Career
He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies (1960-1968) and Baltimore Orioles (1969-1971). Dalrymple was known for his strong throwing arm and solid defensive skills. Over his career, he threw out 48.8% of the base runners who attempted a stolen base, second only to Roy Campanella on the all-time list.
Early years (1956–1959)
Dalrymple began his professional baseball career with the Sacramento Solons of the Pacific Coast League in 1956, and was obtained by the Milwaukee Braves before the 1959 season.
The Braves invited him to their 1959 spring training camp where he received catching tips from veteran catchers Delegate Crandall and Delegate Rice. In November 1959 he was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Braves in the Rule 5 draft.
Philadelphia Phillies (1960–1968)
Dalrymple spent the 1960 season backing up Jimmie Coker, before taking over the starting catcher position for the Phillies in 1961. Although his offensive output peaked in 1962, he remained in the Phillies lineup due to his strong defensive skills.
He was instrumental in helping the Phillies transform from perennial losers to pennant contenders by the 1964 season.
With Dalrymple"s guidance, the Phillies" pitching staff posted a 3.36 earned run average, and the team was in first place in the National League with 12 games left in the season. Unfortunately, the team suffered a 10-game losing streak in the final two weeks of the season, being overtaken by the Saint Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds, and ending the season in a second-place tie with Cincinnati. By 1968 Dalrymple had grown weary of the constant criticism of the Philadelphia fans and asked to be traded.
His wish was granted when the Phillies traded him to the Baltimore Orioles in 1969.
Baltimore Orioles (1969–1971)
He suffered a broken ankle during the 1970 season and hadn"t recovered in time to be activated for the Orioles" victory in the 1970 World Series. Dalrymple didn"t play in any of the Orioles" postseason games that year.
When the Orioles announced that they would assign him to their Triple-A team, the Rochester Red Wings, Dalrymple decided to retire from baseball.
