Ken Silvestri, catcher

-
Ken Silvestri, catcher

St. Paul Saints: 1938-39
Kansas City Blues: 1947, 1954

b. May 3, 1916 @ Chicago, Illinois
d. March 31, 1992 @ Tallahassee, Florida

Today we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the passing of Kenneth Joseph “Hawk” Silvestri.

Silvestri’s career in pro ball began with the Rayne (Louisiana) Rice Birds (D) in 1936. He joined the American Association as a member of the St. Paul Saints during in 1938 when he helped lead the club to the league championship at the age of 22. He batted .272 for the Saints that year, appearing in 114 games with 95 games as catcher to his credit.

In 1939 Silvestri appeared in 60 games with the Saints, 44 as catcher, batting .271.

At the age of 31, he was a Kansas City Blue as a catcher in 44 games for the New York Yankee farm team, 83 games all tolled.

In his final American Association season with Blues, Silvestri batted .241 in 1954, again taking the role of catcher in 24 games in 48 games total.

Silvestri served in the US Army during World War II, earning three Bronze Battle Stars, according to Baseball Necrology. He was active in baseball as a player, coach, manager and scout.

He died at the age of 75 and is buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ballparks of Indianapolis, Part 2: Perry Stadium/Victory Field

-
Image
The American Association Almanac Volume 20, Number 1 Spring 2024 Perry Stadium/Victory Field and the Indianapolis Indians      The Spring 2024 edition of the American Association Almanac (print journal, just published) describes Perry Stadium (later Victory Field), the home of the Indianapolis Indians, in replete detail. The publication consists of roughly 28,000 words, comprising a 64-page booklet format with a color cover, and centerfold which includes home performance data for both the 1932 and 1948 Indianapolis Indians. It is set in 11-pt. Times New Roman and was completed March 26, 2024.      The long-time home of the Indians was built in 1931 by Norman A. Perry in homage to his brother, James Perry , who was killed in an airplane accident just outside Indianapolis in 1929. In the spring of 2023 the Almanac published Part 1 of this two-part series (please see separate blog entry). In 1942 the park was renamed Victory Field just a month after Perry sold the Indians which occurre
Read more

The First All-Star Game

-
Image
Eighty years ago this week the American Association put its first cadre of All-Stars on display. The event took place July 19, 1934 at hitter-friendly Nicollet Park in Minneapolis. Interesting how this anniversary corresponds with MLB's 2014 All-Star game to be played tomorrow night at Target Field in Minneapolis, just a few miles due north of where Nicollet Park once stood. The Millers defeated the All-Stars, 13-6. The 1934 American Association All-Star Team The contest pitted the American Association All-Stars against the Minneapolis Millers, the club which was in first-place on the pre-selected date. In the photo above are (with position played during game): BACK ROW:   GEORGE HOCKETTE (lhp), ALLAN SOTHORON (mgr), EARL WEBB (rf), MEL ALMADA (lf-cf), LIN STORTI (2b), ERNIE WINGARD (1b), FRED BEDORE (3b), and JACK KLOZA (lf). FRONT ROW:   TONY RENSA (c), GENE TROW (rhp), MILT GALATZER (cf), BILL BRENZEL (c), JOSE OLIVARES (ss), GARLAND BRAXTON (lhp), and AL NIEMIC (ss). Tha
Read more

Contact the American Association Almanac

-
Image
If you wish to contact the American Association Almanac for answers to questions or comments you might have, please email me at pureout@msn.com There is no advertising accepted in the American Association Almanac. To subscribe to the American Association Almanac, you have a few different options. Option 1: Subscribe for one year. You get three issues, Spring, Summer and Fall. The cost is $18.00. Option 2: Subscribe for two years. You get six issues. Cost is $32.00. Option 3: Become a Lifetime Subscriber. Ten years guaranteed. Cost: $150.00. Option 4: Become a Benefactor of the Almanac. Minimum donation: $200.00. Monies donated to the American Association Almanac are used to further the cause of researching the information used in this publication. Starting with the Spring issue of 2008, all benefactors will have their name published in each subsequent issue. Back issues are available on a per unit basis or as a complete set. Please contact me for details.
Read more