The Dodgers announced the passing of former big league outfielder Al Ferrara at age 84. Nicknamed “The Bull,” Ferrara played five of his eight MLB seasons in Los Angeles.
“We are saddened to hear the news of Al Ferrara’s passing today,” Dodgers team president/CEO Stan Kasten said in a press release. “Not only was Al a memorable player for the Dodgers in the 1960s, but he tirelessly supported the Dodgers community efforts and was one of our most committed alumni supporters. We extend our sympathies to his family.”
Ferrara grew up in Brooklyn and signed with the Dodgers in 1958. He played five minor league seasons and earned a brief call-up in ’63. He did not appear in that year’s World Series but collected a ring as the Dodgers swept the Yankees. The righty-hitting outfielder spent the next season in Triple-A and logged limited MLB action between 1965-66, winning another championship in ’65. The Dodgers returned to the Fall Classic in ’66. Ferrara came off the bench for one plate appearance and hit a single in his only career playoff at-bat.
The Dodgers gave Ferrara more run in 1967, using him as a starting corner outfielder in just over half their games. He made the most of that opportunity, hitting .277 with 16 homers in 384 trips to the plate. Ferrara missed most of the ’68 season, his last year with the Dodgers. The newfound Padres selected him in the expansion draft. He hit well over two-plus seasons with San Diego, running a .265/.360/.436 slash with 27 homers through 873 plate appearances. He briefly appeared with the Reds before ending his playing career in 1971. Ferrara returned to the Dodger organization as an Alumni ambassador in 2009, a role he held through this year.
MLBTR sends our condolences to Ferrara’s family, friends, loved ones and the Dodger fans with whom he interacted as part of his Alumni work.
RIP
RIP. Remember him well.
I used to talk to him from the LF bleachers at the Murph as a kid. He told me not to fall over the 17 ft wall. My dad caught his HR ball and we still have it. He could hit!
RIP
RIP Al…Ferrara got in game 4 of the 1966 WS, Dodgers/Orioles. He pinch hit for Drysdale and singled in the top of the 9th in a 1-0 game which the O’s won. Pretty cool to get to the plate and get a hit in your only World Series.
O’s swept LA and the last 3 games were shutouts
RIP Al
I remember him well. RIP…and you can call him Al.
Great friend of the community.
RIP Al Ferrara. He’s well before my time, but it’s always sad when a respectable big league player passes.
RIP AL…..
Al Ferrara was my first favorite Padres player. GBWY!
“Someone once asked Al Ferrara of the Dodgers why he wanted to be a baseball player. He said because he always wanted to see his picture on a bubblegum card”–Jim Bouton, “Ball Four”.
You’ll be missed, Al…
I have a sweet 1971 Topps card of Al.
1.000 lifetime batting average in World Series is awesome.
RIP Al
And he appeared on “Gilligan’s Island”!
And Batman.
The Dodgers of the 60s platooned much like many teams do today.
Especially the Dodgers
My favorite Al Ferreira story. After he was traded in the middle of 1971 to the Reds for Angel Bravo. He booted a ball in the OF. He was asked about it.
He advised the reporters.
What did you expect for Angel Bravo? Willie Mays?
I remember him being announced in his first game for the Padres back in 1969…Al “The Bull” Ferrara…legit ball player
RIP…gone but not forgotten
Very good hitter but he was not great with glove which limited his playing time. He was a great rep of the game,
Al Ferrara for Javier Baez.