Eddie Ainsmith
From BR Bullpen
Edward Wilbur Ainsmith (Dorf) born Edward Anshmedt
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 180 lb.
- Debut August 9, 1910
- Final Game July 21, 1924
- Born February 4, 1892 in Russia
- Died September 6, 1981 in Fort Lauderdale, FL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
" . . . when I have control I'm easy to catch, but if I'm pitching high or low, it's murder on the catcher. Ainsmith does the best job." - Walter Johnson
Eddie Ainsmith caught for 15 years in the major leagues.
Eddie, born Edward Anshmedt, is one of only five major leaguers (through 2008) born in Russia. He broke into the majors as one of the youngest players in the league in 1910 when he was 20 years old.
Eddie spent his first nine years with the Washington Senators in the dead-ball era, never hitting higher than .226 and only once getting over 300 at-bats. He was a teammate of pitcher Walter Johnson all nine years, and one source says he was Johnson's personal catcher.
He had some speed, stealing 17 bases in 1913 and 16 bases in 1917 in spite of getting only limited playing time.
In 1917, Buck Herzog and Ty Cobb had a major fight in a hotel room for half an hour. The SABR biography of Herzog says Ainsmith was the only other person present.
Traded to the Detroit Tigers, Eddie got more at-bats than ever in 1919 and slugged .409 (his previous best was .308). In both 1918 and 1919 he had begun hitting triples and was in the top ten in the league.
Ainsmith came to the St. Louis Cardinals in the middle of the 1921 season and perhaps because of the favorable park he had his career best in home runs in 1922. He had 13 home runs out of a lifetime total of 22, and ranked # 10 in the league.
He finished out his major league career with the1924 New York Giants, who went on to win the pennant, although Ainsmith's last appearance was in July. He went 3-for-5 for the team.
In the minors, he played in the New England League and the American Association.
During 1918 (perhaps as part of the war effort) he played on a Baltimore shipyard workers team.
He managed the Rockford Peaches and Fort Wayne Daisies in the AAGPBL. One source says that he was eventually a major league coach and an umpire, but doesn't specify where or when.
Primarily wore number 14.
He was scouted and signed by Mike Kahoe.
