Bill Sarni
Encyclopedia
William Florine Sarni was an American
professional
baseball
player who played as a catcher
in the Major Leagues
. A native of Los Angeles, California
, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals
(1951–1952, 1954–1956) and New York Giants
(1956).
of the Pacific Coast League
. In 33 games he went 19-for-83 (.229) with one home run
and nine runs batted in. Sarni led Texas League
catchers with a .991 fielding percentage
while playing for the Shreveport Sports
in . He led American Association
catchers with 597 putouts and a .989 fielding percentage while playing for the Columbus Red Birds
in .
Sarni made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on May 11, 1951
at the age of 23. After hitting for only a .174 average during his rookie year, Sarni was sent back to the Columbus Red Birds in May 1952
in order to trim their roster down to the 25 player limit. He posted a .277 batting average
along with 8 home runs and 60 runs batted in during the season with Columbus and, earned a spot on the American Association
All-Star team. In October 1953
, the Cardinals purchased Sarni from Columbus.
Sarni became the Cardinals starting catcher when Del Rice
was injured during a play at home plate
on June 7, 1954
. In 123 games he posted a .300 batting average with 9 home runs and 70 runs batted in. He also led National League
catchers with a .996 fielding percentage
and 12 double plays. One odd footnote from the 1954 season was a game in St. Louis on July 18 against the Philadelphia Phillies in which, both Sarni and Phillies catcher Stan Lopata
played the game without wearing chest protectors because of the intense heat.
The Cardinals traded Rice to the Milwaukee Braves in June 1955
and, Sarni became their number one catcher. Although his batting average dipped to .255 in , he was hitting above .300 in early June 1956
when, the Cardinals traded him to the New York Giants
along with Jackie Brandt
, Dick Littlefield
and Red Schoendienst
for Alvin Dark
, Ray Katt
, Don Liddle
and Whitey Lockman
.
Sarni took over as the Giants starting catcher and ended the year leading the league's catchers with 61 assists
and 10 double plays. During spring training
in 1957
he suffered a heart attack
that ended his playing career. He was just 29 years old. The Giants kept him on by creating a coaching
position for him. In he signed a contract to coach for the Rochester Red Wings
in the St. Louis Cardinals organisation then, resigned after one season to take up a career selling stocks and bonds for an investment firm.
, accumulating 311 hits
in 1,182 at bats for a .263 career batting average
along with 22 home run
s, 151 runs batted in and an on base percentage
of .313. His lifetime fielding percentage was .991.
Sarni died at the age of 55 in Creve Coeur, Missouri
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player who played as a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in the Major Leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. A native of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, he played for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1951–1952, 1954–1956) and New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1956).
Baseball career
Sarni's professional baseball career began in at the age of 15 when he played for the Los Angeles AngelsLos Angeles Angels (PCL)
The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. In 33 games he went 19-for-83 (.229) with one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and nine runs batted in. Sarni led Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
catchers with a .991 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
while playing for the Shreveport Sports
Shreveport Sports
The Shreveport-Bossier Captains are a professional baseball team based in Shreveport, Louisiana, in the United States. The Captains are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
in . He led American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
catchers with 597 putouts and a .989 fielding percentage while playing for the Columbus Red Birds
Columbus Red Birds
The Columbus Red Birds was the name of a top-level minor league baseball team that played in Columbus, Ohio, in the American Association from 1931 through 1954. The Columbus club, a member of the Association continuously since 1902, was previously known as the Columbus Senators — a typical...
in .
Sarni made his major league debut with the St. Louis Cardinals on May 11, 1951
1951 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 70th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 60th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 81-73 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League.- Offseason :...
at the age of 23. After hitting for only a .174 average during his rookie year, Sarni was sent back to the Columbus Red Birds in May 1952
1952 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 71st season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 61st season in the National League. The Cardinals went 88-66 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League....
in order to trim their roster down to the 25 player limit. He posted a .277 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
along with 8 home runs and 60 runs batted in during the season with Columbus and, earned a spot on the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
All-Star team. In October 1953
1953 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 72nd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 62nd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 83-71 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League....
, the Cardinals purchased Sarni from Columbus.
Sarni became the Cardinals starting catcher when Del Rice
Del Rice
Delbert Rice Jr. was an American professional baseball player, coach and manager. He played for 17 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to , most notably for the St. Louis Cardinals...
was injured during a play at home plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
on June 7, 1954
1954 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 73rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 63rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 72-82 during the season and finished 6th in the National League.- Offseason :...
. In 123 games he posted a .300 batting average with 9 home runs and 70 runs batted in. He also led National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
catchers with a .996 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
and 12 double plays. One odd footnote from the 1954 season was a game in St. Louis on July 18 against the Philadelphia Phillies in which, both Sarni and Phillies catcher Stan Lopata
Stan Lopata
Stanley Edward Lopata was an American professional baseball player. Lopata played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for parts of 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Braves...
played the game without wearing chest protectors because of the intense heat.
The Cardinals traded Rice to the Milwaukee Braves in June 1955
1955 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 74th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 64th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 68-86 during the season and finished seventh in the National League, 30½ games behind the Brooklyn Dodgers....
and, Sarni became their number one catcher. Although his batting average dipped to .255 in , he was hitting above .300 in early June 1956
1956 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 75th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 65th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 76-78 during the season and finished 4th in the National League.- Offseason :...
when, the Cardinals traded him to the New York Giants
1956 New York Giants (MLB) season
- Offseason :* December 3, 1956: Roger McCardell was drafted by the Giants from the Milwaukee Braves in the 1956 minor league draft.* Prior to 1956 season: Ernie Broglio was purchased by the Giants from the Vancouver Mounties.- Notable transactions :...
along with Jackie Brandt
Jackie Brandt
John George Brandt Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals as an amateur free agent before the 1953 season, and played for the Cardinals , New York Giants , San Francisco Giants , Baltimore Orioles , Philadelphia Phillies , and Houston Astros...
, Dick Littlefield
Dick Littlefield
Richard Bernard "Dick" Littlefield was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for nine teams between 1950 and 1958.Born in Detroit, Michigan, he died there at age 71....
and Red Schoendienst
Red Schoendienst
Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American Major League Baseball coach, former player and manager, and 10-time All-star. After a 19-year playing career with the St...
for Alvin Dark
Alvin Dark
Alvin Ralph Dark , nicknamed "Blackie" and "The Swamp Fox", is a former shortstop and manager in Major League Baseball who played for five National League teams from 1946 to 1960. Named the major leagues' Rookie of the Year with the Boston Braves when he batted .322...
, Ray Katt
Ray Katt
Raymond Frederick Katt was an American catcher and coach in Major League Baseball during the 1950s, and later the longtime and highly successful head baseball coach of Texas Lutheran University. A lifelong resident of New Braunfels, Texas, Katt stood 6'2" tall, weighed 200 pounds , and threw and...
, Don Liddle
Don Liddle
Donald Eugene Liddle was an American left-handed pitcher in professional baseball who played four seasons in the Major Leagues for the Milwaukee Braves, New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals from through...
and Whitey Lockman
Whitey Lockman
Carroll Walter "Whitey" Lockman was a player, coach, manager and front office executive in American Major League Baseball.-Role in miraculous 1951 comeback:...
.
Sarni took over as the Giants starting catcher and ended the year leading the league's catchers with 61 assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
and 10 double plays. During spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1957
1957 New York Giants (MLB) season
The New York Giants season involved the team finishing in sixth place in the National League with a 69-85 record, 26 games behind the NL and World Champion Milwaukee Braves...
he suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
that ended his playing career. He was just 29 years old. The Giants kept him on by creating a coaching
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
position for him. In he signed a contract to coach for the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
in the St. Louis Cardinals organisation then, resigned after one season to take up a career selling stocks and bonds for an investment firm.
Career statistics
In a 5 year major league career, Sarni played in 390 gamesGames played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
, accumulating 311 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 1,182 at bats for a .263 career batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
along with 22 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, 151 runs batted in and an on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .313. His lifetime fielding percentage was .991.
Sarni died at the age of 55 in Creve Coeur, Missouri
Creve Coeur, Missouri
Creve Coeur, derived from French for "heartbreak" , is a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in west St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The city derives its name from Creve Coeur Lake, which is shaped like a broken heart. The population was 17,833 at the 2010 census...
.