Morrie Arnovich

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Morrie Arnovich
Runs batted in
261
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Morris Arnovich (November 16, 1910 – July 20, 1959), nicknamed "Snooker", was an American

New York Giants for the 1941 season, and again for one game in 1946 after joining the United States Army
.

A member of the 1939 National League All-Star team, he finished his career with a .287 batting average. After retiring, Arnovich coached basketball and died in 1959 of a coronary occlusion.

Early and personal life

Arnovich was born in

kosher his whole life.[2] He attended Superior High School in Superior, Wisconsin.[1] Arnovich was a two-time All-Wisconsin basketball star at the University of Wisconsin–Superior.[3] He was later given the nickname "snooker", after being prolific in the British game of the same name.[2][4][5]

Baseball career

Arnovich's professional baseball career began at age 22 with the

batting title, and his 21 home runs (three in one game) tied for fifth.[2]

The

left field for the rest of his career.[10] In 1937, he hit .290 and had a career-high five double plays from the outfield, and made seven consecutive hits.[2][10] In 1938, he made the most outfield assists of his career – 18.[10] He was referred to as the "Son of Israel", or the "Next Jewish Star" by the Anglo-Jewish press.[11][12]

When Phil Weintraub entered the armed forces, Arnovich took his spot in the Phillies lineup.[13] For the 1939 season he was the top contact hitter in the National League before fading late and finishing fifth in the league with a .324 batting average, and sixth in the league with a .397 on base percentage.[11][1] He also led all left fielders in putouts, with 335, and in range factor/game, at 2.61.[1] He made the All-Star team in his best season, 18th in the MVP voting.[1] Although originally not part of the team, a fan petition secured him a place on the roster, but he did not play.[2]

Arnovich in 1940

At the age of 29, Arnovich was traded to the

New York Giants for $25,000 in December 1940,[2] and had a .280 batting average in 85 games through 1941.[10]

Arnovich tried to volunteer for the United States Army, but was turned down because he was missing a pair of molars. He got false teeth and volunteered again after Pearl Harbor in 1942; this time he was permitted in and spent the next four years in the Army. He was a staff sergeant for the Army in the Pacific Theater of Operations.[3] While in the Army, Arnovich played for and managed the Fort Lewis baseball team, before becoming a postal clerk in New Guinea.[2]

Out of condition and now 35 years old, Morrie played in one game for the New York Giants in

Three-I League and Western Association, then batted .353 in limited time in the 1948 in the Southeastern League before retiring at the age of 37.[13] In 2010 he was ranked ninth in career batting average among Jewish major league baseball players of all-time.[15]

Career statistics

In 590 games over seven seasons, Arnovich posted a .287

stolen bases and 185 base on balls. He also had a .350 on-base percentage and .383 slugging percentage.[1][2][16] Defensively, he recorded a .981 fielding percentage playing primarily at left field, but played several games at center and right field.[1][17]

Later years and death

Arnovich gave out free baseball lessons to teenagers in Superior,[18] Arnovich would manage both the Davenport Cubs, and Selma Cloverleafs of the Cub's farm teams, and was a basketball coach at a local Catholic high school.[18][2] He married Bertha Aserson on July 10, 1956, and ran a jewellery and sporting goods shop.[2] On July 20, 1959, he died of a coronary occlusion at his home shortly after his third wedding anniversary. Arnovich was buried at the Hebrew Cemetery in Superior, Wisconsin.[2][19]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Morrie Arnovich Stats | Baseball-Reference.com". Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  2. ^
    SABR. Archived
    from the original on December 25, 2007. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
  3. ^ a b "Baseball in Wartime – Morrie Arnovich". Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  4. . Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  5. ^ "Pete McEntegart: A walking Encyclopedia". Sports Illustrated. June 9, 2004. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  6. ^ Spaldings official base ball guide. New York: American Sports Publishing Company.
  7. ^ "Fighting Hearts is Cited as Secret of Morrie Arnovich's Success In Big League Ball". The Plain Speaker. July 11, 1939. p. 11.
  8. ^ "Morrie Arnovich Stats, Fantasy & News". Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  9. ^ "Morrie Arnovich Stats | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d e "Morrie Arnovich Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2011. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  11. ^ from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  12. . Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  13. ^ from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  14. ^ "1940 World Series – Cincinnati Reds over Detroit Tigers (4–3) | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
  15. ^ "Career Batting Leaders through 2010". Career Leaders. Jewish Major Leaguers. Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
  16. . Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  17. . Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  18. ^ a b "Morrie Arnovich to Manage Selma, Cub Farm in Southeastern League". Daily Times (Iowa). March 2, 1948. p. 16.
  19. ^ "MORRIE ARNOVICH (Published 1959)". The New York Times. July 1, 1959. Retrieved January 25, 2021.

External links