Frank Verdi
Encyclopedia
Frank Michael Verdi was a Major League Baseball
player in 1953 for the New York Yankees
and a longtime manager
at the minor league
level. As a player, he batted and threw right-handed, stood 5'10½" (179 cm) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg). He was born in Brooklyn, New York.
A 1944 graduate of Brooklyn's Boys High School, Verdi attended New York University
. He served in the United States Navy
during World War II
.
Verdi only appeared in one game as a defensive replacement to Phil Rizzuto
at shortstop
on May 10, 1953. He did not have a plate appearance in the game, nor did he handle a chance in the field, before being replaced in the lineup. As a minor league player, Verdi was famous for his ability to execute the hidden ball trick
. In 1949, as a second baseman
for the Binghamton Triplets
in the Class A Eastern League, he pulled off the trick seven times in 95 games.
Verdi made a much larger mark as a minor league manager for 21 seasons (1961-70; 1972; 1974; 1977-85) at the affiliated level. He spent much of that period in the Yankees' farm system, winning Triple-A International League
championships in 1969-70 (with the Syracuse Chiefs) and in 1981 (with the Columbus Clippers
). He also managed the New York Mets
' Tidewater Tides
for four seasons (1977-80) and the Baltimore Orioles
' Rochester Red Wings
farm club from 1984 through June 16, 1985, and spent brief managing stints in the Houston Astros
, Minnesota Twins
and Washington Senators
organizations. His record as a manager was 1,351 wins, 1,332 losses (.504).
Verdi also survived a nearly tragic accident on July 25, 1959, when, as a player for the Rochester Red Wings, he was struck in the head by a stray bullet in Havana during a game against the Havana Sugar Kings
. Verdi was standing in as the team's third base coach after the ejection of Rochester manager Cot Deal
when shooting broke out in the stands. Verdi was still wearing the plastic lining in his baseball cap in lieu of a batting helmet and the lining deflected the bullet, which eventually caused a minor shoulder wound.
After his managerial career with affiliated minor league teams, Verdi managed in independent leagues during the 1990s and for the Indios de Mayagüez
of the Puerto Rico Baseball League from 1984 to 1985. His son, Mike Verdi, also was a minor league manager.
Verdi died in New Port Richey, Florida
, at the age of 84.
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...
player in 1953 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...
and a longtime manager
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...
at the 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...
level. As a player, he batted and threw right-handed, stood 5'10½" (179 cm) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77 kg). He was born in Brooklyn, New York.
A 1944 graduate of Brooklyn's Boys High School, Verdi attended New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. He served in the United States Navy
United 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...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Verdi only appeared in one game as a defensive replacement to Phil Rizzuto
Phil Rizzuto
Philip Francis Rizzuto , nicknamed "The Scooter", was an American Major League Baseball shortstop. He spent his entire 13-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
at 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...
on May 10, 1953. He did not have a plate appearance in the game, nor did he handle a chance in the field, before being replaced in the lineup. As a minor league player, Verdi was famous for his ability to execute the hidden ball trick
Hidden ball trick
In the game of baseball, the hidden ball trick is a play in which the runner is deceived about the location of the ball, in an effort to have him tagged out.-Execution:...
. In 1949, as a second baseman
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...
for the Binghamton Triplets
Binghamton Triplets
The Binghamton Triplets were a minor league baseball team in Binghamton, New York, affiliated with the New York Yankees ; the team also had brief affiliations with the Kansas City Athletics and the Milwaukee Braves...
in the Class A Eastern League, he pulled off the trick seven times in 95 games.
Verdi made a much larger mark as a minor league manager for 21 seasons (1961-70; 1972; 1974; 1977-85) at the affiliated level. He spent much of that period in the Yankees' farm system, winning Triple-A International League
International League
The 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...
championships in 1969-70 (with the Syracuse Chiefs) and in 1981 (with the Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
). He also managed the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
' Tidewater Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
for four seasons (1977-80) and the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
' Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
farm club from 1984 through June 16, 1985, and spent brief managing stints in the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
and Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
organizations. His record as a manager was 1,351 wins, 1,332 losses (.504).
Verdi also survived a nearly tragic accident on July 25, 1959, when, as a player for the Rochester Red Wings, he was struck in the head by a stray bullet in Havana during a game against the Havana Sugar Kings
Havana Sugar Kings
The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played in the Class AAA International League from 1954 to 1960 . They were affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro in Havana, Cuba.-History:The Sugar...
. Verdi was standing in as the team's third base coach after the ejection of Rochester manager Cot Deal
Cot Deal
Ellis Ferguson "Cot" Deal is a former pitcher and coach in Major League Baseball. Listed at 5' 10.5", 185 lb., Deal was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
when shooting broke out in the stands. Verdi was still wearing the plastic lining in his baseball cap in lieu of a batting helmet and the lining deflected the bullet, which eventually caused a minor shoulder wound.
After his managerial career with affiliated minor league teams, Verdi managed in independent leagues during the 1990s and for the Indios de Mayagüez
Indios de Mayagüez
The Indios de Mayagüez are a baseball team in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League . Normally based in Mayagüez, the Indios have won 16 national championships and two Caribbean World Series...
of the Puerto Rico Baseball League from 1984 to 1985. His son, Mike Verdi, also was a minor league manager.
Verdi died in New Port Richey, Florida
New Port Richey, Florida
New Port Richey is a city in Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is a suburban city included in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, at the age of 84.