Mike Menosky
From BR Bullpen
Michael William Menosky (Leaping Mike)
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 5' 10", Weight 163 lb.
- School Indiana University of Pennsylvania
- Debut April 18, 1914
- Final Game October 7, 1923
- Born October 16, 1894 in Glen Campbell, PA USA
- Died April 11, 1983 in Detroit, MI USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Leaping Mike Menosky was an all-out outfielder who played 9 seasons in the majors.
After attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1913, he played with the Federal League in 1914 and 1915. He was also sent down to the Federal League's minor league, the Colonial League.
He came back to the majors in 1916 when Washington purchased him from the Pittsburgh Rebels, and became a regular outfielder with the 1917 Washington Senators. After taking 1918 off from the majors while he served in the military, he again became a regular outfielder on the 1919 Washington Senators.
From 1920-23, he played with the Boston Red Sox. In 1920, he was fourth in the league in stolen bases, while in 1921 he hit .300. In the Opening Day lineups for the Red Sox in 1920 and 1921, he batted third in the lineup, while in 1922 he batted leadoff.
One could say that he was the player who took over for Babe Ruth when Ruth left the Red Sox. In 1919, Ruth had been the starting left fielder for the Red Sox, while Harry Hooper played right field. The next year, with Ruth gone, Hooper moved over to left field while Menosky played right field.
The most similar contemporary is Jigger Statz.
After his playing days, Menosky was a probation officer. He was once called on to help a judge decide whether an accused was guilty of throwing a rock 250 feet to cause damage. Menosky was able to throw a baseball that far, but not a rock. The accused was acquitted. Source: Baseball Research Journal, 2002.
