Andy Seminick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andy Seminick |
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Andy Seminick in 1947
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| Catcher | |||
| Born: September 12, 1920 Pierce, West Virginia, U.S. |
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| Died: February 22, 2004 (aged 83) Palm Bay, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 14, 1943, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 21, 1957, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .243 | ||
| Home runs | 164 | ||
| Runs batted in | 556 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Andrew Wasal Seminick (born September 12, 1920 – died February 22, 2004) was an American professional baseball player. He was a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds / Redlegs. Seminick was a very important player for the 1950 Phillies team. This team was known as the "Whiz Kids" and they won their first championship (called a pennant) since 1915.
Contents
Playing Baseball
Early Life and Start in Baseball
Andy Seminick was born in Pierce, West Virginia. When he was two years old, his family moved to Muse, Pennsylvania. He signed his first professional baseball contract in 1941 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
In 1942, playing in a minor league called the Appalachian League, Andy hit 15 home runs. He was also one of the best hitters in the league. By 1943, he was hitting very well with the Knoxville Smokies team. Because of his good play, the Philadelphia Phillies bought his contract.
Joining the Phillies
Andy Seminick made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on September 14, 1943, when he was 23 years old. By 1945, the Phillies sometimes used him in a "platoon system" with another catcher. This means they would choose which catcher played based on who the opposing pitcher was.
Andy could hit the ball with a lot of power. However, his defense was not always the best. He made the most errors among catchers in the National League in 1946, 1948, and 1949. To help him improve, the Phillies manager asked a former catcher named Cy Perkins to teach him. This coaching really helped Andy get better at defense.
Becoming an All-Star
Because he was known for his powerful hitting, baseball fans voted Andy to be the starting catcher for the National League in the 1949 All-Star Game. This was a big honor!
On June 2, 1949, something amazing happened. The Phillies hit five home runs in just one inning against Cincinnati. This tied a Major League record! Andy Seminick hit two of those home runs in that single inning. He ended up hitting three home runs in the whole game.
The "Whiz Kids" Leader
By 1950, Andy's defensive skills and his ability to "call pitches" (tell the pitcher what to throw) had greatly improved. He became a very important leader for the young 1950 "Whiz Kids" team. This team was very young, and Andy, at 29, was one of the older players. Because he helped guide the young pitchers, baseball writers in Philadelphia nicknamed him "Grandpa Whiz."
On August 12, 1950, during a game against the Giants, Andy got into a big argument. After he reached base, he slid very hard into second base, causing a fight between the two teams. Police had to step in to stop it!
Best Season and Injury
Andy had his best season in 1950. He hit for a .288 batting average, with 24 home runs and 68 runs batted in. Sadly, he broke his ankle late in the season. But he kept playing with the injury! The Phillies eventually lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series.
Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts said about Andy: "If you had to pick a guy in the clubhouse who was our leader that year, it would be Andy. He always played hard, and that was his best year by far."
Later Career
In 1951, Andy was hit in the head by a very fast pitch, which affected his ability to play. He was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. He played there from 1952 until part of the 1955 season. In 1955, he was traded back to the Phillies. That year, he led all National League catchers with a .994 fielding percentage, which means he made very few errors. He played two more years before ending his career in 1957 at age 36.
Career Statistics
Over his 15-year Major League career, Andy Seminick played in 1,304 games. He had 953 hits and hit 164 home runs, bringing in 556 runs batted in. He was also very good at stopping runners from stealing bases. He threw out 44.6% of the runners who tried to steal on him! This is one of the best rates ever. Andy led National League catchers twice in catching runners trying to steal. He also led once in putouts, assists, and fielding percentage.
After Playing: Coaching and Managing
After he stopped playing baseball, Andy Seminick continued to work for the Philadelphia Phillies organization for the rest of his life. He was a coach for the Phillies for several years. He also worked as a manager for 11 different minor league teams.
Later, he became a scout and helped teach young players in the minor leagues. Many of the players he coached or managed later played in the Major Leagues. Some famous players he helped include Mike Schmidt, Ferguson Jenkins, Greg Luzinski, and Bob Boone. Andy even helped Bob Boone change from a third baseman to a great defensive catcher.
In the 1990s, Andy Seminick continued to teach catchers during spring training.
Andy Seminick passed away in Palm Bay, Florida, when he was 83 years old.
