Solly Hemus

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Solomon Joseph Hemus (born April 17, 1923, in Phoenix, Arizona) is a retired infielder, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball.

As a player (1949-59) with the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, Hemus was primarily a shortstop, although he also saw significant time as a second baseman. He compiled a lifetime batting average of .273 in 969 games, with 51 home runs. He batted lefthanded and threw righthanded.

Hemus was a hardnosed player known for battling with opponents and umpires. With his career winding down, he was reacquired by the Cardinals during the autumn of 1958 and named the Redbirds' player-manager. He appeared in 24 games in that role - mostly as a pinch-hitter - in 1959 before concentrating on his managerial responsibilities. His Cardinals were inconsistent: a seventh place (71-83) finish in his rookie managerial campaign (1959) was followed by a 15-game improvement (86-68) and a leap to third place in his second season (1960). The Redbirds followed with a poor start in 1961, and were mired in sixth place in July (at 33-41) when Hemus was replaced by one of his coaches, Johnny Keane. His career major league managing record was 190-192 (.497).

Hemus then served as a coach with the New York Mets (1962-63) and Cleveland Indians (1964-65). He managed the Mets' top farm club, the Jacksonville Suns of the AAA International League, in 1966 before leaving baseball.

Preceded by Stan Hack	St. Louis Cardinals Manager 1959-1961	Succeeded by Johnny Keane

[edit] Trivia

John Kennedy, the first black player in Philadelphia Phillies history, made his major league debut when he entered a game against the Brooklyn Dodgers as a pinch runner for Solly Hemus. {Roosevelt Stadium -- April 22, 1957}