decided to pull a prank on Doug Mientkiewicz by sending LeCroy into to PINCH RUN for him after he'd reached 1B.

As I remember the story, Mientkiewicz waited and waited and waited some more for the 'large one' to amble his way out of the dugout.  When asked afterward what he thought was the reason for LeCroy's delay, Mientkiewicz uttered the following quote:  "Well he was busy wiping ketchup and mustard off his face." 

Even after all these years, i would have a hard time picking David Ortiz over Matthew LeCroy.

 

And as there isn't yet one of these articles about Big Pappi, it would seem Mr. Stu concurs?

 

Any thanks for writing, and pass me some of that xmas possum!

My favorite memory of Matthew is when TK said Matthew was in the lineup on a particular day as the Twins were facing a knuckleball pitcher and he wanted "all of his softball players" in the lineup as they had a better chance against the knuckleball.  Matthew was a delightful and fun guy.  Doesn't he look like a guy who would have fun in a softball league, especially sipping brews after the game?