Lew Fonseca

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Lew Fonseca
Lew Fonseca
First Baseman/Second Baseman/Manager
Born: January 21, 1899
Died: November 26, 1989 (Aged 90)
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 13, 1921
for the Cincinnati Reds
Final game
September 11, 1933
for the Chicago White Sox
Career statistics
Batting average     .316
Hits     1075
Runs batted in     485
Teams

As Player

As Manager
Career highlights and awards
  • American League Batting Champion (1929)

Lewis Albert Fonseca (January 21, 1899 - November 26, 1989) was an American first and second baseman in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox over a 12-year career. While not a power hitter, he did manage to hit for average and was a good contact hitter for most of his career. He topped the .300 mark six times, with his best season coming in 1929 with the Indians, when he hit .369 to win the American League batting title. What made it remarkable was that he was coming off a 1928 season in which he broke his leg. Unfortunately, his success was short-lived, as he broke his arm in 1930, and a torn ligament in his leg ended his playing career prematurely.

Fonseca is perhaps best known as one of the first men to use film in analyzing baseball games and finding flaws in players. It is said that his interest with cameras began while shooting Slide, Kelly, Slide in 1927. As manager of the Chicago White Sox, he used film extensively. After retiring from playing the game, he was director of promotions for both leagues.

Fonseca died in Ely, Iowa at age 90, one month after the Loma Prieta earthquake hit near his birthplace of Oakland, California.

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[edit] External links

Preceded by
Goose Goslin		 American League Batting Champion
1929		 Succeeded by
Al Simmons
Preceded by
Donie Bush		 Chicago White Sox Manager
1932–1934		 Succeeded by
Jimmy Dykes
v • d • e
Chicago White Sox managers
Griffith • Callahan • Jones • Sullivan • Duffy • Callahan • Rowland • Gleason • Evers • Walsh • Collins • Schalk • Blackburne • Bush • Fonseca • Dykes • Lyons • Onslow • Corriden • Richards • Marion • Lopez • Stanky • Moss • Lopez • Gutteridge • Adair • Tanner • Richards • Lemon • Doby • Kessinger • La Russa • Rader • Fregosi • Torborg • Lamont • Bevington • Manuel • Guillén
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