Philip Weintraub, nicknamed Mickey died on this day in

1987. 

 

He was primarily a reserve outfielder, though he was

platooned at first base in the last few years of his career. He

batted .295 for his career, with a .398 on base percentage.

Through 2006, he had the 4th-best career batting average of

all Jewish major league baseball players, behind Hank

Greenberg, Buddy Myer, and Lou Boudreau. Blessed with an

excellent eye and bat control, he walked 232 times in his

career while striking out only 182 times.

 

Weintraub was a heavy hitter in the minors. In 1934, he was

helped to the first .400 season in Southern Association history

by Nashville Vols manager Chuck Dressen’s ability to tip him

off to pitches.

 

In 1939 with the Minneapolis Millers in the American

Association he hit .331 with 33 home runs and 126 RBIs. He

followed in 1940 by hitting .347 with 27 home runs and 109

RBIs.

 

His professional debut was on September 5, 1933, for the

New York Giants. In 1934 he batted .351, with a .461 on

base percentage, in 31 games.  

 

In 1938 he was 3rd in the National League in on base

percentage (.422), 9th in batting average (.311), and 10th in

walks (64) for the Phillies

 

In December 1938 he was purchased by the Boston Red Sox

from the Phillies.

 

He did not play major league baseball from 1939-43.

 

In November 1943 he was drafted by the New York Giants

from the St. Louis Browns in the Rule 5 draft.

 

In 1944, Weintraub returned to the majors with the Giants as

a war-time player after a 6-year absence. He was 5th in the

NL in OBP (.412), slugging percentage (.524) and at bats per

home run (27.8), 6th in triples (9), 8th in batting average

(.316), and 9th in home runs (13).

 

On April 30, 1944, Weintraub had 11 RBIs, one short of the

major league record, as the Giants defeated the Brooklyn

Dodgers, 26-8. He had two doubles, a triple, and a home run.

Amazingly, he missed the cycle because he didn’t get a

single.

 

Weintraub played his last game on August 5, 1945.

 

Miscellaneous

 

He had the last hit in Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl

 

In 1934 during spring training a Florida hotel refused entry to

Weintraub and fellow Jew Harry Danning. “Hibiscus” was a

code word for Hebrew in Florida — as in “we don’t have

hibiscus in our hotel.” Giants manager and All-Star first

baseman Bill Terry threatened to take the entire World

Champion team to another hotel unless his Jewish players

were given lodging. The hotel’s management backed down

 

On Yom Kippur of 1938, Phil Weintraub and his Phillies

teammate Morrie Arnovich opted to take the day off.

 

Called “baseball’s best-dressed pinch hitter” by journalist

Fred Lieb.

 

One cold, windy afternoon in spring 1944, the Giants played

at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station, and the Navy staged a

sideshow by dropping baseballs from a blimp 400 feet in the

air to Giant players. Weintraub managed to make a catch.

NY Giants 1944 signed baseball

Jack Brewer, Buddy Kerr, Bruce Sloan, Johnny Allen, Mel Ott, Phil Weintraub, Gus Mancuso

 

Let’s see how the guys did on June 20. 

 

Brad Ausmus, C - Los Angeles Dodgers

Brad didn’t play in the Dodgers over the Angels.

 

Ryan Braun, OF, 3B - Milwaukee Brewers

Ryan had a big day going 4-for-5, with a homer (# 15 ), 2

RBIs, 2 runs scored and a stolen base (#6) against the

Tigers. He raised his average to .325.

 

Ryan earned a Chai 5,

but he could just as easily been the Macher of the day!!

 

                           

   

Craig Breslow, P – Oakland A’s

Craig didn’t pitch in the A’s victory over the Padres.

 

Scott Feldman, P – Texas Rangers

Scott didn’t pitch in the Rangers extra-inning loss to the

Giants.                  

 

John Grabow, P, Pittsburgh Pirates

John had a lousy day.  In the one inning that he pitched, he

gave up 3 earned runs on a homer by Rockies C Chris

Ianetta, but somehow notched 3 strikeouts. He blew his

second save of the year and raised his ERA to 4.22.   

                   

Gabe Kapler, OF – Tampa Bay Rays

Gabe went 1-for-3 in the Rays victory over the Mets, hitting

his 8th double of the year and knocking in his 16th run. He

raised his average to .228 and earned a pastrami sandwich

from Katz’ Deli!!!   

 

 

 

 

Ian Kinsler, 2B – Texas Rangers

Ian went 2-for-4 and was practically the entire

offense for the Rangers in their extra-inning 2-1

loss to the Giants.  Ian accounted for 2 of the

Rangers 3 hits with one of his hits being a solo

homer (#18).  He also stole his 14th base and took

part in 2 double plays!! His average rose to fall

to .269. 

 

 

Jason Marquis, P – Colorado Rockies

Jason didn’t pitch in the Rockies win over the Pirates.

 

Aaron Poreda, P – Chicago White Sox

Aaron didn’t pitch in the White Sox victory over the Reds.

  

Scott Schoeneweis, P – Arizona Diamondbacks

Scott didn’t pitch in the D-Backs loss to the Mariners.     

           

Kevin Youkilis, 1B, 3B – Boston Red Sox

Youk went 1-for-3 in the Bosox win against the

Braves, drove in a run and in a big surprise he

walked!!!  He raised his average  to .317.

                   

Macher (Big Shot) of the Day  -  Ian Kinsler