Lennie Merullo
Encyclopedia
Leonard Richard Merullo (born May 5, 1917) is an American
former professional baseball
player who played shortstop
in the Major Leagues
from 1941–47. He was born in East Boston, Massachusetts
.
for seven years in the major leagues in the 1940s. He appeared in a number of games during the 1945 World Series against two-time MVP Hal Newhouser
, pitchers Virgil Trucks
, Tommy Bridges
, and slugger Hank Greenberg
of the Detroit Tigers
. Merullo and Andy Pafko
are the only two living men to have played for the Cubs in a World Series - 1945 being the last time the Cubs made it to the World Series
. Merullo's major league career began in 1941, and in 1942-45 he won the shortstop job, with Stan Hack
playing third base and Merullo's roommate, Phil Cavarretta
, on first base. In 1946, Billy Jurges
, Bobby Sturgeon
, and Merullo shared the shortstop position until Merullo won the position back again in 1947. During this period, Merullo was known to have the quickest throwing arm in baseball.
Moe Drabowsky
. He left the Cubs in 1973 to join the then-fledgling Major League Scouting Bureau, where he served with distinction until his retirement at the age of 85 in 2003.
Boots went on to play in the Pittsburgh Pirates
' minor league system and his grandson, Matt Merullo
, had a six year career playing for major league teams, mainly the Chicago White Sox
. Matt Merullo
is now a scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional baseball
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....
player who played 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...
in the Major Leagues
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...
from 1941–47. He was born in East Boston, Massachusetts
East Boston, Massachusetts
East Boston is a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, with approximately 40,000 residents. The community was created by connecting several islands using landfill and was annexed by Boston in 1836. East Boston is separated from the rest of the city by Boston Harbor and bordered by Winthrop,...
.
Chicago Cubs
Lennie Merullo played shortstop for the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
for seven years in the major leagues in the 1940s. He appeared in a number of games during the 1945 World Series against two-time MVP Hal Newhouser
Hal Newhouser
Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
, pitchers Virgil Trucks
Virgil Trucks
Virgil Oliver Trucks is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1958, Trucks played for the Detroit Tigers , St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed...
, Tommy Bridges
Tommy Bridges
Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
, and slugger Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Merullo and Andy Pafko
Andy Pafko
Andrew Pafko is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1943 through 1959, Pafko played for the Chicago Cubs , Brooklyn Dodgers and Milwaukee Braves . He batted and threw right-handed...
are the only two living men to have played for the Cubs in a World Series - 1945 being the last time the Cubs made it to the World Series
1945 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 2:Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 3:Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan...
. Merullo's major league career began in 1941, and in 1942-45 he won the shortstop job, with Stan Hack
Stan Hack
Stanley Camfield Hack , nicknamed "Smiling Stan," was an American third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Chicago Cubs and was the National League's top third baseman in the late 1930s and early 1940s...
playing third base and Merullo's roommate, Phil Cavarretta
Phil Cavarretta
Philip Joseph Cavarretta was an American Major League Baseball first baseman, outfielder, and manager.Cavarretta spent almost his entire baseball career with the Chicago Cubs. He was voted the National League Most Valuable Player after leading the Cubs to the pennant while winning the batting...
, on first base. In 1946, Billy Jurges
Billy Jurges
William Frederick Jurges was an American shortstop, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball. He was born in Bronx, New York. During the 1930s, he was central to three National League champion Chicago Cubs teams...
, Bobby Sturgeon
Bobby Sturgeon
Robert Harwood Sturgeon was a shortstop/second baseman in Major League Baseball who played between 1940 and 1948 for the Chicago Cubs and Boston Braves . Listed at 6' 0", 175 lb., Sturgeon batted and threw right-handed...
, and Merullo shared the shortstop position until Merullo won the position back again in 1947. During this period, Merullo was known to have the quickest throwing arm in baseball.
Scout
After retiring from professional baseball, Merullo was Chief Scout for the Cubs from 1950–72, signing among others relief pitcherRelief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
Moe Drabowsky
Moe Drabowsky
Myron Walter Drabowsky was a Polish-American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs , Milwaukee Braves , Cincinnati Reds , Kansas City Athletics , Baltimore Orioles , Kansas City Royals , St...
. He left the Cubs in 1973 to join the then-fledgling Major League Scouting Bureau, where he served with distinction until his retirement at the age of 85 in 2003.
Personal life
Merullo has four sons. His eldest son is nicknamed "Boots" because on the day he was born, Merullo famously made four errors in a single inning having been informed by the club's owner, Philip Wrigley, that his wife had gone into labor. The following day the Chicago newspapers suggested his newborn baby should be called "Boots" in honor of the occasion.Boots went on to play in 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...
' minor league system and his grandson, Matt Merullo
Matt Merullo
Matthew Bates Merullo is a retired professional baseball player. He played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball from 1989–95, primarily as a catcher. He is currently a regional scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks....
, had a six year career playing for major league teams, mainly the 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...
. Matt Merullo
Matt Merullo
Matthew Bates Merullo is a retired professional baseball player. He played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball from 1989–95, primarily as a catcher. He is currently a regional scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks....
is now a scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.