Ranking the Catchers With a commanding presence behind the plate and a rocket arm, Johnny Bench was the best defensive catcher in history. But that wasn’t all. The powerful right-handed slugger won a pair of Most Valuable Player awards and led the Reds to six division titles, four pennants, and two championships. He hit…
Ernie Lombardi Position: CatcherBats: Right • Throws: Right6-3, 230lb (190cm, 104kg)Born: April 6, 1908 in Oakland, CADied: September 26, 1977 in Santa Cruz, CABuried: Mountain View Cemetery, Oakland, CAHigh School: McClymonds HS (Oakland, CA)Debut: April 15, 1931 (7,190th in major league history)vs. BSN 2 AB, 2 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SBLast Game: September 17, 1947vs. CHC 1 AB, 1 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 SBHall of Fame: Inducted as Player in 1986….
First ballot inductee Giant first baseman Willie McCovey, the BBWAA’s only choice, is enshrined in the Hall of Fame, along with Veterans Committee selections Red Sox second baseman Bobby Doerr and the late Ernie Lombardi, a catcher best known for his playing days with the Reds and Giants. Pirates announcer Bob Prince and Cincinnati beat writer Earl Lawson, respectively, accept the Ford C. Frick Award for broadcast excellence and the J.G. Taylor Spink Award for meritorious contributions to baseball writing.
Bernice Lombardi finds her husband Ernie lying on the bed after the former major league catcher slit his throat from ear to ear with a razor he found in a relative’s bathroom. The former Reds’ backstop, battling a similar bout of depression that caused his teammate Willard Hershberger to commit suicide in 1940, is given little hope to live, at the time, but he will manage to survive his horrific self-inflicted wound.
1949 – Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Willie Jones hits four consecutive doubles, tying a National League mark with Dick Bartell (1933) and Ernie Lombardi (1935).
Ernie Lombardi of the Giants slams the ball 483 feet under the stairway in right-center of the Polo Grounds, but barely makes third base. It is the 3rd triple in 7 years for Schnozz and the last of his career.
1944 – Mel Ott of the New York Giants hits the first National League home run of the season, the 464th of his career, helping the Giants defeat the Boston Braves, 2 – 1.
At Forbes Field‚ the Pirates hold an 8 – 7 lead when Vince DiMaggio singles off Giants P Bill Sayles in the bottom of the 8th. With Pete Coscarart at bat‚ the first pitch skips by C Ernie Lombardi‚ who lumbers after the ball as DiMaggio heads for second base. When Vince sees that Lombardi has yet to reach the ball he continues on to third base‚ while Sayles shakes his head at how slow his backstop is. With home plate unguarded‚ DiMaggio continues running and scores – from first – on a passed ball. The Bucs win, 9 – 8.
1942 – At California’s Folsom prison, the annual game between major leaguers and the prison team is stopped when it is discovered that two prisoners have escaped. With the pros leading 24 – 5 at the end of seven innings, the game ends and guards go after the two lifers, who are found three hours later. The major leaguers include Ernie Lombardi, Tiny Bonham, Gus Suhr, Joe Marty, and Johnny Babich.
1942 – The Cincinnati Reds stir the hometown fans by selling popular catcher Ernie Lombardi to the Boston Braves, where he will win the National League batting title this season with a .330 average.