Books and articles about Andy Seminick

Seminick was the Phillies' first-string catcher from 1946 through 1951 and again in 1955, after a stint with the Reds. On June 2, 1949, the Phillies tagged Cincinnati pitching for a ML record-tying five home runs in one inning (the eighth); Seminick became the ninth major leaguer to homer twice in an inning. In all, he hit three HR in that game.

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On August 11-12, 1950, during a series with the Giants, second baseman Eddie Stanky waved his arms whenever Seminick was at the plate. After the first day, the umpires ordered Stanky to stop, but when Seminick slid hard into third baseman Hank Thompson, Stanky declared an end to the truce on Seminick's next at-bat, and umpire Lon Warneke ejected Stanky. When Seminick banged into replacement Bill Rigney at second base a few innings later, the biggest rhubarb of the year took place. Both Seminick and Rigney were fined $25 by league president Ford Frick, and at a hearing August 14 Frick ruled that arm-waving gestures such as those Stanky employed would thenceforth be illegal.

Seminick played hurt during much of his career. An ankle injury incurred on September 27, 1950, bothered him during the World Series against the Yankees; x-rays later disclosed a bone separation. He also suffered with arm problems for several years. When, on a night given in his honor, Seminick received a wristwatch, one sportswriter quipped, "Now all they have to do is give him an arm to put it on." Seminick was later a Phillies coach (1957-58, 67-69), minor league manager, and scout. (RTM)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 25, 1946: The first place Dodgers whip the Phillies, 7–1, for their 14th straight win at Shibe Park. Augie Galan has single, double, and triple and is involved in an unusual "catcher's balk" play. Augie is at bat when Pete Reiser, on 3B, breaks for home on an attempted steal. Phils C Andy Seminick tips Galan's bat on the play and umpire Al Barlick calls the balk. Reiser is awarded a steal of home and Galan gets 1B. The Dodgers will sweep a pair tomorrow at Shibe. » August 28, 1948: The Phils snap their 10-game losing streak with a pair of victories over the Pirates, 9–2 and 11–7. Del Ennis and Andy Seminick homer in the opener to back Schoolboy Rowe. Ennis hits pair in game two, Seminick adds another, as do Eddie Miller, Granny Hamner --his first of the year -- and Al Lakeman. But the Phils lose star Richie Ashburn, who breaks a finger on his left hand. » June 2, 1949: The Philadelphia Phillies hit five HRs in the eighth inning, tying the mark set by the 1939 Giants. The Phillie 5 includes Del Ennis, Andy Seminick (2), Pudding Head Jones, and Schoolboy Rowe. Jones adds a triple, and Gran Hamner's 2B jumps the extra base total to 18, still a record. Seminick has three HRs in all. » June 24, 1950: The Phils top the Cubs 5–4 on two-run homers by Granny Hamner and Andy Seminick. Jim Konstanty, in relief of Russ Meyer, hurls four hitless innings to save the win. The Whiz Kids trail the Dodgers by a game. » August 12, 1950: The Giants Eddie Stanky is banished by umpire Lon Warneke for refusing to stop waving his arms in an attempt to distract Phillies batter Andy Seminick. In the fourth, Stanky moves over behind 2B and goes into a windup the same time as the pitcher. Giants manager Leo Durocher had agreed to await a league ruling on the tactic, but after Seminick knocks Hank Thompson unconscious in a collision at 3B, Durocher turns Stanky loose. In the fourth, Seminick reaches base on an error, then on a force at 2B he puts a linebacker block on Bill Rigney, Stanky’s replacement, and both dugouts empty for a brawl. The Phils go on to win 5–4 in 11 innings, on Stan Lopata's triple and a sac fly by Waitkus. The Giants protest Stanky’s ouster to no avail. » August 14, 1950: NL President Ford Frick reproaches Giant Eddie Stanky and bans his tactics, disallowing the Giants’ protest. He also fines Andy Seminick and Bill Rigney for the incident. » September 27, 1950: The Phils rally for five runs in the eighth to tie, but the Giants win in 10 innings 8–7. Monte Irvin, sliding across the plate with the winning run, injures catcher Andy Seminick, limiting his effectiveness. He will play the next day and all through the WS, later to find out that he has a bone separation. In the nitecap, Bobby Thomson first inning inside-the-park grand slam is all the Giants need as Jim Hearn wins 5–0. The Dodgers split with the Braves cutting the Phillies lead to two games. » September 28, 1951: In Philadelphia, Campanella belts his 33rd homer but Brooklyn blows a 3–0 lead to lose 4–3 as the Phils score the winner in the 9th inning. The Phils tie the game in the 8th on Andy Seminick's 2-run homer, his 1st in seven weeks. The race is now tied (94-58) between the Giants and the Dodgers. » September 30, 1951: Jackie Robinson hits an upper deck home run in the 14th inning off Robin Roberts, who came on in the 8th, to give the Dodgers a critical 9–8 win over the Phils. Robbie saves the game in the 13th by making a great catch of an Eddie Waitkus line drive and throwing to 2B for a DP. In the process, he injures his elbow. Reliever Bud Podbielan is the winner, the victory keeping Brooklyn in a first place tie with the Giants. Catcher Andy Seminick of the Phils walks five times, the first Phillie to do so in a game. The Dodgers overcome a 6–1 deficit to win and set the stage for a playoff with the Giants. » December 10, 1951: The Cards trade lefty Max Lanier and OF Chuck Diering to the Giants for 2B Eddie Stanky, who becomes the team's player-manager. The Reds trade C Smoky Burgess, 2B Connie Ryan and P Howie Fox to the Phillies for C Andy Seminick, infielder Eddie Pellegrini, OF Dick Sisler and P Niles Jordan. The Reds will regret letting the burly catcher go and will reacquire him, again exchanging Seminick, in three years. » May 24, 1952: At Crosley Field, Reds catcher Andy Seminick drives in six runs with two homers, one a grand slam, in an 11–5 win over St. Louis. » May 25, 1953: Max Surkont of the Braves fans eight Reds in a row, establishing a new ML mark, as the Braves win 10–3 in game two of a doubleheader. Surkont strikes out seven in a row before rain delays the game and then he strikes out Andy Seminick to start the 5th. Surkont fans 13 on the way to his 6th straight win. The Braves take the opener, 5–1, behind Don Liddle. » April 30, 1955: The Phillies trade C Smoky Burgess, P Steve Ridzik, and OF Stan Palys to the Redlegs for OF Jimmy Greengrass, C Andy Seminick, and OF Glen Gorbous. Then the Phillies buy SS Roy Smalley from the Braves.