| Ollie Carnegie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Outfielder /Manager | |
| Born:(1899-06-29)June 29, 1899 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| Died: October 4, 1976(1976-10-04) (aged 77) Buffalo, New York, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MiLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .309 |
| Hits | 1665 |
| Doubles | 302 |
| Home runs | 297 |
| Managerial statistics | |
| Wins | 70 |
| Losses | 54 |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the International League | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 1947 |
Oliver Angelo Carnegie (June 29, 1899 [or 1898] – October 4, 1976) was anItalian Americanprofessional baseball player whose playing career spanned 15 seasons. Over that time, Carnegie played in theminor leagues with the Class-BFlint Vehicles (1922) of the Michigan–Ontario League; the Class-BHazleton Mountaineers (1931) of theNew York–Penn League; the Double-ABuffalo Bisons (1931–1941, 1945) of theInternational League; and the Class-D Lockport White Sox (1942) and the Class-DJamestown Falcons (1944) of thePennsylvania–Ontario–New York League (PONY League). In 1,539 career games played, Carnegiebatted .309 with 1665hits, 302doubles, 48triples and 297home runs. Carnegie batted and threw right-handed. Carnegie alsomanaged the Class-D Jamestown Falcons in 1944. Officially aplayer-manager since he also played 96 games that season, Carnegie led the Falcons to a 70–54 record which was good enough for second overall in the PONY League.
In 1921, Carnegie started playing professional baseball. He later left the professional circuit to play in asemi-professional baseball league based inAllegheny County, where he was from. Over those years, Carnegie played for teams representingDormont, Pennsylvania,McKeesport, Pennsylvania,Johnstown, Pennsylvania,Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania,Pitcairn, Pennsylvania and others.The Pittsburgh Press, which covered the league, nicknamed Carnegie the "Bambino" and described him as the "sandlotBabe Ruth". Carnegie returned to professional baseball in 1931 after accepting a contract with the Hazleton Mountaineers, a minor league team owned by thePittsburgh Pirates.
The Buffalo Bisons purchased Carnegie from the Hazleton Mountaineers in 1931. This would be the beginning of a tenure which would last for 12 nonconsecutive seasons. Carnegie is the Bisons career record holder in hits, home runs,runs batted in and games played. He also holds the Bisons' single-season record in home runs with 42. Carnegie led the International League in home runs in 1938 and 1939. Carnegie has won multiple accolades during his career and after. In 1938, he won theInternational League Most Valuable Player Award. Carnegie was the career International League leader in home runs with 258, untilMike Hessman hit his 259th on June 30, 2014. He is the career leader inruns batted in (1,044) for the International League. He was also an inaugural member of theInternational League Hall of Fame and theBuffalo Baseball Hall of Fame. Carnegie is also a Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame member, inducted in 1992. Among many fans and professionals, Carnegie is widely renowned as one of the best Buffalo baseball players ever.
On June 29, 1899 (or 1898),[1] Oliver Angelo "Ollie" Carnegie was born inPittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Benjamin and Rose Carnegie, who were both from Italy.[2]
Carnegie was offered professional contracts by thePittsburgh Pirates andWashington Senators in 1920 and 1921, respectively, but declined both times.[3] He officially started his professional baseball career in 1922 at the age of 23 with the Class-BFlint Vehicles of the Michigan–Ontario League. In seven games that season, Carnegiebatted .219 with sevenhits, onedouble and onehome run. A case ofappendicitis forced Carnegie to quit baseball for the next several years.[4]
Carnegie returned to baseball in 1927, when he joined theDormont, Pennsylvania baseball team.[5] The team was a member of theAllegheny Countysemi-professional baseball league.[6][7] On June 5, 1927, he was batting .456 with eight doubles and onetriple.[5] Fellow teammates of the Dormont team included formerMajor League Baseball (MLB) playersFrank Mills andEd Barney.[5] Later that June, Carnegie joined theMcKeesport, Pennsylvania baseball team who were members of the same semi-pro league.[8]The Pittsburgh Press noted that Carnegie started slow with the McKeesport team; however, he started playing better going into July.[9] Through July 19, 1927, Carnegie led the league with nine doubles and 14runs.[10] He joined theJohnstown, Pennsylvania baseball team after they issued anSOS for an emergencyoutfielder in late-July.[7] Carnegie finished the season second in the league inextra base hits with 24.[11]
In 1928, Carnegie continued his tenure in the semi-professional Allegheny County league after he signed with the Beaver Falls Elks.[12] The Elks representedBeaver Falls, Pennsylvania.[12] On June 22, 1928,The Pittsburgh Press noted that Carnegie was a "home run idol" to fans.[13] On July 5, 1928, Carnegie hit two home runs and twosingles in a game against theCanton, Pennsylvania baseball team.[14] In September 1928, Carnegie joined theSouth Hills baseball team.[15] In March 1929, it was announced that Carnegie would join thePitcairn, Pennsylvania baseball team.[16] In June 1929, as a member of theHomewood baseball team, Carnegie hit the longest home run ever at Dormont High Field according toThe Pittsburgh Press.[17] In 1930, he continued playing with the Pitcairn Tossers of the Allegheny County league.[18] During his time in Allegheny County'ssandlot league, Carnegie received the nickname "Bambino" and they described him as the "sandlot 'Babe Ruth'".[19][20][21] Also during his tenure, Carnegie was described as the "most dangerous and longest clouter in the City semi-pro baseball loop" byThe Pittsburgh Press.[22]
Carnegie was reportedly highly sought after by many MLB andminor league teams during his time in the Allegheny County league.[21] It was said that he refused to leave the Pittsburgh area.[21]The Pittsburgh Press said that Carnegie did play in theMiddle Atlantic League after theJohnstown Johnnies' requested an emergency outfielder after their regular player went out with an illness.[21] They also reported that Carnegie had a chance to stay in the Middle Atlantic League, but returned home instead.[21]
On March 30, 1931, it was announced thePittsburgh Pirates owned Class-BHazleton Mountaineers offered Carnegie a contract.[21] Carnegie, who turned down professional baseball contracts before, had to think about the deal before announcing his decision.[21] Initially, Carnegie declined to join professional baseball and planned to return to theAllegheny Countysemi-professional league.[23] Later in the season, he decided to join Hazleton.[24] A reason later given for why Carnegie accepted the Hazleton contract was because he lost his job withPennsylvania Railroad in the midst of theGreat Depression.[25] With the Mountaineers in 1931, hebatted .354 with 80hits, 15doubles and 18home runs in 58games played. Despite having only 226at-bats, Carnegie's 18 home runs were the second most on the team behind Pat Wright, who had 19 home runs in twice as many at-bats.[26] Carnegie led theNew York–Penn League inslugging percentage that season with a .659 percentage total.[27]
On September 8, 1931, Carnegie was sold to the Double-ABuffalo Bisons of theInternational League for an undisclosed amount of money, some of which Carnegie received.[28] Carnegie played 15 games with Buffalo that season and batted .345 with 19 hits five doubles and twotriples. During the 1931 off-season, one day after finishing his season with the Bisons, he re-joined the Allegheny County semi-professional league with theDormont, Pennsylvania baseball team.[29] Before the 1932 season, Carnegie re-signed with the Bisons and received an increase in pay.[30] After signing his contract, he reported toFort Lauderdale, Florida forspring training.[30] While the team was in spring training,The Gazette described Carnegie as the "greatest find to appear in the camp of the Buffalo Bisons in the last decade".[31] During the season, Bisons'managerRay Schalk said that Carnegie would soon get a promotion toMajor League Baseball and it was reported that theChicago White Sox were interested in Carnegie.[32] Also that season, Bisons' president, Frank J. Offermann, said of Carnegie that "a finer character has never donned a ball uniform".[32] In 1932, Carnegie batted .333 with 169 hits, 31 doubles, three triples and 36 home runs in 137 games played. Carnegie was third in the International League that season in home runs and slugging percentage (.618).[33]
In February 1933, Carnegie re-signed with the Buffalo Bisons, but was initially "dissatisfied" with his contract.[34] On the season, Carnegie batted .317 with 164 hits, 33 doubles, six triples and 29 home runs in 147 games played. Carnegie was third in the International League that season in home runs and fourth in slugging percentage (.573).[35] During the 1934 season, Carnegie did not report to Buffalo until May and played with the Dormont, Pennsylvania semi-professional team in the mean time.[36] With the Bisons that season, Carnegie batted .335 with 154 hits, 26 doubles, five triples and 31 home runs. He was third in the International League in home runs that season.[37] After the season, Carnegie was a member of aPittsburgh-areaall-star team which includedDizzy Dean andPaul Dean who played against thePittsburgh Crawfords, aNegro league baseball team.[38]
On May 29, 1935, Carnegie drove in fiveruns against theToronto Maple Leafs.[39] On the season, Carnegie batted .293 with 171 hits, 39 doubles, five triples and 37 home runs in 154 games. Amongst International League hitters in 1935, Carnegie was second in home runs and was fifth in doubles.[40] Carnegie was sidelined for much of the 1936 season due to anankle injury.[41] He was replaced in the Bisonslineup byJohnny Dickshot.[41] Despite the injury, Carnegie did manage to play 74 games and batted .244 with 47 hits, six doubles, one triple and four home runs. In 1937, Carnegie batted .308 with 151 hits, 23 doubles, six triples and 21 home runs in 134 games played. Carnegie was tied for fifth in the league in home runs withWoody Abernathy,George McQuinn andLes Powers.[42]
Before the 1938 regular season, while with the Bisons in spring training, Carnegie was straggling to meet expectations.[43] However, during the season,The Beaver County Times noted that Carnegie was once again one of the premier players in the International League.[44] On the season, Carnegie batted .330 with 182 hits, 35 doubles, three triples and 45 home runs in 142 games. Amongst all International League batters that season, Carnegie was first in home runs,runs batted in (136) and total bases (358); second in slugging percentage (.649); third in hits; and sixth in doubles.[45][46] His 45 home runs were, at the time, the fourth highest home run total in the International League's history.[47] It was asserted byThe Pittsburgh Press that if Carnegie had started playing professional baseball in the mid-1920s when he was younger, he would have been "sensational".[48] Carnegie won the 1938 International LeagueMost Valuable Player Award after the season.[49]
On April 4, 1939, it was announced Carnegie would re-sign with the Bisons, making it his ninth season with the team.[50] During the 1939 season, in a game against theNewark Bears on August 5, Carnegie was formally presented with the 1938 International League Most Valuable Player Award.[51] Carnegie batted .294 with 146 hits, 25 doubles, three triples and 29 home runs in 143 games played during the 1939 season. He led the International League in home runs that season.[52] On March 13, 1940, Carnegie signed his tenth contract with the Bisons.[53] On the season, Carnegie batted .281 with 93 hits, 16 doubles, three triples and 15 home runs in 97 games played. In 1942, Carnegie continued playing with Buffalo and batted .257 with 38 hits, five doubles, one triple and seven home runs in 71 games played. On January 22, 1942, Carnegie was given an unconditional release from the Bisons, a move in which Buffalo general manager John Stiglmeier said "was the hardest thing I ever had to do".[54][55]
On March 23, 1942, Carnegie signed with the Class-D Lockport White Sox of the PONY League.[56] The 43-year-old Carnegie batted .310 with 119 hits, 20 doubles, five triples and 16 home runs in 105 games played that season, finishing sixth in the league in home runs that campaign.[57] After an absence from professional baseball in 1943, Carnegie returned in 1944 with the Class-DJamestown Falcons as aplayer-manager. It was Carnegie's managerial debut. In 96 game that season, Carnegie batted .305 with 97 hits, 17 doubles, four triples and four home runs. As a team, the Falcons went 70–54, good enough for second place.[58] They swept theLockport Cubs 4–0 in the post-season finals.[58] In 1945, Carnegie returned to the Double-A Buffalo Bisons.The New York Times reported that Carnegie was brought in tocoach.[59] In 39 games that year, Carnegie batted .301 with 20runs, 28 hits, five doubles, one triple, four home runs and 21 runs batted in. That season would prove to be Carnegie's final season as a player, however, he did stay around the game in Buffalo as ascout for the Bisons.[60]
Carnegie, who resided inBuffalo, New York after his playing career, was hospitalized at Millard Fillmore Hospital in September 1967 for unknown reasons.[61] On October 4, 1976, Carnegie died in Buffalo, New York at the age of 77.
Carnegie has been noted by many, including theArtvoice and theSociety for American Baseball Research, as one of the best players to ever play for theBuffalo Bisons.[54][62][63] Over Carnegie's professional career, hebatted .309 with 1,665hits, 302doubles, 48triples, 297home runs, a .548slugging percentage and 2954total bases. Carnegie only playedoutfield in his career. Carnegie is theInternational League all-time leader in home runs with 258 andruns batted in with 1,044.[62] He received the International League'sMost Valuable Player Award in 1938 and is the only winner since to have never had an appearance inMajor League Baseball.[64] Pettibones Grille, aBuffalo, New York restaurant, serves acheesesteak sandwich called "The Ollie Carnegie", which is located on their "Hall of Fame Bistro" menu.[65]
Carnegie has been enshrined in theInternational League Hall of Fame, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and theBuffalo Baseball Hall of Fame.[63][66][67] He was an inaugural member of the International League Hall of Fame and theBuffalo Baseball Hall of Fame in 1942 and 1985 respectively.[63][68][69] The number six Carnegie wore while he was a member of the Buffalo Bisons was retired by the team.[70] Carnegie is the Buffalo Bisons all-time leader in home runs (285), runs batted in (1,044),games played (1,273) and hits (1,362).[69][70] He is also tied for first all-time on the Bisons in doubles (249).[70] Carnegie led the Bisons in home runs and runs batted in seven times.[70]
During his tenure in theAllegheny Countysemi-professional baseball league, local papers described Carnegie as the "sandlotBabe Ruth" and nicknamed him the "Bambino".[21] InClose Shave: The Life and Times of Baseball's Sal Maglie, author James Szalontai compared Carnegie toTed Williams.[25] Carnegie never played in Major League Baseball. Carnegie did; however, spark some major league team's interest, but was eventually written off as too old since he did not start playingprofessional baseball regularly until he was 32 years old.[69] The duo of Carnegie and Bisons teammateOllie Tucker were known as "The Italian Connection" and "The Home Run Twins".[41]The Pittsburgh Press described Carnegie as "one ofWestern Pennsylvania's greatest batters".[71]
Carnegie resided inHays, a district inPittsburgh,Pennsylvania.[72] Carnegie was fromItalian American ancestry.[3] Carnegie married Anna Polasko ofBraddock, Pennsylvania and with her, he fathered two children; Ollie Carnegie, Jr. and Elaine Carnegie.[3] During the off-seasons, Carnegiehunted andfished.[32] Also during the off-season, Carnegie worked in asteel mill and received the nickname the"Iron Man".[73] During the 1941 off-season, thePittsburgh Post-Gazette interviewed Carnegie about his winter job atRepublic Steel patrolling the plant equipped with aColt Single Action Army.[72] Carnegie told the newspaper, "this is the kind of a job a player should have in the off-season—lots of walking".[72]
General references
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