The strong, silent Texan signed as a shortstop with the Phillies, but played first, third, and the outfield in his 12-year ML career. He had an unusual batting stance, with his feet close together, and a smooth, lazy-looking swing. Some thought him lackadaisical; he felt his low-key style was responsible for his being traded five times. One of baseball’s great worriers, teammates said Cater could quote all his stats after each at-bat.
As Oakland’s regular first baseman in 1968, he hit .290 to finish second to Carl Yastrzemski‘s .301 in an anemic AL batting race. Traded to the Yankees, he hit .301 in 1970 but had only 10 homers in two seasons, and he was shipped to Boston in 1972 for reliever Sparky Lyle. Lyle became a three-time All-Star; Cater hit an abysmal .237 that year. He rebounded in 1973 to hit .313 in 63 games.
