Norman Burt Sherry (July 16, 1931 – March 8, 2021) was an American baseball catcher, manager, and coach who played five seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets from to . Sherry went on to coach and manage the California Angels, and also served as coach of the Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.
Sherry was noted for helping future Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax with his pitching control, his advice during a spring training game in being one of reasons for Koufax turning around his career and becoming one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball history. Years later, he also mentored a young Gary Carter and helped him turn into a Hall of Fame catcher.
Early life
Sherry was born in New York City on July 16, 1931. He was the second of four sons of Harry Scharaga Sherry and Mildred "Minnie" (Walman) Sherry.
By the time he reached the Dodgers, in 1959 for a two-game "cup of coffee," he was 28 years of age and the team had moved to his home city of Los Angeles. He made the team as second-string backstop (behind John Roseboro) from 1960 through 1962.
As for Sherry, he batted .283 with eight home runs in a part-time role in , a career high. His average then dropped to .256 () and .182 (). He batted only .136 in a career-high 63 games played (and 147 at-bats) in New York in , and his major league playing career ended.
In his overall career, Sherry played in 194 games over parts of five seasons, batting .215 with 18 home runs, and .288 with runners in scoring position. He collected 107 total hits. when Williams was given his walking papers. That winter, the Angels signed high-profile free agents such as Bobby Grich and Joe Rudi and expected to contend in the American League West in . But the team struggled and was only 39–42 and in fifth place on July 11 The others were Gabe Kapler, Brad Ausmus, Jeff Newman, Lipman Pike, and Lefty Phillips. However, Sherry returned to the coaching ranks, ultimately as an "official" pitching coach, working with Williams with the Montreal Expos and San Diego Padres, and with another ex-Dodger, Roger Craig, with the San Francisco Giants.
Later life
After retiring from baseball, Sherry returned to San Diego. He underwent open heart surgery in November 1978, and had a heart attack less than three years later in March 1981.
Sherry addressed the San Diego Jewish Film Festival as a guest speaker when it screened Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story in February 2011.
See also
- List of Jewish Major League Baseball players