John Alvin Bateman (July 21, 1940 – December 3, 1996) was an American professional baseball catcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Colt .45s / Astros, Montreal Expos, and Philadelphia Phillies. Bateman batted and threw right-handed. During his playing days, he stood 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall, weighing 210 pounds (95 kg).
Born in Killeen, Texas, Bateman grew up in Lawton, Oklahoma and attended Lawton High School. He signed with the expansion Houston Colt .45s, as an amateur free agent, in 1962. In 10 MLB seasons, Bateman compiled a .230 lifetime batting average; he ended his big league career with the Phillies.
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Houston Colt .45s
Bateman clubbed 22 home runs for the minor league Modesto Colts in 1962, and made the Colt .45s out of spring training the following season as Jim Campbell's back-up behind the plate. Campbell, however, sputtered, and soon lost his starting job to Bateman. On May 17, 1963, Bateman caught the first no-hitter in Houston franchise history. Don Nottebart held the Philadelphia Phillies hitless in a 4–1 Houston win. For the season, Bateman batted .210 while leading his team with ten home runs and 59 runs batted in. He then split time behind the plate with Jerry Grote in 1964.