Listed at 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) and 180 pounds (82 kg), Courtney was an American League catcher whose pugnacity and timely base hits made headlines in the 1950s. Fiercely combative, he played his position under unusual handicaps. A natural left-hander, he taught himself to use his right arm, and he also was myopic, being widely considered as the first Major League catcher to wear eyeglasses.\n', '

Courtney appeared in one game for the New York Yankees in 1951 before being traded to the St. Louis Browns at the end of the season. He was obtained by the Browns at the request of manager Rogers Hornsby, who had managed him at Beaumont of the Texas League. In 1952, he won the TSN American League Rookie of the Year award after hitting .286 with five home runs and 50 runs batted in from 116 games.\n', '

Nicknamed "Scrap Iron", Courtney was frequently embroiled in fights. Two of his more celebrated brawls involved the Yankees. The first came in 1952, when he spiked Billy Martin and then slugged him when Martin hit Courtney between the eyes. A year later, he touched off a free-for-all by spiking Phil Rizzuto in trying to stretch a single into a double. Then Martin jumped on Courtney in a wild melee that produced a then American League record $850 in fines. The episode cost Courtney $250. Off the field, his temperament was reportedly more genial and affable.\n', '

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