Bill Plummer was a Major League Baseball catcher who won two World Series with the Cincinnati Reds as backup catcher to Johnny Bench.
- Died: March 12, 2024 (Who else died on March 12?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Redding, California, after a heart attack at the age of 76.
- We invite you to share condolences for Bill Plummer in our Guest Book.
Bill Plummer’s legacy
Plummer briefly played for the Chicago Cubs before debuting with the Reds in 1970. In seven seasons with the Reds during their “Big Red Machine” years of the 1970s, Plummer was never a starting pitcher, but he was respected as a utility player who backed up the legendary Bench.
Plummer was with the Reds as they won back-to-back World Series in 1975 and 1976. Yet despite his team’s glory, Plummer grew frustrated in the shadow of an icon, playing only when Bench was out. He told Sports Illustrated in a 1977 interview, “I’m almost a player without a function.” The following year, he left the Reds, playing a single season for the Seattle Mariners before retiring from his playing career.
Transitioning to coaching, Plummer stayed with the Mariners system for several years, with both the team and their minor league affiliates. He managed the team in 1992, then moved on to the Colorado Rockies as coach. He later worked as a coach and manager with such teams as the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Jacksonville Suns. The 2021 documentary “Plum: A Baseball Life” told Plummer’s story.
Tributes to Bill Plummer
Full obituary: Cincinnati Enquirer
