Michael Roy Fitzgerald (born July 13, 1960) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1983 through 1992 for the New York Mets, Montreal Expos and California Angels.^[1]

Fitzgerald was selected by New York Mets in the 6th round of the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft.^[2] He made his major league debut with the New York Mets on September 13, 1983.^[1] Fitzgerald hit a home run in his first major league at bat, becoming the 57th player in major league history to accomplish the feat.^[3][4] In 1984, he led National League catchers in range factor and fielding percentage, becoming only the fourth catcher in major league history to win a fielding title in his rookie year.^[5][6] Fitzgerald was selected as the catcher for the 1984 Baseball Digest Rookie All-Star team, and for the 1984 Topps All-Star Rookie Roster.^[7]

On December 14, 1984, the New York Mets traded Fitzgerald along with Hubie Brooks, Herm Winningham and minor league pitcher Floyd Youmans to the Montreal Expos for catcher Gary Carter.^[8] He became the Expos starting catcher, posting his best offensive year in its 1986 season with a .282 batting average, six home runs and 37 runs batted in.^[1] In October 1991, the Expos granted Fitzgerald free agency; he signed to play for the California Angels in their 1992 season.^[8] After one year as the Angels' starting catcher, he retired as a player.^[1]

In a ten-year major league career, Fitzgerald played in 848 games, accumulating 545 hits in 2316 at bats for a .235 career batting average along with 48 home runs and 293 runs batted in.^[1] He ended his catching career with a .988 fielding percentage.^[1]

• List of players with a home run in first major league at-bat