Alan Dean Ashby (born July 8, 1951 in Long Beach, California) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros. He made his MLB debute 4 years after graduating from San Pedro High School in Los Angeles.

Ashby is a Latter-day Saint.^[1]

[edit] Playing career

Ashby tied an NL record by catching three no-hitters during his career: Ken Forsch's (April 7, 1979), Nolan Ryan's fifth (September 26, 1981), and Mike Scott's division title clincher (September 25, 1986).

He owns the distinction of being the first ever player acquired via trade for the Toronto Blue Jays when he was traded from Cleveland to Toronto on November 5, 1976 along with 1B/OF Doug Howard in exchange for RHP Al Fitzmorris.

Ashby was also the first Astro to homer from both sides of the plate in the same game (September 27, 1982).

After his playing career, Ashby worked as the Astros' bullpen coach in 1997. He later worked alongside Milo Hamilton as a radio broadcaster for the Astros from 1998-2005.

He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

[edit] Broadcasting career and Managing career

Following his playing career, he moved into broadcasting as he telecast HSE Southwestern Conference Baseball in 1990 and served as Sports Director and Anchor for KHTV Channel 39 Houston from 1990 to 1992. He was the host of the Houston Rockets Show and the Houston Cougars Football's John Jenkins Show. He then served as the co-host of Inside Houston, a televised business magazine in 1994 & 1995.

Along with his broadcasting career he returned to baseball as a Minor League Manager for the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings in the Texas-Louisiana League in 1994 & 1995. He Served as Manager of the Houston Astros' Florida State League (A) affiliate, the Kissimmee Cobras in 1996. He went on to join the Major League coaching staff for the Astros in 1997 as Bullpen Coach. In 1998 began working as the colour commentator for Astros' radio broadcasts. Served in that capacity until the 2006 season when the Astros let him go. He was heavily criticized for being too hard and critical of the Astros' play.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007, Ashby signed a three-year contract to become the color man and secondary play-by-play man on the Toronto Blue Jays radio broadcasts, teamed alongside incumbent play-by-play man Jerry Howarth.^[2]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• Rogers Sportsnet columns page