Betcha Didn’t Know…
Silvera, Lyons, and more
Bygone baseball by C. Philip Francis
…that although you might not recall the name of Charlie Silvera, he was a member of the New York Yankees for nine of his ten year playing years, five of which when the Bronx Bombers won five consecutive World Championships from 1949 through 1953? Charlie was the conventional reserve catcher, and usually found in the bullpen warming up the pitchers. He had the unfortunate position of playing behind both Yogi Berra and Elston Howard, and averaged less than 25 games per year. You will, however, remember that some of his teammates were: Berra, Bauer, Henrich, Rizzuto, and DiMaggio.
Silvera, also called Swede, was eligible for seven World Series, but was in only one – the 1949 WS when the Yanks downed the Brooklyn Dodgers, four games to one, and had no hits in two times at bat. The San Francisco-born backstop closed his career with the batting average with a respectable .282 and had one home run.
…that the player with the most games, 2528, without appearing in the World Series is shortstop and first baseman Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs? Hall of Famer Banks wore the Cub uniform for all of his 19 playing years, 1953 – 1971. Other players with playing longevity with no WS time are: Shortstop Luke Appling, Chicago White Sox, 1930-1950, 2422 games; and Mickey Vernon, Washington Senators and others, 1939 – 1960, with 2409.
…that the record holder for most games at one position only is Luis Aparicio with 2581 games at shortstop from 1956 –1973 with the White Sox, Orioles, and Red Sox?
…that seven members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame once played Major League baseball? They are George Halas, Jim Thorpe, Red Badgro, Greasy Neale, Ernie Nevers, Paddy Driscoll, and Ace Parker. Cal Hubbard is in both the Football HOF as a player and the Baseball HOF as an umpire.
…that while all fans of any age can name the player with the most career home runs, do you know the man who hit the most triples? He is Hall of Famer Sam Crawford with 312, and also owns the record of most inside-the-park home runs with 51. Crawford was born in Wahoo, Nebraska, and thus became Wahoo Sam. Fifteen of his nineteen playing years were with the Detroit Tigers where he usually batted after Ty Cobb. Crawford, a former barber, hated Cobb, but surprisingly it was Cobb who lobbied for Wahoo Sam’s entrance into the Hall of Fame. Crawford was enshrined into the HOF in 1957, and died eleven years later at the age of 88.
…that pitcher Ted Lyons of the Chicago White Sox from 1923 to 1946, less four years in the military service, pitched only on Sundays from 1939 through 1942? The confirmed bachelor was used only on Sunday by Manager Jimmie Dykes to save the pitcher’s arm, and fill the ballpark due to Ted’s enormous fan popularity. In that four-year stretch, Lyons won from 12 to 14 games. After Lyons injured his arm in 1931 his career was considered over, but he developed a knuckleball and continued as an effective hurler for the next eleven seasons. In 1942 the 41-year-old started 20 games, all on Sunday, completed all 20, and led the American League with an ERA of 2.10.
He joined the United States Marines after the ’42 season, saw combat in his three years as a marine, and then returned the Sox in ’46. He pitched in five more complete games, winning one and losing four. Shortly into the season Lyons replaced Dykes as manager where he stayed for the next three years. Ted was fired after the ‘48 season after the team ended in last place, and due to the criticism he received for being too nice and not enforcing discipline on his players. The “Only On Sunday” pitcher was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1955, and saw his uniform Number 16 retired by the White Sox. He died in 1986 at the age of 85.
… that although Mose Hirsch Soloman was once called “The Rabbi of Swat”, he was in only two Major League games? In 1923 the New York Giants were ready to win their third straight National League Pennant, but were concerned about too many empty seats as the Big Apple baseball fans were going to see that new Yankee Stadium and the other New York “swatter”, Babe Ruth. When Soloman hit 49 home runs for the Hutchinson, Kansas Wheat Shockers, Giants signed him as “The Jewish Babe Ruth” in an effort to draw on the vast New York City Jewish population.
The powerful left-handed outfielder doubled at his first at bat, and singled twice with one error in his second and last game. Soloman was a defensive liability, and returned to his home in Columbus, Ohio where he played professional football. He was in the minor leagues for five years, was hurt in a football game, and never returned to ML ball. Mose died of heart failure in 1966.