Val Picinich
From BR Bullpen
Valentine John Picinich
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 9", Weight 165 lb.
- Debut July 25, 1916
- Final Game August 28, 1933
- Born September 8, 1896 in New York, NY USA
- Died December 5, 1942 in Nobleboro, ME USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Val Picinich played catcher for 18 seasons in the majors, never getting as many as 100 games in any one season. He broke in with the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics, a team which featured the 41-year-old Nap Lajoie (Lajoie had broken in before Picinich was born), and ended his career with the 1933 Pittsburgh Pirates, a team which featured the 21-year-old Arky Vaughan (who was four years old when Picinich broke in).
Val's New York Times obituary indicates he attended Princeton University for one year before signing with the Athletics. He played in Atlanta in 1917-18. After his major league days he managed in the minors (Milford and Allentown), owned a chicken farm, and worked for the Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, ME.
After his playing career ended, he was a Cincinnati Reds coach in 1934. He then managed the 1935 Charleston Senators, 1938-1939 Milford Giants and 1940 Allentown Wings.
[edit] Year-by-Year Minor League Managerial Record
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Organization | Playoffs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Charleston Senators | Middle Atlantic League | 49-65 overall | 7th | Detroit Tigers | replaced Russ Young | |
| 1938 | Milford Giants | Eastern Shore League | 60-52 | 3rd | New York Giants | lost in first round | |
| 1939 | Milford Giants | Eastern Shore League | 49-69 overall | 7th | New York Giants | replaced Earl Smith | |
| 1940 | Allentown Wings | Interstate League | 40-82 overall | 8th | St. Louis Cardinals | replaced by Bobby Barr |
