Phil Weintraub
Encyclopedia
Philip Weintraub, nicknamed Mickey (October 12, 1907 – June 21, 1987) was an American baseball
player who had, as of February 2010, the second most runs batted in
(RBIs) in a single game (11).
He was primarily a reserve outfielder
, though he was platooned at first base in the last few years of his career. He batted .295 for his career, with a .398 on base percentage
. Through 2008, he has the 4th-best career batting average of all Jewish major league baseball players, behind Hank Greenberg
, Buddy Myer
, and Lou Boudreau
. Blessed with an excellent eye and bat control, he walked 232 times in his career while striking out only 182 times.
Weintraub was born in Chicago, Illinois
, and first played for Loyola University of Chicago.
In 1934, he was helped to the first .400 season in Southern Association
history by Nashville Vols
manager Chuck Dressen
's ability to tip him off to pitches.
In 1939 with the Minneapolis Millers
in the American Association
he hit .331 with 33 home runs and 126 RBIs. He followed in 1940 by hitting .347 with 27 home runs and 109 RBIs.
.
In 1934 he batted .351, with a .461 on base percentage, in 31 games.
for Burgess Whitehead
.
from the Cardinals.
from the Reds. In November 1937 he was purchased by Baltimore (International) from the Giants.
for Gene Corbett. In 1938 he was 3rd in the National League
in on base percentage
(.422), 9th in batting average
(.311), and 10th in walks
(64). In December 1938 he was purchased by the Boston Red Sox
from the Phillies.
He did not play major league baseball from 1939–43.
from the St. Louis Browns
in the Rule 5 draft
.
In 1944, Weintraub returned to the majors with the Giants as a war-time player after a 6-year absence. He was 5th in the NL in OBP (.412), slugging percentage (.524) and at bats per home run (27.8), 6th in triple
s (9), 8th in batting average (.316), and 9th in home run
s (13). On April 30, 1944, Weintraub had 11 RBIs, one short of the major league record, as the Giants defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers, 26–8. He had two double
s, a triple, and a home run. Amazingly, he missed the cycle
because he didn't get a single
.
Weintraub played his last game on August 5, 1945.
Through 2010, he was fifth all-time in batting average (behind Hank Greenberg
, Ryan Braun
, Buddy Myer
, and Lou Boudreau
) among Jewish major league baseball players.
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...
player who had, as of February 2010, the second most runs batted in
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...
(RBIs) in a single game (11).
He was primarily a reserve 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...
, though he was platooned at first base in the last few years of his career. He batted .295 for his career, with a .398 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
. Through 2008, he has the 4th-best career batting average of all Jewish major league baseball players, behind 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...
, Buddy Myer
Buddy Myer
Charles Solomon "Buddy" Myer was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball from 1925 to 1941.An excellent hitter, he batted .300 or better in eight full seasons, and retired with a career average of .303. He walked more than twice as many times as he struck out...
, and Lou Boudreau
Lou Boudreau
Louis "Lou" Boudreau was an American Major League Baseball player and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970...
. Blessed with an excellent eye and bat control, he walked 232 times in his career while striking out only 182 times.
Weintraub was born in Chicago, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and first played for Loyola University of Chicago.
Minor leagues
Weintraub was a heavy hitter in the minors, hitting 194 minor league home runs.In 1934, he was helped to the first .400 season in Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
history by Nashville Vols
Nashville Vols
The Nashville Vols were a minor league baseball team based in Nashville, Tennessee from 1901 to 1963; the team was inactive in 1962. Known as the Nashville Baseball Club during their first seven seasons, they were officially named the Nashville Volunteers in 1908 for the state's nickname, The...
manager Chuck Dressen
Chuck Dressen
Charles Walter Dressen , known as both "Chuck" and "Charlie," was an American third baseman, manager and coach in professional baseball during a career that lasted almost fifty years, and was best known as the manager of the powerful Brooklyn Dodgers of 1951–1953...
's ability to tip him off to pitches.
In 1939 with the Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
in the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
he hit .331 with 33 home runs and 126 RBIs. He followed in 1940 by hitting .347 with 27 home runs and 109 RBIs.
New York Giants (1933–35)
His professional debut was on September 5, 1933, for the New York GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
In 1934 he batted .351, with a .461 on base percentage, in 31 games.
St. Louis Cardinals
In December 1935 he was traded by the Giants with Roy Parmelee and cash to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. 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...
for Burgess Whitehead
Burgess Whitehead
Burgess Urquhart "Whitey" Whitehead was a Major League Baseball second baseman from 1933 to 1946. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Pirates.-Biography:...
.
Cincinnati Reds (1937)
In August 1936 he was purchased by the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati 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 the Cardinals.
New York Giants (1937)
In July 1937 he was purchased by the New York GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
from the Reds. In November 1937 he was purchased by Baltimore (International) from the Giants.
Philadelphia Phillies (1938)
In June 1938 he was traded by Baltimore to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Gene Corbett. In 1938 he was 3rd in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
(.422), 9th in batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
(.311), and 10th in walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
(64). In December 1938 he was purchased by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
from the Phillies.
He did not play major league baseball from 1939–43.
New York Giants (1944–45)
In November 1943 he was drafted by the New York GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
from the St. Louis Browns
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...
in the Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
In 1944, Weintraub returned to the majors with the Giants as a war-time player after a 6-year absence. He was 5th in the NL in OBP (.412), slugging percentage (.524) and at bats per home run (27.8), 6th in triple
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....
s (9), 8th in batting average (.316), and 9th in 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 (13). On April 30, 1944, Weintraub had 11 RBIs, one short of the major league record, as the Giants defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers, 26–8. He had two double
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....
s, a triple, and a home run. Amazingly, he missed the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
because he didn't get a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
.
Weintraub played his last game on August 5, 1945.
Through 2010, he was fifth all-time in batting average (behind 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...
, Ryan Braun
Ryan Braun
Ryan Joseph Braun is an American right-handed Major League Baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. A perennial standout, he was ranked No...
, Buddy Myer
Buddy Myer
Charles Solomon "Buddy" Myer was an American second baseman in Major League Baseball from 1925 to 1941.An excellent hitter, he batted .300 or better in eight full seasons, and retired with a career average of .303. He walked more than twice as many times as he struck out...
, and Lou Boudreau
Lou Boudreau
Louis "Lou" Boudreau was an American Major League Baseball player and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970...
) among Jewish major league baseball players.
Miscellaneous
- He had the last hit in Philadelphia's Baker BowlBaker BowlBaker Bowl is the best-known popular name of a baseball park that formerly stood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Its formal name, painted on its outer wall, was National League Park. It was also initially known as Philadelphia Park or Philadelphia Base Ball Grounds.It was on a small...
.
- There was no level playing field at Nashville's Sulphur DellSulphur DellSulphur Dell is a former minor league baseball park in Nashville, Tennessee. It was used for baseball for nearly 100 years, from to . From to , it was the home of the Nashville Vols minor league team...
. The right fielder, if standing at the base of the fence, stood 22-1/2 feet above the playing field. Weintraub, playing the 'porch' in the 1930s, ran down the slope to field a hard-hit ground ball, only to have it go between his legs. As he turned to run up the hill to retrieve the ball, it bounded off the fence, and once again went between his legs. Finally grabbing the ball on his way back down the hill, he overthrew the third baseman while attempting to make a play on the batter who had rounded second, allowing him to score. Weintraub took three errors on the play.
- In 1934 during spring training a Florida hotel refused entry to Weintraub and fellow Jew Harry DanningHarry DanningHarry Danning, nicknamed Harry the Horse was a professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the New York Giants, and was considered one of the top defensive catchers of his era. He batted and threw right-handed...
. "Hibiscus" was a code word for Hebrew in Florida — as in "we don’t have hibiscus in our hotel." Giants manager and All-Star first baseman Bill TerryBill TerryWilliam Harold Terry was a Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. Considered one of the greatest players of all time, Terry was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954. In 1999, he ranked number 59 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was a nominee...
threatened to take the entire World Champion team to another hotel unless his Jewish players were given lodging. The hotel's management backed down.
- On Yom KippurYom KippurYom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
of 1938, Weintraub and his Phillies teammate Morrie ArnovichMorrie ArnovichMorrie Arnovich, known as Snooker, was a stocky Major League Baseball outfielder. He was a line drive hitter and he played seven seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Giants between , and , and again for one game in .One of the most religious Jewish major...
opted to take the day off.
- Called "baseball's best-dressed pinch hitterPinch hitterIn baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
" by journalist Fred LiebFred LiebFrederick Lieb was an American sportswriter and baseball historian. He and his wife Mary were especially close to Lou Gehrig. Walter Brennan's character in the movie The Pride of the Yankees was loosely based on him...
.
- One cold, windy afternoon in spring 1944, the Giants played at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station, and the NavyNavyA navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
staged a sideshow by dropping baseballs from a blimpBlimpA blimp, or non-rigid airship, is a floating airship without an internal supporting framework or keel. A non-rigid airship differs from a semi-rigid airship and a rigid airship in that it does not have any rigid structure, neither a complete framework nor a partial keel, to help the airbag...
400 feet (121.9 m) in the air to Giant players. Weintraub managed to make a catch.
- Later became a manager.
- Weintraub died on June 21, 1987, in Palm Springs, CaliforniaPalm Springs, CaliforniaPalm Springs is a desert city in Riverside County, California, within the Coachella Valley. It is located approximately 37 miles east of San Bernardino, 111 miles east of Los Angeles and 136 miles northeast of San Diego...
.