Books and articles about Val Picinich

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A backup catcher for nearly all of his 18 ML seasons, Picinich had an apparent knack for catching no-hit games. As an A's rookie right out of prep school in 1916 he caught Joe Bush's no-hitter. Four years later with the Senators, he handled Walter Johnson's only no-hitter. Traded to the Red Sox in 1923, he arrived in time to catch Howard Ehmke's no-hitter. (JK)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » February 10, 1923: C Muddy Ruel and P Allen Russell go from the Red Sox to Washington for C Val Picinich and outfielder Howard Shanks and Ed Goebel. » September 7, 1923: The A's are hit with a no-hitter for the 2nd time in four days as Boston's Howard Ehmke strikes out one while pitching a 4–0 no-hitter against them. "Ehmke's zippy crossfire came out of the shortstop's chest like bad news from a gatling gun" (Philadelphia Public Ledger). Preserving the no-hitter is rival pitcher Slim Harriss, who hits the ball to the wall in the 7th and winds up on 2B, but he is called out for failing to touch 1B. An 8th inning liner by Frank Welch is fumbled in LF and he reaches 1B. The liner is initially ruled a single but changed before the inning is over. Ehmke has now won six straight over the A's this season. For Ehmke's batterymate, Val Picinich, it is his 3rd no-hitter, each with a different team. » February 7, 1926: The Reds acquire C Val Picinich from the Red Sox for cash. » May 3, 1926: The Reds pull off a triple steal against the Cards with Sammy Bohne, Val Picinich, and Walt Christensen doing the swiping. Cincy wins, 9–6 with Eppa Rixey getting the victory. » July 25, 1926: Braves coach Art Devlin is riding Reds 3B Babe Pinelli. Coming off the field in the third, Pinelli brushes against him. Devlin swings, starting one of the great baseball fights of the century. Police restore order, but not before Boston OF Frank Wilson is arrested and taken to jail for hitting a police inspector. In the fourth, Boston OF Jimmy Welsh crashes into C Val Picinich in a play at the plate. Picinich takes a poke at him, starting round two, and is ejected.