Val Picinich Valentine John Picinich Bats Right Throws Right Height 5'9 Weight 165 Born September 8, 1896 New York, NY Died December 5, 1942 Nobleboro, ME

Batting  

 Year Ag Tm     G   AB    H  2B  3B  HR    R  RBI   BB    K HBP  IW  SB  CS    BA  lgBA   SLG lgSLG   TB 
+-----------+----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+
 1928 31 PAW       321   98  11   1   1   31   29                     1      .305  .278  .355  .376  114 
 1929 32 PAW       238   57  10   2   4   28   22                    12      .239  .265  .349  .391   83 
+-----------+----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+
  2 Seasons        559  155  21   3   5   59   51                    13      .277  .272  .352  .382  197
+-----------+----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+
 Career High       321   98  11   2   4   31   29                    12      .305  ----  .355  ----  114
+-----------+----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+
 Year Ag Tm     G   AB    H  2B  3B  HR    R  RBI   BB    K HBP  IW  SB  CS    BA  lgBA   SLG lgSLG   TB 

Postseason Batting

 Year Tm  Opp WLser  G   AB    H  2B  3B  HR    R  RBI   BB    K HBP  IW  SB  CS    BA   SLG   TB 
+------------------+--+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+-----+-----+----+
 1929 PAW MON   L    4    9    3   0   0   0    1    0    0    0   0   0   0   0  .333  .333    3
+------------------+--+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+-----+-----+----+
               0-1   4    9    3   0   0   0    1    0    0    0   0   0   0   0  .333  .333    3
+------------------+--+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+----+---+---+---+---+-----+-----+----+

WLser shows whether the player's team Won or Lost the series.

Transactions January 1, 1928: Drafted 7th round (50th overall) by Pawtucket.

Biography VAL PICINICH DIES Caught Walter Johnson's Fast Ball for 5 of His 18 Years in the Major Leagues Ended Career Latter Year on Pirates – Was Brought to the Majors by Connie Mack NOBLEBORO, Me., Dec. 5, (AP) – Val Picinich, who for five of his eighteen years as a major league baseball player caught Walter Johnson's blazing fastball, died or pneumonia today at his home here. He was 46 years old. Pichinich, a personnel service and morale director at the Bath (Me.) Iron Works Corporation, was stricken with bronchial influenza several days ago. A catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates toward the close of his active baseball career, Picinich later managed farm clubs for the Detroit Tigers and the New York Giants and acted as a talent scout for the Giants. After quitting organized baseball he purchased a chicken farm here. On the outbreak of war he obtained employment in the Bath Iron Works electrical department and last January became director of personal service and morale. He coached the company baseball team last Spring. During his long stay in the major leagues, Picinich played with the Washington Senators, catching all but two games pitched by Johnson over a five-year stretch; the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Brooklyn Dodgers. His career ended with the Pirates in 1934. Picinich attended Princeton University for one year, leaving to accept Connie Mack's offer of a contract with the Athletics. He leaves a widow, a daughter, Barbara, and his parents, Mr. And Mrs. Rudolph Picinich of Hackensack, N.J. Picinich was born in this city Sept. 8, 1896, and started his long career in the big leagues with the Athletics in 1916. He was “farmed” to Atlanta of the Southern Association in 1917 and 1918, and in June 1918, was sold to the Senators for $2,500 and several players. He was in Washington until 1923, when he was traded to the Red Sox with Howard Shanks for Muddy Ruel and Alan Russell. With the Boston team he was first string catcher and was regarded as a dependable hitter. In 1926 he was sent to the Reds for the waiver price and stayed in Cincinnati through 1926, 1927 and 1928, catching 96 games and having a batting average of .302 the last year. In the Spring of 1929 he came to the Dodgers – then known as the Robins – under the late Wilbert Robinson and caught at Ebbets Field for five years before closing his big league career with the Pirates in 1934. The Brooklyn club gave up a battery, Rube Ehrhardt, pitcher, and Johnny Gooch, catcher, to get Picinich in 1929. He was a favorite with the Brooklyn fans. When he was released by the Pirates he became a minor league manager, leading the Milford (Del.) club and the Allentown team of the Interstate League until two years ago. Reprinted from the New York Times, Sunday, December 6, 1942