Vedie Himsl
Encyclopedia
Avitus Bernard "Vedie" Himsl (April 2, 1917 — March 15, 2004) was an American
baseball
coach
and scout
. He was born in Plevna, Montana
.
in minor league baseball
in his playing days (1938–1942; 1946; 1950–1951), Himsl served as a coach of the Chicago Cubs
from 1960 through 1964. In 1961 he became the first manager to participate in Philip K. Wrigley
's College of Coaches
plan. The idea was that all of the team's coaches would rotate as manager. Himsl posted a 10-21 won-loss record.
When he retired from the Cubs
organization in 1985 he was the team's director of scouting. He continued to live in Chicago until his death in 2004. He is a member of the class of 1938 of College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
baseball
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...
coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
and scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
. He was born in Plevna, Montana
Plevna, Montana
As of the census of 2000, there were 138 people, 63 households, and 40 families residing in the town. The population density was 301.4 people per square mile . There were 81 housing units at an average density of 176.9 per square mile . The racial makeup of the town was 97.83% White and 2.17% Asian...
.
Career
A right-handed pitcherPitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in minor league baseball
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...
in his playing days (1938–1942; 1946; 1950–1951), Himsl served as a coach of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago 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...
from 1960 through 1964. In 1961 he became the first manager to participate in Philip K. Wrigley
Philip K. Wrigley
Philip Knight Wrigley , sometimes also called P.K. or Phil. Born in Chicago, he was an American chewing gum manufacturer and executive in Major League Baseball, inheriting both those roles as the quiet son of his much more flamboyant father, William Wrigley Jr. After his father died in 1932, Philip...
's College of Coaches
College of Coaches
The College of Coaches was an unorthodox strategy employed by the Chicago Cubs in 1961 and 1962. After the Cubs finished 60-94 in 1960, their 14th straight second-division finish, Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley announced in December 1960 that the Cubs would no longer have a manager, but would be led by...
plan. The idea was that all of the team's coaches would rotate as manager. Himsl posted a 10-21 won-loss record.
When he retired from the Cubs
Chicago 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...
organization in 1985 he was the team's director of scouting. He continued to live in Chicago until his death in 2004. He is a member of the class of 1938 of College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.