Former Twins catcher Tom Tischinski passes away at 79

Tom Tischinski was born on July 12, 1944 in Kansas City, Missouri and passed away at the age of 79 on April 23, 2024 at Northcare Hospice House in Kansas City. He attended De La Salle High School, graduating in 1962. According to the back of Tischinski’s rookie 1970 Topps baseball card (#379) he lettered in four sports and was captain of his baseball and basketball team getting all-league honors in both sports.

Following high school, he was signed by the Kansas City Athletics baseball organization, beginning a 13 year career in professional baseball. After just one season in the Kansas City Athletics organization he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the November 1962 first-year draft. Tischinski played in AAA for the Reds in San Diego but struggled hitting the ball and when the Reds drafted some guy named Johnny Bench in June of 1965, things didn’t look good. Then in November of 1967 he caught a break when the Minnesota Twins drafted him in the minor league draft.

In 1968 Tischinski started the season in AAA Denver under manager Johnny Goryl but when Goryl was let go, Billy Martin took over as the skipper. That worked out to Tischinski’s advantage as Martin was promoted and named as the Minnesota Twins manager prior to the 1969 season.

Martin liked Tischinski’s work ethic, catching skills and rifle-like arm and was willing to over-look Tischinski’s weak hitting making him the 1969 Twins third catcher coming out of Spring Training. Tischinski made his big league debut on April 11, 1969 at Anaheim Stadium as a pinch-hitter and flew out to right field against George Brunet in a game the Twins lost 5-3. Tischinski played sparingly behind John Roseboro and George MItterwald appearing in 37 games with just 56 plate appearances hitting .191. The powerhouse 1969 Twins went on the to win the AL West with 97 wins but were beaten in the ALCS three games to none by the AL East winning Baltimore Orioles. Tischinski was not on the play-off roster.

Martin was fired as The Twins manager after the 1969 season and Bill Rigney took over and he also went with three catchers, George Mitterwald, Paul Ratliff and Tom Tischinski. Tischinski saw action in only 24 games with oddly enough the same amount of plate appearances, 56, as he had in 1969, hitting .196 with one home run, the only one he would hit in the big leagues. That home run took place at Met Stadium on August 21 in a game in which the Twins beat the Washington Senators 4-3. Tischinski’s long ball in the seventh inning off Casey Cox in a 3-3 game turned out being the winning run. The 1970 Twins again won the AL West but again lost to the AL East winning Orioles in the ALCS and once again Tischinski did not find himself on the play-off roster.

In 1971 the Twins had four catchers all season under Bill Rigney with George Mitterwald playing 125 games, Phil Roof playing 31 games and Paul Ratliff and Tom Tischinski each appearing in 21 games. Tischinski’s plate appearances dropped to an all-time low of 23, as did his average which was .130 when the season ended. 1971 was the last time that Tom Tischinski would appear in a big league game. I should mention too that Rick Dempsey was a September call-up for a cup of coffee in 1969-1971. The Twins dropped from 98 wins in 1970 to just 74 wins in 1971 and finished in fifth place in the AL West.

Tischinski started the 1972 with AA Charlotte but before the 1972 came to an end he ended with the Los Angeles Dodgers AAA Albuquerque team in a transaction that is not documented in Baseball-Reference.com. Tom Tischinski saw action for AAA Albuquerque in 1973-1974 bad retired from baseball after the 1974 season.

Tischinski professional baseball career started in 1962 and ended in 1974. During those thirteen years in pro ball he played in 970 games, 888 in the minor leagues and 82 big league games over three seasons. Retiring in 1974, he spent 25 + years in the construction industry working for Dasta, Walton, and Lytle Construction, retiring in 2005.

Tom is survived by his beloved Wife of 58 years, Marilyn (Bell) Tischinski; loving Father of Tara Tischinski and David (Rachel) Tischinski; cherished grandfather of Holly, Hayley, Tommy and Brady; dear Brother to Cindy Anne (Brian) Russell.

Rest in peace Thomas Arthur Tischinski and thank you for all the memories. We at Twinstrivia.com want to pass on our condolences to the Tischinski family, friends and fans.

Tom Tischinski Obituary