100 Greatest Phillies: 56 – Andy Seminick
Catcher
1943-1950, 1955-1957
Career w/Phillies: .243 AVG / 112 HR / 411 RBI / 20 SB
A 22-year-old Andy Seminick joined a 1943 Phillies/Blue Jays team that won 64 games, finishing seventh of eight in the National League. Seven years later, he was the leader of the Whiz Kids, the team that took the National League in surprise fashion before losing to the Yankees in the World Series. Before that, he was a solid if unspectacular offensive player, and a pretty good defensive backstop. In 1949 he won an All-Star berth and accomplished a rare feat, hitting two home runs in an inning. He hit three in the game. But 1950 was his big year, swatting 24 homers and hitting a career-high .288. He returned to the Phillies in a trade in 1955, before being released in 1956. The Phils signed him for the final month of 1957, retiring at season’s end. Seminick died in 2004, the final living everyday player of the Whiz Kids. First one in, last one out.
Comment: One of the great longtime Phillies whose reputation came more for his leadership than stick. In his prime he was a good hitter, but not for too long. What remains is his loyalty to the Phils (many years as a coach) and passion for the game.
