Jerry Snyder
Encyclopedia
Gerald George Snyder is an American
former infielder
in Major League Baseball
who played his entire career for the Washington Senators
from 1952
to 1958
. Listed at 6 feet (1.8 m), 170 pounds (77.1 kg), he batted and threw right-handed.
Snyder started his career in 1946 with the Niagara Falls of the Mid-Atlantic League. Obtained by the New York Yankees
in 1947, he played for them during five minor league seasons before being traded to Washington along Jackie Jensen
, Spec Shea
and Archie Wilson
in the same transaction that brought Irv Noren
and Tom Upton
to the Yankees. While in Washington, Snyder provided a solid infield support for Pete Runnels
, Herb Plews
and Eddie Yost
, playing mainly at shortstop
. His most productive season came in 1954, when he posted career-numbers in games (64), runs
(17) and RBI
(17), while hitting .234 (36-for-154). In 1956 he batted a career-high .270 with two home run
s and 14 RBI.
On July 18, 1955, Snyder participated in five double play
s at second base to tie a then major league record. He also played in the Venezuelan league and appeared in the 1959 Caribbean Series
.
In a seven-season career, Snyder was a .230 hitter (145-for-630) with three home runs and 47 RBI in 266 games, including 60 runs, 18 doubles
, two triples
and seven stolen base
s.
Snyder's 1957 Topps
card actually featured former catcher and coach Ed Fitz Gerald
. In 2006, Snyder would sign reprints of the card inserted in commemorative packs with his name and the phrase "This isn't me".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
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 his entire career for the Washington Senators
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...
from 1952
1952 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers *All-Star Game, July 8 at Shibe Park: National League, 3-2 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: La Habana *College World Series: Holy Cross...
to 1958
1958 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Milwaukee Braves ; Bob Turley, MVP*All-Star Game, July 8 at Memorial Stadium: American League, 4-3-Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Marianao *College World Series: USC...
. Listed at 6 feet (1.8 m), 170 pounds (77.1 kg), he batted and threw right-handed.
Snyder started his career in 1946 with the Niagara Falls of the Mid-Atlantic League. Obtained by 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...
in 1947, he played for them during five minor league seasons before being traded to Washington along Jackie Jensen
Jackie Jensen
Jack Eugene Jensen was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for three American League teams from 1950 to 1961, most notably the Boston Red Sox...
, Spec Shea
Spec Shea
Francis Joseph "Spec" Shea was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1947-1955. He played for the New York Yankees from 1947–1951 and the Washington Senators from 1952-1955...
and Archie Wilson
Archie Wilson
Archibald Clifton Wilson was a backup outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for three teams from 1951-52. Listed at , , Wilson batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Los Angeles, California....
in the same transaction that brought Irv Noren
Irv Noren
Irving Arnold Noren is a retired American professional baseball and basketball player. He played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1950-1960. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers...
and Tom Upton
Tom Upton
Thomas Herbert "Muscles" Upton is a former right-handed Major League Baseball shortstop who played for the St. Louis Browns from 1950 to 1951, and for the Washington Senators in 1952. He began his professional career in 1944, after being signed by the New York Yankees...
to the Yankees. While in Washington, Snyder provided a solid infield support for Pete Runnels
Pete Runnels
James Edward "Pete" Runnels was a Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Washington Senators , Boston Red Sox and Houston Colt .45s . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed....
, Herb Plews
Herb Plews
Herbert Eugene Plews is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played four years in the majors, from 1956 to 1959. In the minor leagues he played for Kansas City, Binghamton, Norfolk, and Denver before hitting the majors in 1956. After 1959, Herb finished his career playing back in the...
and Eddie Yost
Eddie Yost
Edward Frederick Joseph Yost is a former professional baseball player and coach. He played the majority of his Major League Baseball career as a third baseman for the Washington Senators, before ending his career with the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Angels. Yost batted and threw right-handed...
, playing mainly 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...
. His most productive season came in 1954, when he posted career-numbers in games (64), 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...
(17) and RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
(17), while hitting .234 (36-for-154). In 1956 he batted a career-high .270 with two 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 14 RBI.
On July 18, 1955, Snyder participated in five 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"....
s at second base to tie a then major league record. He also played in the Venezuelan league and appeared in the 1959 Caribbean Series
1959 Caribbean Series
The XI edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 1959. It was held from February 10 through February 15 with the champions teams from Cuba , Panama , Puerto Rico and Venezuela . The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice...
.
In a seven-season career, Snyder was a .230 hitter (145-for-630) with three home runs and 47 RBI in 266 games, including 60 runs, 18 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....
, two 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 seven 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.
Snyder's 1957 Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
card actually featured former catcher and coach Ed Fitz Gerald
Ed Fitz Gerald
Edward Raymond Fitz Gerald is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played from - for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians. He attended Saint Mary's College of California...
. In 2006, Snyder would sign reprints of the card inserted in commemorative packs with his name and the phrase "This isn't me".