Bert Niehoff
Encyclopedia
John Albert Niehoff was a second baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played for four different clubs between the and seasons. He batted and threw right-handed.
, Niehoff entered the majors in 1913 with the Cincinnati Reds
, playing for them two years before joining the Philadelphia Phillies
(1915–1917), St. Louis Cardinals
(1918) and New York Giants
(1918). He was a classic line-drive hitter and steady double play
partner for shortstop
s Buck Herzog
(Reds) and Dave Bancroft
(Phillies). His most productive season came in 1916 with Philadelphia, when he posted career-highs in runs
(65) and runs batted in (61), while leading the National League
hitters with 42 doubles
. He also was a member of the Phillies team that lost the 1915 World Series
to the Boston Red Sox
.
In a six-season career, Niehoff was a .240 hitter (489-for-2037) with 12 home run
s and 207 RBI in 581 games, including 210 runs, 104 doubles, 19 triples
and 71 stolen base
s.
, coach
, scout
and general manager
, but he will be greatly remembered as one of the first managers selected by the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
, along with fellow former bigleaguers Johnny Gottselig
and Josh Billings
and minor leaguer Eddie Stumpf
. From 1943 to 1944 Niehoff managed the South Bend Blue Sox
, a team that included talented players as Bonnie Baker
, Doris Barr
and Dottie Schroeder (the only woman who played every season of the AAGPBL).
Additionally, Niehoff coached for the 1929 New York Giants
; scouted both for the New York Yankees
(1948–1949) and California Angels (1961–1968), and spent 1952 as the Mobile Bears
general manager.
As a minor league manager, Niehoff compiled a 1824-1713 record in 24 seasons between 1922 and 1954, including 15 years in the Southern Association
and three league championship titles for the Mobile Bears (1922), Atlanta Crackers
(1925) and Oklahoma City Indians
(1935).
Niehoff died in Inglewood, California
, at the age of 90.
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
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...
who played for four different clubs between the and seasons. He batted and threw right-handed.
Playing career
A native of Louisville, ColoradoLouisville, Colorado
Louisville is a Home Rule Municipality in Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The population was 18,937 at the 2000 census. Louisville began as a rough mining community in 1877, suffered through a period of extraordinary labor violence early in the 20th century, and then, when the mines...
, Niehoff entered the majors in 1913 with the Cincinnati Reds
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....
, playing for them two years before joining 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...
(1915–1917), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1918) and New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1918). He was a classic line-drive hitter and steady double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
partner for shortstop
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...
s Buck Herzog
Buck Herzog
Charles Lincoln "Buck" Herzog was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball who played for four National League clubs between 1908 and 1920. He played for the New York Giants, the Boston Braves, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Chicago Cubs...
(Reds) and Dave Bancroft
Dave Bancroft
David James "Beauty" Bancroft was an American baseball player who played Major League Baseball from 1915 to 1930. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame....
(Phillies). His most productive season came in 1916 with Philadelphia, when he posted career-highs in runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
(65) and runs batted in (61), while leading 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...
hitters with 42 doubles
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....
. He also was a member of the Phillies team that lost the 1915 World Series
1915 World Series
In the 1915 World Series, the Boston Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies four games to one.In their only World Series before , the Phillies won Game 1 before being swept the rest of the way. It was 65 years before the Phillies won their next Series game...
to 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"...
.
In a six-season career, Niehoff was a .240 hitter (489-for-2037) with 12 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 207 RBI in 581 games, including 210 runs, 104 doubles, 19 triples
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....
and 71 stolen base
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...
s.
Post-playing career
Following his playing days, Niehoff enhanced his baseball career as a managerManager (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...
, coach
Coach (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...
, scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
and general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
, but he will be greatly remembered as one of the first managers selected by the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was a women's professional baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. During the league's history, over 600 women played ball.-History:...
, along with fellow former bigleaguers Johnny Gottselig
Johnny Gottselig
John Gottselig was a professional ice hockey left winger who played 17 seasons for the Chicago Black Hawks of the National Hockey League between 1928 and 1946. He was the second player born in the Russian Empire to play in the NHL, as well as the first European-born head coach in the league's...
and Josh Billings
Josh Billings
Josh Billings was the pen name of 19th century American humorist Henry Wheeler Shaw . He was perhaps the second most famous humor writer and lecturer in the United States in the second half of the 19th century after Mark Twain, although his reputation has not endured so well with later...
and minor leaguer Eddie Stumpf
Eddie Stumpf
Edward Stumpf was an American player, manager and executive in Minor league baseball.Stumpf began his professional baseball career as a catcher in the American Association, playing from 1916 through 1919 for the Milwaukee Brewers and Columbus Senators...
. From 1943 to 1944 Niehoff managed the South Bend Blue Sox
South Bend Blue Sox
The South Bend Blue Sox were a women's professional baseball team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League...
, a team that included talented players as Bonnie Baker
Bonnie Baker
Mary Geraldine Baker, née George was an all-star catcher in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from 1943 to 1952.-Career:...
, Doris Barr
Doris Barr
Doris Barr [Dodie] was a pitcher who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at 5' 6", 145 lb., Barr batted and threw left-handed...
and Dottie Schroeder (the only woman who played every season of the AAGPBL).
Additionally, Niehoff coached for the 1929 New York Giants
1929 New York Giants season
The 1929 New York Giants season was the fifth season for the club in the National Football League.-Schedule:-Standings:-External links:*...
; scouted both for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1948–1949) and California Angels (1961–1968), and spent 1952 as the Mobile Bears
Mobile Bears
The Mobile Bears were an American minor league baseball team based in Mobile, Alabama. The franchise was a member of the old Southern Association, a high-level circuit that folded after the 1961 season. Mobile joined the SA in 1908 as the Sea Gulls, but changed its name to the Bears in 1918, and...
general manager.
As a minor league manager, Niehoff compiled a 1824-1713 record in 24 seasons between 1922 and 1954, including 15 years in 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...
and three league championship titles for the Mobile Bears (1922), Atlanta Crackers
Atlanta Crackers
The Atlanta Crackers were minor league baseball teams based in Atlanta, Georgia, between 1901 and 1965. The Crackers were Atlanta's home team until the Atlanta Braves moved from Milwaukee in 1966....
(1925) and Oklahoma City Indians
Oklahoma City Indians
The Oklahoma City Indians were an American minor league baseball franchise representing Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, that played in the Texas League in 1909, 1933-42 and from 1946-57, and in the Western League from 1918-32...
(1935).
Niehoff died in Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
, at the age of 90.