Mike Menosky
Encyclopedia
Michael William Menosky (October 16, 1894 - April 11, 1983) was a professional American baseball
outfielder
for the Federal League
and Major League Baseball
. Born in Glen Campbell, Pennsylvania
, he was known as "Leaping Mike" for his daring, fence-crashing catches. Menosky started his career on April 18, 1914 with the Pittsburgh Rebels
of the Federal League, and went on to play 68 games that season. At 19, he was the second-youngest baseball player in the Federal League that season behind Jimmy Smith. He spent most of the 1915 season in the minor leagues of the Federal League. After the league folded in 1915, he was purchased by the Washington Senators
of the American League
on February 10, 1916.
After playing 11 games in 1916, he became the starting left fielder in 1917. He hit ten triples that season, and stole 22 bases. After taking a year off from baseball to serve in the military, he was again the starting left fielder during the 1919 season for the Senators. After the season ended, Menosky was traded on January 20, 1920 with Eddie Foster
and Harry Harper
to the Boston Red Sox for Braggo Roth
and Red Shannon
. He remained the starting left fielder on the Boston Red Sox for the 1920 and 1921 seasons. He had his best statistical season during the 1920 Boston Red Sox season
, where he played in 141 games, had a batting average of .297, hit nine triples, and stole 23 bases, which was good for fourth in the American League. During the 1921 Boston Red Sox season
, he had a career-high batting average of .300. In 1922, he was named the opening day starter as a center fielder
, having played the previous two seasons in left field. He went on to play only four games in center field that season out of the 103 he played.
Menosky went on to play one more season with the Red Sox, playing in 84 games in 1923. At the end of the season, he was released to the Vernon club of the Pacific Coast League
, ending his Major League career.
After his retirement from baseball, he became a probation officer. His baseball career came of use in a case where the defendant was charged with throwing a rock through a Detroit terminal caboose window. The judge doubted he could throw a rock 250 feet, and when Menosky tried to throw a rock 250 feet and was unable to do so, the judge dismissed the case, stating that the average man would not have a chance if Menosky could not do it.
Menosky died in Detroit, Michigan
on April 11, 1983.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
and 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...
. Born in Glen Campbell, Pennsylvania
Glen Campbell, Pennsylvania
Glen Campbell is a borough in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 306 at the 2000 census. The borough was named in 1889 for Cornelius Campbell, the first superintendent of the Glenwood Coal Company , which mined in that area.The modern singer Glen Campbell visited Glen...
, he was known as "Leaping Mike" for his daring, fence-crashing catches. Menosky started his career on April 18, 1914 with the Pittsburgh Rebels
Pittsburgh Rebels
The Pittsburgh Rebels were a professional baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team was a member of the short-lived Federal League, which was a minor league in 1913 but a full-fledged outlaw major league the next two years...
of the Federal League, and went on to play 68 games that season. At 19, he was the second-youngest baseball player in the Federal League that season behind Jimmy Smith. He spent most of the 1915 season in the minor leagues of the Federal League. After the league folded in 1915, he was purchased by 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...
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
on February 10, 1916.
After playing 11 games in 1916, he became the starting left fielder in 1917. He hit ten triples that season, and stole 22 bases. After taking a year off from baseball to serve in the military, he was again the starting left fielder during the 1919 season for the Senators. After the season ended, Menosky was traded on January 20, 1920 with Eddie Foster
Eddie Foster
Edward Cunningham "Eddie" Foster , was a professional baseball player who played third base in the Major Leagues from 1910-1923. In his career he played for the New York Yankees, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox, and St. Louis Browns.Foster was killed in a hit-and-run automobile accident in...
and Harry Harper
Harry Harper
Harry Clayton Harper was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for four different teams between and . Listed at 6' 2", 165 lb., Harper batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Hackensack, New Jersey....
to the Boston Red Sox for Braggo Roth
Braggo Roth
Robert Frank "Bobby" Roth , nicknamed Braggo, was a professional baseball player. He was an outfielder over parts of 8 seasons with the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, and New York Yankees...
and Red Shannon
Red Shannon
Maurice Joseph "Red" Shannon born in Jersey City, New Jersey was an infielder for the Boston Braves , Philadelphia Athletics , Boston Red Sox , Washington Senators and Chicago Cubs .In parts of seven seasons, he played in 310 games and had 1,070 At Bats, 124 Runs, 277 Hits, 38 Doubles, 22...
. He remained the starting left fielder on the Boston Red Sox for the 1920 and 1921 seasons. He had his best statistical season during the 1920 Boston Red Sox season
1920 Boston Red Sox season
The 1920 Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing 5th in the American League with a record of 72 wins and 81 losses.- Opening Day lineup :- Roster :- Starters by position :...
, where he played in 141 games, had a batting average of .297, hit nine triples, and stole 23 bases, which was good for fourth in the American League. During the 1921 Boston Red Sox season
1921 Boston Red Sox season
The 1921 Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing 5th in the American League with a record of 75 wins and 79 losses.- Opening Day lineup :- Roster :- Starters by position :...
, he had a career-high batting average of .300. In 1922, he was named the opening day starter as a center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
, having played the previous two seasons in left field. He went on to play only four games in center field that season out of the 103 he played.
Menosky went on to play one more season with the Red Sox, playing in 84 games in 1923. At the end of the season, he was released to the Vernon club of 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...
, ending his Major League career.
After his retirement from baseball, he became a probation officer. His baseball career came of use in a case where the defendant was charged with throwing a rock through a Detroit terminal caboose window. The judge doubted he could throw a rock 250 feet, and when Menosky tried to throw a rock 250 feet and was unable to do so, the judge dismissed the case, stating that the average man would not have a chance if Menosky could not do it.
Menosky died in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
on April 11, 1983.