Al Niemiec
Encyclopedia
Alfred Joseph Niemiec was an American baseball second basemen and shortstop
who played two seasons in Major League Baseball
(MLB) in 1934 and 1936, for the Boston Red Sox
and the Philadelphia Athletics, respectively. Listed at 5' 11", 158 lb., Niemiec batted and threw right-handed. A native of Meriden, Connecticut
, he attended College of the Holy Cross
from 1931-1933. He is also famous for a precedent-setting legal case about returning veterans of World War II.
from 1931-1933. He played baseball with future Major League players Hank Garrity
, Joe Mulligan
, Ed Moriarty
, and Bob Friedrichs
.
debut in 1933 for Class A Reading Red Sox
, where he batted .306 and played third base for 62 games. In the following year, Niemiec moved up to the Double-A Kansas City Blues
where he batted .301 and played shortstop for 128 games, and was called up by the Boston Red Sox
. Niemiec got sent down at the season and played next season with the Double-A Syracuse Chiefs, where he batted .278 and played shortstop for a team high 153 games. He also hit a team high 15 triples. After being sent down for a second time, Niemiec continued his Minor League career with the Class A-1 Little Rock Travelers
of the Southern Association
, where he batted .313 and played second base for 146 games. He would play the 1938 and 1939 seasons with the Double-A San Diego Padres
of the Pacific Coast League
. He batted .304 and played second base for 73 games in 1938, and batted .279 while playing second base for 155 games. For the next three seasons, he would play for the Double-A Seattle Rainiers
of the Pacific Coast League
. In 1940, he batted .274 and played second base for a team high 176 games. In 1941, he batted .297 and played second base for 156 games, leading his team to a 104-70 record and first place in the Pacific League. In the next season, Niemiec batted .266, playing 173 games at second base. After four years with the navy, Niemiec played for the now Triple-A Seattle Rainiers. He batted .211 and only played 11 games. He then was traded to the B team Providence Chiefs of the New England League
, but he did not play.
. They lost 3-2 against the St. Louis Browns. Niemiec batted lead off and went 2-4 with an RBI. In the following game, Niemic went 3-3 with another RBI. After that game, we went 0-3 and was moved down to the 7th spot in the batting order for one game. For the season, the Red Sox would finish 4th in the American League
, posting a record of 76-76. In the 9 games Niemiec played that season, he batted 7-32 (.212).
, which gave returning veterans a right to employment at their previous employer for a full year. He won the case, in spite of Major League Baseball's opposition; the precedent gave payments to hundreds of former major and minor league players who were also cut by their teams upon return from service in the war.
to serve in World War II. He served for four years and was released in January 1946.
. He is buried at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Bellevue, Washington.
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who played two seasons in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
(MLB) in 1934 and 1936, for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and the Philadelphia Athletics, respectively. Listed at 5' 11", 158 lb., Niemiec batted and threw right-handed. A native of Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden, Connecticut
Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
, he attended College of the Holy Cross
College of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
from 1931-1933. He is also famous for a precedent-setting legal case about returning veterans of World War II.
College career
Niemiec went to the College of the Holy CrossCollege of the Holy Cross
The College of the Holy Cross is an undergraduate Roman Catholic liberal arts college located in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA...
from 1931-1933. He played baseball with future Major League players Hank Garrity
Hank Garrity
Henry "Hank" Garrity was the head football coach of the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football program from 1923 to 1924. During his tenure he compiled a 19-7-1 record. He currently has the school record for highest winning percentage among head coaches. He also served as the school's basketball coach...
, Joe Mulligan
Joe Mulligan
Joseph Ignatius Mulligan [Big Joe] was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Boston Red Sox during the season. Listed at 6' 4", 210 lb., Mulligan batted and threw right-handed...
, Ed Moriarty
Ed Moriarty
Edward Jerome Moriarty was a Major League Baseball player. He played two seasons with the Boston Braves and Bees from 1935 to 1936.-External links:...
, and Bob Friedrichs
Bob Friedrichs
Robert George Friedrichs was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Washington Senators.-External links:...
.
Minor League career
Following Niemiec's college career, he made his Minor League BaseballMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
debut in 1933 for Class A Reading Red Sox
Reading Red Sox
The Reading Red Sox are a defunct minor league baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox baseball franchise.The ball club was based in Reading, Pennsylvania, and played in the Class A New York-Pennsylvania League and its successor league, the Class AA Eastern League...
, where he batted .306 and played third base for 62 games. In the following year, Niemiec moved up to the Double-A Kansas City Blues
Kansas City Blues
Kansas City Blues may refer to::*Kansas City Blues , a 1902-1954 minor-league baseball team*Kansas City Blues , a Rugby Super League team founded in 1966*Kansas City Blues , a minor-league hockey team...
where he batted .301 and played shortstop for 128 games, and was called up by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Niemiec got sent down at the season and played next season with the Double-A Syracuse Chiefs, where he batted .278 and played shortstop for a team high 153 games. He also hit a team high 15 triples. After being sent down for a second time, Niemiec continued his Minor League career with the Class A-1 Little Rock Travelers
Little Rock Travelers
The Little Rock Travelers were an American minor league baseball team located in Little Rock, Arkansas and members of the Southern Association, which as a Class A, A1 or AA circuit was typically two rungs below Major League Baseball...
of the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
, where he batted .313 and played second base for 146 games. He would play the 1938 and 1939 seasons with the Double-A San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. He batted .304 and played second base for 73 games in 1938, and batted .279 while playing second base for 155 games. For the next three seasons, he would play for the Double-A Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. In 1940, he batted .274 and played second base for a team high 176 games. In 1941, he batted .297 and played second base for 156 games, leading his team to a 104-70 record and first place in the Pacific League. In the next season, Niemiec batted .266, playing 173 games at second base. After four years with the navy, Niemiec played for the now Triple-A Seattle Rainiers. He batted .211 and only played 11 games. He then was traded to the B team Providence Chiefs of the New England League
New England League
The New England League was a mid-level league in American minor league baseball that played sporadically in five of the six New England states between 1886 and 1949. After 1901, it existed in the shadow of two Major League Baseball clubs in Boston and alongside stronger, higher-classification...
, but he did not play.
Major League career
Niemiec made his major league debut on September 19, 1394 for the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. They lost 3-2 against the St. Louis Browns. Niemiec batted lead off and went 2-4 with an RBI. In the following game, Niemic went 3-3 with another RBI. After that game, we went 0-3 and was moved down to the 7th spot in the batting order for one game. For the season, the Red Sox would finish 4th in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, posting a record of 76-76. In the 9 games Niemiec played that season, he batted 7-32 (.212).
Transactions
- January 4, 1936: Trade by the Boston Red Sox along with Hank JohnsonHank Johnson (baseball)Henry Ward Johnson was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball between the 1925 and 1939 seasons. Listed at 5 ft 11 in, 175 lb, Johnson batted and threw right-handed...
(P) and cash to the Philadelphia Athletics in exchange for Doc CramerDoc CramerRoger Maxwell Cramer [Doc] was an American center fielder and left-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams from 1929 to 1948.-Career:...
(CF) and Eric McNairEric McNairDonald Eric McNair , was a Major League Baseball shortstop from 1929-1942. He played for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Chicago White Sox...
(SS). - October 9, 1936: Purchased by the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles (minor league)The city of Baltimore, Maryland has been home to two minor league baseball teams called the Baltimore Orioles.-Name history:"Orioles" is a traditional name for baseball clubs in Baltimore . It was used by major league teams from 1882 through 1899 in the American Association/National League and by...
of the International LeagueInternational LeagueThe International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
from the Philadelphia Athletics.
Later life
After he was released in 1946, Niemiec filed suit, saying that his release violated the spirit of the G.I. Bill of RightsG.I. Bill of Rights
The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944 , known informally as the G.I. Bill, was an omnibus law that provided college or vocational education for returning World War II veterans as well as one year of unemployment compensation...
, which gave returning veterans a right to employment at their previous employer for a full year. He won the case, in spite of Major League Baseball's opposition; the precedent gave payments to hundreds of former major and minor league players who were also cut by their teams upon return from service in the war.
Military service
In 1942, Niemiec was called by the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
to serve in World War II. He served for four years and was released in January 1946.
Death
Niemiec died at the age of 84 in Kirkland, WashingtonKirkland, Washington
Kirkland is a city in King County, Washington, United States. It is a suburb of Seattle on the Eastside . The population was 48,787 at the 2010 census makes it the 9th largest city in King County and the 20th largest city in the state...
. He is buried at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Bellevue, Washington.