| Phil Masi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born:(1916-01-06)January 6, 1916 Chicago,Illinois, U.S. | |
| Died: March 29, 1990(1990-03-29) (aged 74) Mount Prospect, Illinois, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 23, 1939, for the Boston Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 17, 1952, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .264 |
| Home runs | 47 |
| Runs batted in | 417 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Philip Samuel Masi (January 6, 1916 – March 29, 1990) was an American professionalbaseball player.[1] He played inMajor League Baseball as acatcher from 1939 to 1952, most prominently for theBoston Braves where he was a four-timeAll-Star player and was an integral member of the1948National League pennant-winning team.
Although Masi was considered one of the best defensive catchers of his era, he was also notable for his involvement in a controversial play that occurred during the1948 World Series between the Boston Braves and the Cleveland Indians.[2][3] He also played for thePittsburgh Pirates and theChicago White Sox.[1]
Born inChicago, Masi attendedAustin High School, then began his professionalbaseball career when he was contracted in1936 by theCleveland Indians at the age of 20.[4] In1937, he played for the Wausau Timberjacks and demonstrated his versatility by playing as a catcher, outfielder, third baseman and as a first baseman.[2] Masi became known as thePepper Martin of theNorthern League because of his head-first slides and prancing running style, while leading the league with 31home runs and being named to the league's All-Star team.[2][5][6]
Masi was then purchased by theMilwaukee Brewers who assigned him to play for the Springfield Indians of theMiddle Atlantic League.[7] Baseball CommissionerKenesaw Mountain Landis found this move to be in violation of baseball rules and allowed him to sign a non-reserve contract with Springfield, meaning that he would be afree agent at the end of the season.[8] He played mostly as a catcher for Springfield in1938 where his backup that year was the future All-Star catcher for the Cleveland Indians, seventeen-year-oldJim Hegan.[9] Masi posted a .308batting average with 16 home runs and 97runs batted in for Springfield, earning a promotion to the major leagues when he was signed by theBoston Braves, then known as the Bees.[7]
The Bees already had futureHall of Fame member,Al López, as well as future All-Star,Ray Mueller and veteranJohnny Riddle as catchers going intospring training in1939 however, Masi impressed Bees' managerCasey Stengel so much that, Mueller and Riddle would be traded before the start of the season, leaving Masi as Lopez's backup.[2][10] He made his major league debut with the Bees on April 23,1939 at the age of 23.[1] After his father died in1942, he was given a 3-A draft classification exempting him from military duty as he was the sole support for his family.[2][11]
Masi served as the Braves' backup catcher first to Al López, thenRay Berres, and finally toErnie Lombardi.[2] He began to develop his reputation as a good defensive catcher from his association withknuckleball pitcherJim Tobin.[2] The other Braves catchers shunned Tobin due to the unpredictability of the notoriously difficult to catch knuckleball and, Masi took over the job as his catcher.[12] When Lombardi was traded to theNew York Giants in1943, Masi became the Braves regular catcher.[2] His work with Tobin paid off on April 27,1944 when Tobin pitched ano hitter against theBrooklyn Dodgers.[2][13]
Masi's batting continued to improve in1945 when he was hitting at a .335 pace in July to earn a place as a reserve catcher for the National League team in the1945 All-Star Game however, the game was cancelled due to wartime travel restrictions.[14][15] Masi finished the season with a .272 batting average along with 25doubles, 7 home runs and 46 runs batted in.[1] He also led National League catchers inassists and was second inputouts and in baserunnerscaught stealing.[16]
Masi was hitting for a .300 average in late June1946, earning him a place as a reserve player for theNational League in the1946 All-Star Game.[17][18] He ended the season with a .267 average, 3 home runs, a career-high 62 runs batted in and, led the league's catchers in putouts.[1] In1946, pitchersWarren Spahn andJohnny Sain returned to the Braves from their military service and, their success further enhanced Masi's reputation for handling pitching staffs.[2] Sain won 20 games in 1946 and led the league with 24complete games as the Braves improved to a fourth-place finish in the National League standings.[19]
Masi had his most productive season in1947, earning his third selection as a reserve for the National League in the1947 All-Star Game and ending the year ranked tenth in the league in hitting with a career-high .304 batting average.[20][21] He also posted career-highs in home runs (9) and inon-base percentage (.377) and continued to build upon his excellent defensive reputation by leading National League catchers with a .989fielding percentage.[1][22] Masi guided the Braves' pitching staff to a league-leading 14shutouts and the second-best teamearned run average in the league, as both Spahn and Sain won 21 games each.[23][24] The Braves continued to improve, finishing the1947 season in third place behind the Dodgers and Cardinals.[25]
Although Masi's offensive output began to decline in1948, he earned his fourth consecutiveAll-Star selection due to his excellent defensive abilities.[26] His pitch-calling skills helped the Braves' pitching staff lead the league in earned run average as the team clinched the1948 National Leaguepennant by six and a half games over the St. Louis Cardinals.[27][28] He also contributed a .253 batting average with 19 doubles, 5 home runs and 44 runs batted in.[1]
It was in the first game of the1948 World Series held atBraves Field against the favoredCleveland Indians that Masi would become embroiled in a controversy that secured his place in baseball history.[3][29] The Braves'Johnny Sain and Indians'Bob Feller were engaged in a scoreless pitchers' duel when the Braves came to bat in the bottom of the eighth inning. Fellerwalked Braves catcherBill Salkeld to open the inning. Braves managerBilly Southworth then substituted the slow-footed Salkeld with Masi, who entered the game as apinch runner.Mike McCormick followed with asacrifice bunt, advancing Masi tosecond base. Feller issued anintentional walk toEddie Stanky, who was replaced bySibby Sisti. Feller then made apick off attempt of Masi at second base. Indians' shortstopLou Boudreau appeared to tag Masiout, butumpire Bill Stewart called himsafe.[2]Tommy Holmes followed with asingle that scored Masi with the onlyrun of the game, giving the Braves a 1-0 victory.[30] The umpire's controversial ruling touched off heated debates among the media and fans, especially afterAssociated Press photographs of the play were published.[31][32] Although the victory gave the Braves a 1-0 lead, the Indians won the World Series in six games.[33]
Masi's offensive production continued to decline and, with young prospectDel Crandall ready to play, the Braves traded Masi to the Pittsburgh Pirates in June1949.[2][4] After only a half-season with Pittsburgh, he was traded to his hometown Chicago White Sox in1950.[4] He earned the starting catchers job with the White Sox and helped them become a respectable team with his handling of the pitching staff.[2] The team's earned run average ranked sixth in the league prior to Masi's arrival. With Masi handling the pitching staff, the team's earned run average improved to fourth best in 1950.[34] He had a .279 batting average in 1950 and led all American League catchers with a .996 fielding percentage, committing only twoerrors in 114 games.[1] In1951, Masi's experience was again evident as he helped the White Sox pitching staff improve their earned run average to second best in the American League behind the Cleveland Indians.[35] He hit for a .271 batting average in 1951 at the age of 35.[1] When the White Sox acquired a youngerSherm Lollar in1952, Masi returned to backup duties before being released at the end of the season.[2]
Masi returned to theminor leagues in1953 where he helped theDallas Eagles win theTexas League championship before going on to win the 1953Dixie Series.[3][7] He retired as a player at the end of the 1953 season at the age of 37.[7]
In a fourteen-year major league career, Masi played in 1,229games, accumulating 917hits in 3,468at bats for a .264 career batting average along with 47 home runs, 417 runs batted in and a .344 on-base percentage.[1] Over his career, he committed only 72errors in 4,257chances for a career .983 fielding percentage.[1] A four-time All-Star, he led National League catchers in fielding percentage twice and, American League catchers once. A fast runningcatcher, he collected 45stolen bases in his career and was often used inpinch-running duties.
Masi died on March 29,1990 inMount Prospect, Illinois, at the age of 74. Upon his death, his will revealed that he really was out on the pick-off play in the 1948 World Series.[2]