Andy Seminick
Encyclopedia
Andrew Wasal Seminick was an American
professional
baseball
player. He played in Major League Baseball
as a catcher
for the Philadelphia Phillies
between 1943
and 1951
, and the Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs
from 1952
through part of 1955, when he rejoined the Phillies for the rest of his career until his release at the end of the 1957
season. Seminick was an integral part of the 1950
"Whiz Kids"
Phillies team that won their first pennant
since .
to Russian
immigrant parents. He was contracted as an amateur free agent
in 1941
by the Pittsburgh Pirates
. Seminick led the Appalachian League
in 1942 with 15 home run
s and 202 total bases
, and was among the league leaders in batting average
. In , he had a .303 batting average with the Knoxville Smokies of the Class-A Southern Association
, and was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies.
By 1945
, the Phillies were using Seminick in a platoon system
alongside veteran catcher Gus Mancuso
. While he could hit for power, his defensive skills were below average, as he led the National League
in errors
in 1946
, 1948
and 1949
. Phillies manager Eddie Sawyer
assigned Phillies coach and former catcher Cy Perkins
to tutor him, which helped improve his defensive skills. He was voted by baseball fans to be the starting catcher for the National League in the All-Star Game
, mostly for his reputation as a hitter.
On June 2, , the Phillies hit five home runs during the eighth inning
in a 12–3 victory over Cincinnati at Shibe Park, tying the major league mark set by the 1939 New York Giants
. Seminick hit two home runs in the inning, while Del Ennis
, Willie Jones
and Schoolboy Rowe
had one each. Jones added a triple
as Granny Hamner
's double
jumped the extra bases
total to 18, still a record. Seminick collected three home runs overall.
With his defensive and pitch
calling skills improved, Seminick played an important leadership role during the 1950
"Whiz Kids"
championship season. Because he was, at 29, one of the veterans on the squad and was called upon to handle a young Phillie pitching staff, Philadelphia
baseball writers nicknamed Seminick "Grandpa Whiz." He enjoyed his best season in 1950, hitting for a .288 batting average with 24 home runs and 68 runs batted in. Unfortunately, Seminick broke his ankle late in the season, but continued to play with the injury until the Phillies lost to the New York Yankees
in the World Series
. Future Hall of Fame pitcher, Robin Roberts said of Seminick,"If you had to pick a guy in the clubhouse who was our leader that year, it would be Andy. He always played hard, and that was his best year by far".
In 1951
, Seminick was beaned
by a Max Lanier
fastball, diminishing his ability to play. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for catcher Smoky Burgess
, playing there from 1952
until the early part of the 1955 season. In 1955
, he was once again traded for Burgess, returning to the Phillies, where he led National League catchers with a .994 fielding percentage
. He played a couple of more years before ending his playing career after the 1957
season.
, totaling 953 hits
in 3921 at bats for a .243 batting average, with 164 home runs and 556 runs batted in. He threw out 44.6% of the base runners
who tried steal
a base on him, 16th on the all-time list. Seminick led National League catchers twice in baserunners caught stealing
and once each in putout
s, assists
and fielding percentage
. At the time of his retirement, he ranked seventh all-time in home runs by catchers.
with the Phillies (1957–58), then managed
11 Phillies' minor-league
teams (1959–66, 1970–73), and returned as a coach for the Phillies (1967–69). After that, he served as a scout and as a roving minor-league instructor for the Phillies (1974 to mid-1980s). Notably, ninety of the players he managed or coached eventually played in the major leagues, including Mike Schmidt
, Ferguson Jenkins
, Greg Luzinski and Bob Boone
. Seminick helped to convert Boone from a third baseman
to one of the best defensive catchers in baseball.
In the 1990s, Seminick served as a catching instructor for Philadelphia in spring training
and in the Florida Instructional League.
Andy Seminick died in Palm Bay, Florida
, at 83 years of age. He was the last living everyday player from the Whiz Kids.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player. He played 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...
as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
between 1943
1943 Philadelphia Phillies season
Lumber baron William B. Cox purchased the team in . On March 9, Cox announced that the team would officially be called the "Phillies" again after former-President Gerald Nugent had named them "Phils" prior to the 1942 season....
and 1951
1951 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies finished in fifth place. The team had won the 1950 National League pennant but in the United Press' annual preseason poll of sportswriters, only 18 out of 168 writers picked the team to repeat as pennant winners; the Giants received 81 votes and the Dodgers 55...
, and the Cincinnati Reds/Redlegs
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
from 1952
1952 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League.- Offseason :...
through part of 1955, when he rejoined the Phillies for the rest of his career until his release at the end of the 1957
1957 Philadelphia Phillies season
-Offseason:* November 19, 1956: Del Ennis was traded by the Phillies to the St. Louis Cardinals for Rip Repulski and Bobby Morgan.- Regular season :The Phillies integrated during the 1957 season...
season. Seminick was an integral part of the 1950
1950 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies won the National League pennant by two games over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Nicknamed the "Whiz Kids" because of the youth of their roster, they went on to lose the World Series to the New York Yankees in four straight games....
"Whiz Kids"
Whiz Kids (baseball)
The Whiz Kids was a nickname given to the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball. This team, averaging only 26.4 years of age, won the National League pennant during that season.After owner R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr...
Phillies team that won their first pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
since .
Playing career
Seminick was born in Pierce, West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
to Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
immigrant parents. He was contracted as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in 1941
1941 Pittsburgh Pirates season
The Pittsburgh Pirates was a season in American baseball. The team finished fourth in the National League with a record of 81-73, 19 games behind the first-place Brooklyn Dodgers.- Roster :- Starters by position :...
by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. Seminick led the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
in 1942 with 15 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and 202 total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
, and was among the league leaders in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
. In , he had a .303 batting average with the Knoxville Smokies of the Class-A 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...
, and was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies.
By 1945
1945 Philadelphia Phillies season
- Offseason :* February 10, 1945: Jimmie Foxx was signed as a free agent by the Phillies.* Prior to 1945 season **Tommy Lasorda was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies....
, the Phillies were using Seminick in a platoon system
Platoon system
The platoon system in baseball is a method of designating two players to a single defensive position—usually one right-handed and one left-handed. Typically the right-handed half of the platoon is played on days when the opposing pitcher is left-handed and the left-handed player is played otherwise...
alongside veteran catcher Gus Mancuso
Gus Mancuso
August Rodney Mancuso , nicknamed "Blackie", was a professional baseball player, coach, scout and radio sports commentator. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants , Chicago Cubs , Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies...
. While he could hit for power, his defensive skills were below average, as he led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 1946
1946 Philadelphia Phillies season
- Offseason :* Prior to 1946 season: Stan Lopata was signed as an amateur free agent by the Phillies.- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played;...
, 1948
1948 Philadelphia Phillies season
-Regular season:The 1948 season was the Phillies' 16th consecutive losing season. It was the major league record until the Pittsburgh Pirates broke it in 2009 with their 17th consecutive losing season.-Notable transactions:...
and 1949
1949 Philadelphia Phillies season
- Offseason :* October 4, 1948: Harry Walker was traded by the Phillies to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Nicholson.* November 15, 1948: Bob Chakales was drafted from the Phillies by the Cleveland Indians in the 1948 minor league draft....
. Phillies manager Eddie Sawyer
Eddie Sawyer
Edwin Milby Sawyer was an American manager and scout in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he led the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies — the "Whiz Kids", as the youthful club was known — to the second National League championship in team history.-A scholar-athlete:Born in Westerly, Rhode Island,...
assigned Phillies coach and former catcher Cy Perkins
Cy Perkins
Ralph Foster "Cy" Perkins was an American catcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. Perkins batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts....
to tutor him, which helped improve his defensive skills. He was voted by baseball fans to be the starting catcher for the National League in the All-Star Game
1949 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1949 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 16th annual midseason exhibition game between the all-stars of Major League Baseball's American and National Leagues. The American League continued its early dominance of the Midsummer Classic with an 11-7 win at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn. The...
, mostly for his reputation as a hitter.
On June 2, , the Phillies hit five home runs during the eighth inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
in a 12–3 victory over Cincinnati at Shibe Park, tying the major league mark set by the 1939 New York Giants
1939 New York Giants (MLB) season
- Offseason :* December 7, 1938: Les Powers was purchased from the Giants by the Philadelphia Phillies.- Notable transactions :* April 10, 1939: Johnny Dickshot was purchased by the Giants from the Boston Bees....
. Seminick hit two home runs in the inning, while Del Ennis
Del Ennis
Delmer Ennis was an American left and right fielder in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Philadelphia Phillies. From 1949 to 1957, Ennis accumulated more runs batted in than anyone besides Stan Musial and was 8th in the National League in home runs...
, Willie Jones
Willie Jones (baseball)
Willie Edward Jones , nicknamed "Puddin' Head", was a Major League Baseball third baseman who played for the Philadelphia Phillies , Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds...
and Schoolboy Rowe
Schoolboy Rowe
Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
had one each. Jones added a triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
as Granny Hamner
Granny Hamner
Granville Wilbur Hamner was an American shortstop and second baseman in Major League Baseball. Hamner was one of the key players on the "Whiz Kids", the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies...
's double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
jumped the extra bases
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
total to 18, still a record. Seminick collected three home runs overall.
With his defensive and pitch
Pitch (baseball)
In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. The term comes from the Knickerbocker Rules. Originally, the ball had to be literally "pitched" underhand, as with pitching horseshoes. Overhand throwing was not allowed until 1884.The biomechanics of...
calling skills improved, Seminick played an important leadership role during the 1950
1950 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies won the National League pennant by two games over the Brooklyn Dodgers. Nicknamed the "Whiz Kids" because of the youth of their roster, they went on to lose the World Series to the New York Yankees in four straight games....
"Whiz Kids"
Whiz Kids (baseball)
The Whiz Kids was a nickname given to the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies in Major League Baseball. This team, averaging only 26.4 years of age, won the National League pennant during that season.After owner R. R. M. Carpenter, Jr...
championship season. Because he was, at 29, one of the veterans on the squad and was called upon to handle a young Phillie pitching staff, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
baseball writers nicknamed Seminick "Grandpa Whiz." He enjoyed his best season in 1950, hitting for a .288 batting average with 24 home runs and 68 runs batted in. Unfortunately, Seminick broke his ankle late in the season, but continued to play with the injury until the Phillies lost to the New York Yankees
1950 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 48th season for the team in New York and its 50th overall as a franchise. The team finished with a record of 98-56, winning their 17th pennant, finishing 3 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. In the World Series, they defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in 4...
in the World Series
1950 World Series
The 1950 World Series was the 47th World Series between the American and National Leagues for the championship of Major League Baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies as 1950 champions of the National League and the New York Yankees, as 1950 American League champions, competed to win a best-of-seven...
. Future Hall of Fame pitcher, Robin Roberts said of Seminick,"If you had to pick a guy in the clubhouse who was our leader that year, it would be Andy. He always played hard, and that was his best year by far".
In 1951
1951 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies finished in fifth place. The team had won the 1950 National League pennant but in the United Press' annual preseason poll of sportswriters, only 18 out of 168 writers picked the team to repeat as pennant winners; the Giants received 81 votes and the Dodgers 55...
, Seminick was beaned
Beanball
"Beanball" is a colloquialism used in baseball, for a ball thrown at an opposing player with the intention of striking him such as to cause harm, often connoting a throw at the player's head...
by a Max Lanier
Max Lanier
Hubert Max Lanier was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the St. Louis Cardinals. He led the National League in earned run average in , and was the winning pitcher of the clinching game in the 1944 World Series against the crosstown St. Louis...
fastball, diminishing his ability to play. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for catcher Smoky Burgess
Smoky Burgess
Forrest Harrill "Smoky" Burgess was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1949 to 1967. Later in his career, he became known for his ability as a pinch hitter, setting the major league career record for career pinch-hits...
, playing there from 1952
1952 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. It consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League.- Offseason :...
until the early part of the 1955 season. In 1955
1955 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season was a season in American baseball. It was the first season for Phillies' manager Mayo Smith. Prior to the season, the Phillies were seen to have strong pitching with ace Robin Roberts but did not have power hitters to match pennant favorites Brooklyn, New York, or...
, he was once again traded for Burgess, returning to the Phillies, where he led National League catchers with a .994 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. He played a couple of more years before ending his playing career after the 1957
1957 Philadelphia Phillies season
-Offseason:* November 19, 1956: Del Ennis was traded by the Phillies to the St. Louis Cardinals for Rip Repulski and Bobby Morgan.- Regular season :The Phillies integrated during the 1957 season...
season.
Career statistics
In 15 seasons, Seminick played in 1304 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, totaling 953 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 3921 at bats for a .243 batting average, with 164 home runs and 556 runs batted in. He threw out 44.6% of the base runners
Baserunning
In baseball, baserunning is the act of running around the bases performed by members of the team at bat.In general, baserunning is a tactical part of the game with the goal of eventually reaching home to score a run. In fact, the goal of batting is generally to produce baserunners, or help move...
who tried steal
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
a base on him, 16th on the all-time list. Seminick led National League catchers twice in baserunners caught stealing
Caught stealing
In baseball, a runner is charged, and the fielders involved are credited, with a time caught stealing when the runner attempts to advance or lead off from one base to another without the ball being batted and then is tagged out by a fielder while making the attempt...
and once each in putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s, assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. At the time of his retirement, he ranked seventh all-time in home runs by catchers.
Managing and coaching career
After retiring as a player, Seminick worked for the Philadelphia organization for the rest of his life. First, as a coachCoach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
with the Phillies (1957–58), then managed
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
11 Phillies' minor-league
Minor 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...
teams (1959–66, 1970–73), and returned as a coach for the Phillies (1967–69). After that, he served as a scout and as a roving minor-league instructor for the Phillies (1974 to mid-1980s). Notably, ninety of the players he managed or coached eventually played in the major leagues, including Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
Michael Jack Schmidt is a Hall of Fame third baseman popularly considered among the greatest third basemen in the history of Major League Baseball. He played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies....
, Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Jenkins
Ferguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins, CM, is a Canadian former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was a three-time All-Star and the 1971 NL Cy Young Award winner. In 1991, Jenkins was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. During a 19-year career, he pitched for four different teams,...
, Greg Luzinski and Bob Boone
Bob Boone
Robert Raymond Boone is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who was a four-time All-Star. Born in San Diego, California, Bob Boone is the son of a major league player, the late third baseman Ray Boone, and the father of two major leaguers: former second baseman Bret Boone and...
. Seminick helped to convert Boone from a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
to one of the best defensive catchers in baseball.
In the 1990s, Seminick served as a catching instructor for Philadelphia in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and in the Florida Instructional League.
Andy Seminick died in Palm Bay, Florida
Palm Bay, Florida
Palm Bay is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population as 100,786 on 1 July 2008; it is the most populous city in the county...
, at 83 years of age. He was the last living everyday player from the Whiz Kids.