Athletes - Steve Bieser

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	Athletes - Steve Bieser

Steven Ray Bieser (Born August 4, 1967 in Perryville, Missouri) is a former Major League Baseball player. Known primarily for catching and playing all three outfield positions, Bieser batted from the left side and threw with his right hand. He was 5'10" tall and weighed 170 pounds.

Amateur career

Bieser was not highly regarded as a prospect when he graduated from high school, and after graduation he enrolled at Jefferson College, a junior college in Missouri. Jefferson's coach David Oster enjoyed a good reputation as an instructor, having coached seven players who made the Major Leagues (including Bieser) and having been selected to the National Junior College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. Two years at Jefferson helped Bieser improve enough to make the team at Southeast Missouri State University.

Professional career

After the end of Bieser's college career, the Philadelphia Phillies chose him in the 32nd round of the 1989 June draft, with the 818th overall pick. Very few players chosen that low in the draft advance to the major leagues, but Bieser defied the odds. He advanced to AAA within the Phillies' organization, and after signing with the New York Mets as a six-year minor league free agent, made his major league debut on April 1, 1997.

Bieser appeared in 47 games with the Mets that year, chiefly as a bench player. His left-handed bat, above-average foot speed, and ability to play multiple positions helped him stay on the roster for a large portion of the season, as these traits afforded manager Bobby Valentine an unusual variety of tactical options. As a further testament to his versatility as a player, Bieser also filled in as a pitcher in minor league games during at least six different seasons .

At the end of the year, he signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as a free agent, and in 1998 he appeared in 13 games with that franchise. He finished his major league career with a .250 batting average, a .351 on-base percentage, and a .300 slugging percentage in 80 at bats. Continuing to play professionally after the end of his time in the majors, Bieser last appeared in uniform as a player with the Memphis Redbirds in 2001.

Coaching career

After his last game as a player, Bieser has become a notable high school baseball coach at St. John Vianney High School, a private Catholic school in Kirkwood, Missouri. His squad won the state championship in 2004.

Bieser also works at the school as a math teacher.

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