Dom Zanni
Encyclopedia
Dominick Thomas Zanni is a former right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the San Francisco Giants
, Chicago White Sox
and Cincinnati Reds
from 1958 to 1966.
His major league career began when he was signed by the Giants (then the New York Giants) as an amateur free agent before the 1951 season. Over the following seasons, Zanni moved up the minor league baseball
ranks. On June 5, 1954, Zanni pitched a no-hitter
for the Sioux City Cowboys of the Western League
. In 1956, Zanni was a spring training roster invitee, but was sent back to the minors before the season started. He spent the following seasons with the Louisville Colonels
and the Phoenix Giants
, and helped lead the Giants to the Pacific Coast League
championship in 1958. This led to his major league debut on September 28. He pitched against the St. Louis Cardinals
, pitching four innings and allowing one run, earning the victory as the Giants won by a score of seven to two.
Zanni spent the offseason in the Dominican League, then came back on the Giants' roster for the 1959 season. During the season, he pitched in 11 innings in nine games, striking out 11. After playing nine games and having an earned run average
(ERA) of 6.55, he was sent back to Phoenix. Zanni spent the rest of the 1959 and 1960 seasons with the Tacoma Giants (formerly the Phoenix Giants), then spent the 1960 offseason in the Puerto Rican League, earning an ERA of 2.73 with six victories and no losses. After spending part of the 1961 season with Tacoma, where Zanni had a 2.65 ERA and a 8–4 record, he was called up to the San Francisco Giants' major league roster on July 22, 1961. He went on to pitch eight games during the 1961 San Francisco Giants season
, winning a game and posting an ERA of 3.75. After the season ended, on November 30 Zanni was traded along with player to be named later
(Verle Tiefenthaler), Bob Farley, and Eddie Fisher
to the Chicago White Sox for Billy Pierce
and Don Larsen
.
The 1962 Chicago White Sox season
ended up being Zanni's most productive season in his major league career. He pitched a career-high 44 games and pitched over 86 innings, winning six games and losing five with an ERA of 3.75. This season was also the closest Zanni got to pitching a complete game. On June 22, 1962, in a game against the Kansas City Athletics, Zanni relieved Joe Horlen
, who left the game due to injury before getting anyone out
. In the seventh inning of the same game, he was knocked unconscious
in a collision while covering first base, and went on to finish the game, pitching all nine innings in a 5–1 victory for the White Sox. He pitched in five games for the White Sox the following season. On May 5, 1963, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Jim Brosnan
.
Zanni played 31 games with the Reds during the 1963 Cincinnati Reds season
, finishing 16 of them and earning five saves and finishing with an ERA of 4.19. During the 1965 Cincinnati Reds season
, called up after the minor league season was over, he pitched in eight games and had 13 innings pitched
, allowing two earned runs. The following season, he was again called up in September, and did not allow a run during the five games he pitched. His final major league game was October 1, 1966.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
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 the San Francisco 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....
, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
and 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....
from 1958 to 1966.
His major league career began when he was signed by the Giants (then the New York Giants) as an amateur free agent before the 1951 season. Over the following seasons, Zanni moved up the minor league baseball
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...
ranks. On June 5, 1954, Zanni pitched a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
for the Sioux City Cowboys of the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
. In 1956, Zanni was a spring training roster invitee, but was sent back to the minors before the season started. He spent the following seasons with the Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels (minor league baseball team)
The Louisville Colonels was the name of several minor league baseball teams that played in Louisville, Kentucky, in the 20th century. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels.-Twentieth century minor league teams:...
and the Phoenix Giants
Phoenix Firebirds
The Phoenix Firebirds, formerly the Phoenix Giants, were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Phoenix, Arizona, USA from 1958-1959, and 1966 until 1997....
, and helped lead the Giants to 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...
championship in 1958. This led to his major league debut on September 28. He pitched against the 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...
, pitching four innings and allowing one run, earning the victory as the Giants won by a score of seven to two.
Zanni spent the offseason in the Dominican League, then came back on the Giants' roster for the 1959 season. During the season, he pitched in 11 innings in nine games, striking out 11. After playing nine games and having an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
(ERA) of 6.55, he was sent back to Phoenix. Zanni spent the rest of the 1959 and 1960 seasons with the Tacoma Giants (formerly the Phoenix Giants), then spent the 1960 offseason in the Puerto Rican League, earning an ERA of 2.73 with six victories and no losses. After spending part of the 1961 season with Tacoma, where Zanni had a 2.65 ERA and a 8–4 record, he was called up to the San Francisco Giants' major league roster on July 22, 1961. He went on to pitch eight games during the 1961 San Francisco Giants season
1961 San Francisco Giants season
- Regular season :Willie Mays had both a three home run game and a four home run game during the 1961 season. Mays became the ninth player, and first Giant, in MLB history to hit four home runs in one game.- Opening Day starters :...
, winning a game and posting an ERA of 3.75. After the season ended, on November 30 Zanni was traded along with player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
(Verle Tiefenthaler), Bob Farley, and Eddie Fisher
Eddie Fisher (baseball)
Eddie Gene Fisher was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants , Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles , Cleveland Indians , California Angels and St...
to the Chicago White Sox for Billy Pierce
Billy Pierce
Walter William Pierce is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Chicago White Sox. He was the team's star pitcher between 1952 and 1961, and was named the American League's top pitcher in 1956 and 1957 after being runner-up in both 1953...
and Don Larsen
Don Larsen
Donald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series...
.
The 1962 Chicago White Sox season
1962 Chicago White Sox season
The 1962 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 62nd season in the major leagues, and its 63rd season overall. They finished with a record 85-77, good enough for fifth place in the American League, 11 games behind the first-place New York Yankees....
ended up being Zanni's most productive season in his major league career. He pitched a career-high 44 games and pitched over 86 innings, winning six games and losing five with an ERA of 3.75. This season was also the closest Zanni got to pitching a complete game. On June 22, 1962, in a game against the Kansas City Athletics, Zanni relieved Joe Horlen
Joe Horlen
Joel Edward Horlen is a right-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. Horlen pitched for the Chicago White Sox from to , and the Oakland Athletics in ....
, who left the game due to injury before getting anyone out
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
. In the seventh inning of the same game, he was knocked unconscious
Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness is the condition of being not conscious—in a mental state that involves complete or near-complete lack of responsiveness to people and other environmental stimuli. Being in a comatose state or coma is a type of unconsciousness. Fainting due to a drop in blood pressure and a...
in a collision while covering first base, and went on to finish the game, pitching all nine innings in a 5–1 victory for the White Sox. He pitched in five games for the White Sox the following season. On May 5, 1963, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for Jim Brosnan
Jim Brosnan
James Patrick Brosnan was a Major League Baseball player from 1954 and 1956 through 1963. He was a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox...
.
Zanni played 31 games with the Reds during the 1963 Cincinnati Reds season
1963 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Cincinnati Reds finishing in fifth place in the National League with a record of 86-76, 13 games behind the NL and World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers...
, finishing 16 of them and earning five saves and finishing with an ERA of 4.19. During the 1965 Cincinnati Reds season
1965 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season consisted of the Reds finishing in fourth place in the National League, with a record of 89-73, eight games behind the NL and World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers...
, called up after the minor league season was over, he pitched in eight games and had 13 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
, allowing two earned runs. The following season, he was again called up in September, and did not allow a run during the five games he pitched. His final major league game was October 1, 1966.