Ollie Carnegie
Encyclopedia
Oliver Angelo "Ollie" Carnegie (June 29, 1899 [or 1898] – October 4, 1976) was an Italian American
professional baseball
player whose playing career spanned 15 seasons. Over that time, Carnegie played in the minor leagues
with the Class-B Flint Vehicles
(1922) of the Michigan-Ontario League; the Class-B Hazleton Mountaineers
(1931) of the New York – Penn League; the Double-A Buffalo Bisons
(1931–1941, 1945) of the International League
; and the Class-D Lockport White Sox (1942) and the Class-D Jamestown Falcons
(1944) of the PONY League. In 1,539 career games played, Carnegie batted
.309 with 1665 hits
, 302 doubles
, 48 triples
and 297 home run
s. Carnegie batted and threw right-handed. Carnegie also managed
the Class-D Jamestown Falcons in 1944. Officially a player-manager since he also played 96 games that season, Carnegie led the Falcons to a 70–54 record which was good enough for second overall in the PONY League.
In 1921, Carnegie started playing professional baseball. He later left the professional circuit to play in a semi-professional
baseball league based in Allegheny County, where he was from. Over those years, Carnegie played for teams representing Dormont, Pennsylvania
, McKeesport, Pennsylvania
, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
, Pitcairn, Pennsylvania
and others. The Pittsburgh Press, who covered the league, nicknamed Carnegie the "Bambino" and described him as the "sandlot
Babe Ruth
". Carnegie returned to professional baseball in 1931 after accepting a contract with the Hazleton Mountaineers, a minor league team owned by the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
The Buffalo Bisons purchased Carnegie from the Hazleton Mountaineers in 1931. This would be the beginning of a tenure that would last 12 nonconsecutive seasons. Carnegie is the Bisons career record holder in hits, home runs, runs batted in and games played. He also holds the Bisons' single-season record in home runs with 42. Carnegie led the International League in home runs in 1938 and 1939. Carnegie has won multiple accolades during his career and after. In 1938, he won the Most Valuable Player
in the International League. Carnegie is the career International League leader in home runs (258) and runs batted in (1,044). He was also an inaugural member of the International League Hall of Fame
and the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame. Carnegie is also a Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame member, inducted in 1992. Amongst many fans and professionals, Carnegie is widely renowned as one of the best Buffalo baseball players ever.
to Benjamin and Rose Carnegie, who were both from Italy
. Carnegie was offered professional contracts by the Pittsburgh Pirates
and Washington Senators
in 1920 and 1921, respectively, but declined both times. He officially started his professional baseball career in 1922 at the age of 23 with the Class-B Flint Vehicles
of the Michigan-Ontario League. In seven games that season, Carnegie batted
.219 with seven hits
, one double
and one home run
. In 1928, Carnegie was a member of the Dormont, Pennsylvania
baseball team. The team was a member of the Allegheny County semi-professional
baseball league. On June 5, 1927, he was batting .456 with eight doubles and one triple
. Fellow teammates of the Dormont team included former Major League Baseball
(MLB) players Frank Mills
and Ed Barney. Later that June, Carnegie joined the McKeesport, Pennsylvania
baseball team who were members of the same semi-pro league. The Pittsburgh Press noted that Carnegie started slow with the McKeesport team; however, he started playing better going into July. Through July 19, 1927, Carnegie led the league with nine doubles and 14 runs
. He joined the Johnstown, Pennsylvania
baseball team after they issued an SOS
for an emergency outfielder
in late-July. Carnegie finished the season second in the league in extra base hits with 24.
In 1928, Carnegie continued his tenure in the semi-professional Allegheny County league after he signed with the Beaver Falls Elks. The Elks represented Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
. On June 22, 1928, The Pittsburgh Press noted that Carnegie was a "home run idol" to fans. On July 5, 1928, Carnegie hit two home runs and two singles
in a game against the Canton, Pennsylvania
baseball team. In September 1928, Carnegie joined the South Hills
baseball team. In March 1929, it was announced that Carnegie would join the Pitcairn, Pennsylvania
baseball team. In June 1929, as a member of the Homewood
baseball team, Carnegie hit the longest home run ever at Dormont High Field according to The Pittsburgh Press. In 1930, he continued playing with the Pitcairn Tossers of the Allegheny County league. During his time in Allegheny County's sandlot
league, Carnegie received the nickname "Bambino" and they described him as the "sandlot 'Babe Ruth
'". Also during his tenure, Carnegie was described as the "most dangerous and longest clouter in the City semi-pro baseball loop" by The Pittsburgh Press.
Carnegie was reportedly highly sought after by many MLB and minor league
teams during his time in the Allegheny County league. It was said that he refused to leave the Pittsburgh area. The Pittsburgh Press said that Carnegie did play in the Middle Atlantic League
after the Johnstown Johnnies' requested an emergency outfielder after their regular player went out with an illness. They also reported that Carnegie had a chance to stay in the Middle Atlantic League, but returned home instead.
owned Class-B Hazleton Mountaineers
offered Carnegie a contract. Carnegie, who turned down professional baseball contracts before, had to think about the deal before announcing his decision. Initially, Carnegie declined to join professional baseball and planned to return to the Allegheny County semi-professional
league. Later in the season, he decided to join Hazleton. A reason later given for why Carnegie accepted the Hazleton contract was because he lost his job with Pennsylvania Railroad
in the midst of the Great Depression
. With the Mountaineers in 1931, he batted
.354 with 80 hits
, 15 doubles
and 18 home runs in 58 games played
. Despite having only 226 at-bats, Carnegie's 18 home runs were the second most on the team behind Pat Wright, who had 19 home runs in twice as many at-bats. Carnegie led the New York – Penn League in slugging percentage that season with a .659 percentage total.
of the International League
for an undisclosed amount of money, some of which Carnegie received. Carnegie played 15 games with Buffalo that season and batted .345 with 19 hits five doubles and two triples
. During the 1931 off-season, one day after finishing his season with the Bisons, he re-joined the Allegheny County semi-professional league with the Dormont, Pennsylvania
baseball team. Before the 1932 season, Carnegie re-signed with the Bisons and received an increase in pay. After signing his contract, he reported to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
for spring training
. While the team was in spring training, The Gazette
described Carnegie as the "greatest find to appear in the camp of the Buffalo Bisons in the last decade". During the season, Bisons' manager
Ray Schalk
said that Carnegie would soon get a promotion to Major League Baseball
and it was reported that the Chicago White Sox
were interested in Carnegie. Also that season, Bisons' president, Frank J. Offerman, said of Carnegie that "a finer character has never donned a ball uniform". In 1932, Carnegie batted .333 with 169 hits, 31 doubles, three triples and 36 home runs in 137 games played. Carnegie was third in the International League that season in home runs and slugging percentage (.618).
In February 1933, Carnegie re-signed with the Buffalo Bisons, but he was initially "dissatisfied" with his contract. On the season, Carnegie batted .317 with 164 hits, 33 doubles, six triples and 29 home runs in 147 games played. Carnegie was third in the International League that season in home runs and fourth in slugging percentage (.573). During the 1934 season, Carnegie did not report to Buffalo until May and played with the Dormont, Pennsylvania semi-professional team in the mean time. With the Bisons that season, Carnegie batted .335 with 154 hits, 26 doubles, five triples and 31 home runs. He was third in the International League in home runs that season. After the season, Carnegie was a member of a Pittsburgh-area all-star
team that included Dizzy Dean
and Paul Dean
who played the Pittsburgh Crawfords
, a Negro league baseball
team.
On May 29, 1935, Carnegie drove in five runs
against the Toronto Maple Leafs. On the season, Carnegie batted .293 with 171 hits, 39 doubles, five triples and 37 home runs in 154 games. Amongst International League hitters in 1935, Carnegie was second in home runs and was fifth in doubles. Carnegie was sidelined for much of the 1936 season due to an ankle
injury. He was replaced in the Bisons lineup
by Johnny Dickshot
. Despite the injury, Carnegie did manage to play 74 games and batted .244 with 47 hits, six doubles, one triple and four home runs. In 1937, Carnegie batted .308 with 151 hits, 23 doubles, six triples and 21 home runs in 134 games played. Carnegie was tied for fifth in the league in home runs with Woody Abernathy
, George McQuinn
and Les Powers
.
Before the 1938 regular season, while with the Bisons in spring training, Carnegie was straggling to meet expectations. However, during the season, The Beaver County Times
noted that Carnegie was once again one of the premier players in the International League. On the season, Carnegie batted .330 with 182 hits, 35 doubles, three triples and 45 home runs in 142 games. Amongst all International League batters that season, Carnegie was first in home runs, runs batted in (136) and total bases (358); second in slugging percentage (.649); third in hits; and sixth in doubles. His 45 home runs were, at the time, the fourth highest home run total in the International League's history. It was asserted by The Pittsburgh Press that if Carnegie had started playing professional baseball in the mid-1920s when he was younger, he would have been "sensational". Carnegie won the 1938 International League Most Valuable Player
Award after the season.
On April 4, 1939, it was announced that Carnegie would re-sign with the Bisons, making it his ninth season with the team. During the 1939 season, in a game against the Newark Bears on August 5, Carnegie was formally presented with the 1938 International League Most Valuable Player Award. Carnegie batted .294 with 146 hits, 25 doubles, three triples and 29 home runs in 143 games played during the 1939 season. He led the International League in home runs that season. On March 13, 1940, Carnegie signed his tenth contract with the Bisons. On the season, Carnegie batted .281 with 93 hits, 16 doubles, three triples and 15 home runs in 97 games played. In 1942, Carnegie continued playing with Buffalo and batted .257 with 38 hits, five doubles, one triple and seven home runs in 71 games played. On January 22, 1942, Carnegie was given an unconditional release from the Bisons, a move in which Buffalo general manager John Stiglmeier said "was the hardest thing I ever had to do".
as a player-manager. It was Carnegie's managerial debut. In 96 game that season, Carnegie batted .305 with 97 hits, 17 doubles, four triples and four home runs. As a team, the Falcons went 70–54, good enough for second place. The league were PONY League champions that season. In 1945, Carnegie returned to the Double-A Buffalo Bisons. The New York Times
reported that Carnegie was brought in to coach
. In 39 games that year, Carnegie batted .301 with 20 runs
, 28 hits, five doubles, one triple, four home runs and 21 runs batted in. That season would prove to be Carnegie's final season as a player, however, he did stay around the game in Buffalo as a scout
for the Bisons.
after his playing career, was hospitalized at Millard Fillmore Hospital in September 1967 for unknown reasons. On October 4, 1976, Carnegie died in Buffalo, New York at the age of 77.
, as one of the best players to ever play for the Buffalo Bisons
. Over Carnegie's professional career, he batted
.309 with 1,665 hits
, 302 doubles
, 48 triples
, 297 home runs, a .548 slugging percentage and 2954 total bases
. Carnegie only played outfield
in his career. Carnegie is the International League
all-time leader in home runs with 258 and runs batted in with 1,044. He received the International League's Most Valuable Player
Award in 1938 and is the only winner since to have never had an appearance in Major League Baseball
. Pettibones Grille, a Buffalo, New York
restaurant, serves a cheesesteak
sandwich called "The Ollie Carnegie", which is located on their "Hall of Fame Bistro" menu.
Carnegie has been enshrined in the International League Hall of Fame
, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame. He was an inaugural member of the International League Hall of Fame and the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame in 1942 and 1985 respectively. The number six Carnegie wore while he was a member of the Buffalo Bisons was retired by the team. Carnegie is the Buffalo Bisons all-time leader in home runs (285), runs batted in (1,044), games played
(1,273) and hits (1,362). He is also tied for first all-time on the Bisons in doubles (249). Carnegie led the Bisons in home runs and runs batted in seven times.
During his tenure in the Allegheny County semi-professional
baseball league, local papers described Carnegie as the "sandlot
Babe Ruth
" and nicknamed him the "Bambino". In Close Shave: The Life and Times of Baseball's Sal Maglie, author James Szalontai compared Carnegie to Ted Williams
. Carnegie never played in Major League Baseball. Carnegie did; however, spark some major league team's interest, but was eventually written off as too old since he did not start playing professional baseball
regularly until he was 32 years old. The duo of Carnegie and Bisons teammate Ollie Tucker
were known as "The Italian Connection" and "The Home Run Twins". The Pittsburgh Press described Carnegie as "one of Western Pennsylvania's
greatest batters".
, a district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. Carnegie was from Italian American
ancestry. Carnegie married Anna Plascoe of Braddock, Pennsylvania
and with her, he fathered two children; Ollie Carnegie, Jr. and Elaine Carnegie. During the off-seasons, Carnegie hunted
and fished
. Also during the off-season, Carnegie worked in a steel mill
and received the nickname the "Iron Man". During the 1941 off-season, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette interviewed Carnegie about hit winter job at Republic Steel
patrolling the plant equipped with a Colt Single Action Army
. Carnegie told the newspaper, "this is the kind of a job a player should have in the off-season—lots of walking".
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
professional baseball
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....
player whose playing career spanned 15 seasons. Over that time, Carnegie played in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
with the Class-B Flint Vehicles
Flint Vehicles
The Flint Vehicles were a professional baseball team in Flint, Michigan from 1921-1926. They were a part of the Michigan-Ontario League....
(1922) of the Michigan-Ontario League; the Class-B Hazleton Mountaineers
Hazleton Mountaineers
The Hazleton Mountaineers were one of the original six franchises in the Eastern Professional Basketball League. The Mountaineers were the league's first team to have an integrated roster, as two former members of the New York Rens, Bill Brown and Zack Clayton, joined John Isaacs on the...
(1931) of the New York – Penn League; the Double-A Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
(1931–1941, 1945) of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
; and the Class-D Lockport White Sox (1942) and the Class-D Jamestown Falcons
Jamestown Falcons
The Jamestown Falcons were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1940 to 1972. They played in the PONY League from 1940 to 1956, and in the New York-Penn League in 1957 and from 1968 to 1972. Based in Jamestown, New York, they were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers from 1941 to...
(1944) of the PONY League. In 1,539 career games played, Carnegie batted
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 :...
.309 with 1665 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....
, 302 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 48 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 297 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. Carnegie batted and threw right-handed. Carnegie also managed
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
the Class-D Jamestown Falcons in 1944. Officially a player-manager since he also played 96 games that season, Carnegie led the Falcons to a 70–54 record which was good enough for second overall in the PONY League.
In 1921, Carnegie started playing professional baseball. He later left the professional circuit to play in a semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
baseball league based in Allegheny County, where he was from. Over those years, Carnegie played for teams representing Dormont, Pennsylvania
Dormont, Pennsylvania
Dormont is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 8,593 at the 2010 census and is the most densely populated municipality in Allegheny County. Dormont is a home to a diverse population including young professionals,...
, McKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census...
, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
, Pitcairn, Pennsylvania
Pitcairn, Pennsylvania
Pitcairn is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, east of Pittsburgh. Early in the 20th century, it was the site of large railroad yards and shops that employed nearly ten thousand men. The population increased from 2,601 in 1900 to 6,310 in 1940, but has since declined...
and others. The Pittsburgh Press, who covered the league, nicknamed Carnegie the "Bambino" and described him as the "sandlot
Sandlot ball
Sandlot ball is a North American adolescent game that generally follows the basic rules of baseball. More specific rules can be set for games and may vary each time the game is played. These rules are usually agreed upon before the game begins by teams of young boys or girls usually from the same...
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
". Carnegie returned to professional baseball in 1931 after accepting a contract with the Hazleton Mountaineers, a minor league team owned by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
The Buffalo Bisons purchased Carnegie from the Hazleton Mountaineers in 1931. This would be the beginning of a tenure that would last 12 nonconsecutive seasons. Carnegie is the Bisons career record holder in hits, home runs, runs batted in and games played. He also holds the Bisons' single-season record in home runs with 42. Carnegie led the International League in home runs in 1938 and 1939. Carnegie has won multiple accolades during his career and after. In 1938, he won the Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
in the International League. Carnegie is the career International League leader in home runs (258) and runs batted in (1,044). He was also an inaugural member of the International League Hall of Fame
International League Hall of Fame
The International League Hall of Fame honors the best players, managers and executives from the International League. The hall began in 1947 and ran with yearly elections until 1963. The selections for the Hall of Fame were made by the International League Baseball Writers Association...
and the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame. Carnegie is also a Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame member, inducted in 1992. Amongst many fans and professionals, Carnegie is widely renowned as one of the best Buffalo baseball players ever.
Early life
On June 29, 1899 (or 1898), Oliver Angelo "Ollie" Carnegie was born in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
to Benjamin and Rose Carnegie, who were both from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Carnegie was offered professional contracts by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
and Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in 1920 and 1921, respectively, but declined both times. He officially started his professional baseball career in 1922 at the age of 23 with the Class-B Flint Vehicles
Flint Vehicles
The Flint Vehicles were a professional baseball team in Flint, Michigan from 1921-1926. They were a part of the Michigan-Ontario League....
of the Michigan-Ontario League. In seven games that season, Carnegie batted
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 :...
.219 with seven 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....
, one double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 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...
. In 1928, Carnegie was a member of the Dormont, Pennsylvania
Dormont, Pennsylvania
Dormont is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 8,593 at the 2010 census and is the most densely populated municipality in Allegheny County. Dormont is a home to a diverse population including young professionals,...
baseball team. The team was a member of the Allegheny County semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
baseball league. On June 5, 1927, he was batting .456 with eight doubles and one triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. Fellow teammates of the Dormont team included former Major League Baseball
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...
(MLB) players Frank Mills
Frank Mills (baseball)
Frank Le Moyne Mills was a Major League Baseball catcher who played for one season. He played for the Cleveland Naps for four games during the 1914 Cleveland Naps season.-External links:...
and Ed Barney. Later that June, Carnegie joined the McKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport, Pennsylvania
McKeesport is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in the United States; it is located at the confluence of the Monongahela and Youghiogheny rivers and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 19,731 at the 2010 census...
baseball team who were members of the same semi-pro league. The Pittsburgh Press noted that Carnegie started slow with the McKeesport team; however, he started playing better going into July. Through July 19, 1927, Carnegie led the league with nine doubles and 14 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
. He joined the Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
baseball team after they issued an SOS
SOS
SOS is the commonly used description for the international Morse code distress signal...
for an emergency outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in late-July. Carnegie finished the season second in the league in extra base hits with 24.
In 1928, Carnegie continued his tenure in the semi-professional Allegheny County league after he signed with the Beaver Falls Elks. The Elks represented Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River...
. On June 22, 1928, The Pittsburgh Press noted that Carnegie was a "home run idol" to fans. On July 5, 1928, Carnegie hit two home runs and two singles
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
in a game against the Canton, Pennsylvania
Canton, Pennsylvania
Canton is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,807 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Canton is located at ....
baseball team. In September 1928, Carnegie joined the South Hills
South Hills (Pennsylvania)
The South Hills is a term generally used to collectively describe the southern suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the neighborhoods in the City of Pittsburgh south of the South Side Slopes. The city neighborhoods include Knoxville, Mt. Oliver, Allentown, Banksville, Beechview, Brookline,...
baseball team. In March 1929, it was announced that Carnegie would join the Pitcairn, Pennsylvania
Pitcairn, Pennsylvania
Pitcairn is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, east of Pittsburgh. Early in the 20th century, it was the site of large railroad yards and shops that employed nearly ten thousand men. The population increased from 2,601 in 1900 to 6,310 in 1940, but has since declined...
baseball team. In June 1929, as a member of the Homewood
Homewood (Pittsburgh)
Homewood is a predominantly African American neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, officially divided into three neighborhoods: Homewood North, Homewood South and Homewood West....
baseball team, Carnegie hit the longest home run ever at Dormont High Field according to The Pittsburgh Press. In 1930, he continued playing with the Pitcairn Tossers of the Allegheny County league. During his time in Allegheny County's sandlot
Sandlot ball
Sandlot ball is a North American adolescent game that generally follows the basic rules of baseball. More specific rules can be set for games and may vary each time the game is played. These rules are usually agreed upon before the game begins by teams of young boys or girls usually from the same...
league, Carnegie received the nickname "Bambino" and they described him as the "sandlot 'Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
'". Also during his tenure, Carnegie was described as the "most dangerous and longest clouter in the City semi-pro baseball loop" by The Pittsburgh Press.
Carnegie was reportedly highly sought after by many MLB and minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
teams during his time in the Allegheny County league. It was said that he refused to leave the Pittsburgh area. The Pittsburgh Press said that Carnegie did play in the Middle Atlantic League
Middle Atlantic League
The Middle Atlantic League was a lower-level circuit in American minor league baseball that played during the second quarter of the 20th century.-History:...
after the Johnstown Johnnies' requested an emergency outfielder after their regular player went out with an illness. They also reported that Carnegie had a chance to stay in the Middle Atlantic League, but returned home instead.
Hazleton Mountaineers
On March 30, 1931, it was announced that the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
owned Class-B Hazleton Mountaineers
Hazleton Mountaineers
The Hazleton Mountaineers were one of the original six franchises in the Eastern Professional Basketball League. The Mountaineers were the league's first team to have an integrated roster, as two former members of the New York Rens, Bill Brown and Zack Clayton, joined John Isaacs on the...
offered Carnegie a contract. Carnegie, who turned down professional baseball contracts before, had to think about the deal before announcing his decision. Initially, Carnegie declined to join professional baseball and planned to return to the Allegheny County semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
league. Later in the season, he decided to join Hazleton. A reason later given for why Carnegie accepted the Hazleton contract was because he lost his job with Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
in the midst of the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. With the Mountaineers in 1931, he batted
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 :...
.354 with 80 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....
, 15 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and 18 home runs in 58 games played
Games 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,...
. Despite having only 226 at-bats, Carnegie's 18 home runs were the second most on the team behind Pat Wright, who had 19 home runs in twice as many at-bats. Carnegie led the New York – Penn League in slugging percentage that season with a .659 percentage total.
Buffalo Bisons
On September 8, 1931, Carnegie was sold to the Double-A Buffalo BisonsBuffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
for an undisclosed amount of money, some of which Carnegie received. Carnegie played 15 games with Buffalo that season and batted .345 with 19 hits five doubles and two triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
. During the 1931 off-season, one day after finishing his season with the Bisons, he re-joined the Allegheny County semi-professional league with the Dormont, Pennsylvania
Dormont, Pennsylvania
Dormont is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. The population was 8,593 at the 2010 census and is the most densely populated municipality in Allegheny County. Dormont is a home to a diverse population including young professionals,...
baseball team. Before the 1932 season, Carnegie re-signed with the Bisons and received an increase in pay. After signing his contract, he reported to Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
for 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...
. While the team was in spring training, The Gazette
The Gazette (Montreal)
The Gazette, often called the Montreal Gazette to avoid ambiguity, is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with three other daily English newspapers all having shut down at different times during the second half of the 20th century.-History:In 1778,...
described Carnegie as the "greatest find to appear in the camp of the Buffalo Bisons in the last decade". During the season, Bisons' manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Ray Schalk
Ray Schalk
Raymond William Schalk was a professional baseball player, coach, manager and scout. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox for the majority of his career. Known for his fine handling of pitchers and outstanding defensive ability, Schalk was considered the...
said that Carnegie would soon get a promotion to Major League Baseball
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...
and it was reported that the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
were interested in Carnegie. Also that season, Bisons' president, Frank J. Offerman, said of Carnegie that "a finer character has never donned a ball uniform". In 1932, Carnegie batted .333 with 169 hits, 31 doubles, three triples and 36 home runs in 137 games played. Carnegie was third in the International League that season in home runs and slugging percentage (.618).
In February 1933, Carnegie re-signed with the Buffalo Bisons, but he was initially "dissatisfied" with his contract. On the season, Carnegie batted .317 with 164 hits, 33 doubles, six triples and 29 home runs in 147 games played. Carnegie was third in the International League that season in home runs and fourth in slugging percentage (.573). During the 1934 season, Carnegie did not report to Buffalo until May and played with the Dormont, Pennsylvania semi-professional team in the mean time. With the Bisons that season, Carnegie batted .335 with 154 hits, 26 doubles, five triples and 31 home runs. He was third in the International League in home runs that season. After the season, Carnegie was a member of a Pittsburgh-area all-star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team that included Dizzy Dean
Dizzy Dean
Jay Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. Dean was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
and Paul Dean
Paul Dean (baseball)
Paul Dee "Daffy" Dean was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Born in Lucas, Arkansas, he pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals , the New York Giants , and the St. Louis Browns ....
who played the Pittsburgh Crawfords
Pittsburgh Crawfords
The Pittsburgh Crawfords, popularly known as the Craws, were a professional Negro league baseball team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Named after the Crawford Grill, a club in the Hill District of Pittsburgh owned by Gus Greenlee, the Crawfords were originally a youth semipro team sponsored by...
, a Negro league baseball
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams predominantly made up of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relatively successful leagues beginning in...
team.
On May 29, 1935, Carnegie drove in five runs
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
against the Toronto Maple Leafs. On the season, Carnegie batted .293 with 171 hits, 39 doubles, five triples and 37 home runs in 154 games. Amongst International League hitters in 1935, Carnegie was second in home runs and was fifth in doubles. Carnegie was sidelined for much of the 1936 season due to an ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
injury. He was replaced in the Bisons lineup
Batting order (baseball)
The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...
by Johnny Dickshot
Johnny Dickshot
John Oscar Dickshot commonly known as "Ugly" Johnny Dickshot was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1936–38, the New York Giants in 1939, and the Chicago White Sox from 1944-45. He won the nickname "Ugly" because of his self-proclaimed status as the "ugliest man in...
. Despite the injury, Carnegie did manage to play 74 games and batted .244 with 47 hits, six doubles, one triple and four home runs. In 1937, Carnegie batted .308 with 151 hits, 23 doubles, six triples and 21 home runs in 134 games played. Carnegie was tied for fifth in the league in home runs with Woody Abernathy
Woody Abernathy (outfielder)
Thomas Woodley "Woody" Abernathy was a professional baseball player whose career spanned 13 seasons in minor league baseball...
, George McQuinn
George McQuinn
George Hartley McQuinn was a left handed, Major League Baseball first baseman.-Early life:A native of Arlington, Virginia, and a graduate of Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia,-Baseball career:...
and Les Powers
Les Powers
Leslie Edwin Powers was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He played parts of two seasons in the majors, for the New York Giants and for the Philadelphia Phillies. He played in the minors from until , including a brief stint as manager of the Bakersfield Badgers in .-Sources:...
.
Before the 1938 regular season, while with the Bisons in spring training, Carnegie was straggling to meet expectations. However, during the season, The Beaver County Times
The Beaver County Times
The Beaver County Times is a daily newspaper published in Beaver, Pennsylvania, United States. The Times is a direct descendant of many of Beaver County's newspapers, starting with the Minerva, first published in 1807, and generally believed to have been the county's first newspaper...
noted that Carnegie was once again one of the premier players in the International League. On the season, Carnegie batted .330 with 182 hits, 35 doubles, three triples and 45 home runs in 142 games. Amongst all International League batters that season, Carnegie was first in home runs, runs batted in (136) and total bases (358); second in slugging percentage (.649); third in hits; and sixth in doubles. His 45 home runs were, at the time, the fourth highest home run total in the International League's history. It was asserted by The Pittsburgh Press that if Carnegie had started playing professional baseball in the mid-1920s when he was younger, he would have been "sensational". Carnegie won the 1938 International League Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
Award after the season.
On April 4, 1939, it was announced that Carnegie would re-sign with the Bisons, making it his ninth season with the team. During the 1939 season, in a game against the Newark Bears on August 5, Carnegie was formally presented with the 1938 International League Most Valuable Player Award. Carnegie batted .294 with 146 hits, 25 doubles, three triples and 29 home runs in 143 games played during the 1939 season. He led the International League in home runs that season. On March 13, 1940, Carnegie signed his tenth contract with the Bisons. On the season, Carnegie batted .281 with 93 hits, 16 doubles, three triples and 15 home runs in 97 games played. In 1942, Carnegie continued playing with Buffalo and batted .257 with 38 hits, five doubles, one triple and seven home runs in 71 games played. On January 22, 1942, Carnegie was given an unconditional release from the Bisons, a move in which Buffalo general manager John Stiglmeier said "was the hardest thing I ever had to do".
Later career
On March 23, 1942, Carnegie signed with the Class-D Lockport White Sox of the PONY League. The 43 year old Carnegie batted .310 with 119 hits, 20 doubles, five triples and 16 home runs in 105 games played that season. He was sixth in the league in home runs that season. After an absence from professional baseball in 1943, Carnegie returned in 1944 with the Class-D Jamestown FalconsJamestown Falcons
The Jamestown Falcons were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off from 1940 to 1972. They played in the PONY League from 1940 to 1956, and in the New York-Penn League in 1957 and from 1968 to 1972. Based in Jamestown, New York, they were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers from 1941 to...
as a player-manager. It was Carnegie's managerial debut. In 96 game that season, Carnegie batted .305 with 97 hits, 17 doubles, four triples and four home runs. As a team, the Falcons went 70–54, good enough for second place. The league were PONY League champions that season. In 1945, Carnegie returned to the Double-A Buffalo Bisons. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reported that Carnegie was brought in to coach
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...
. In 39 games that year, Carnegie batted .301 with 20 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 28 hits, five doubles, one triple, four home runs and 21 runs batted in. That season would prove to be Carnegie's final season as a player, however, he did stay around the game in Buffalo as a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for the Bisons.
Later life
Carnegie, who resided in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
after his playing career, was hospitalized at Millard Fillmore Hospital in September 1967 for unknown reasons. On October 4, 1976, Carnegie died in Buffalo, New York at the age of 77.
Legacy
Carnegie has been noted by many, including the Artvoice and the Society for American Baseball ResearchSociety for American Baseball Research
The Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
, as one of the best players to ever play for the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
. Over Carnegie's professional career, he batted
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 :...
.309 with 1,665 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....
, 302 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 48 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 297 home runs, a .548 slugging percentage and 2954 total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
. Carnegie only played outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
in his career. Carnegie is the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
all-time leader in home runs with 258 and runs batted in with 1,044. He received the International League's Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
Award in 1938 and is the only winner since to have never had an appearance in Major League Baseball
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...
. Pettibones Grille, a Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
restaurant, serves a cheesesteak
Cheesesteak
A cheesesteak, also known as a Philadelphia cheesesteak, Philly cheesesteak, cheese steak, or steak and cheese, is a sandwich made from thinly-sliced pieces of steak and melted cheese in a long roll...
sandwich called "The Ollie Carnegie", which is located on their "Hall of Fame Bistro" menu.
Carnegie has been enshrined in the International League Hall of Fame
International League Hall of Fame
The International League Hall of Fame honors the best players, managers and executives from the International League. The hall began in 1947 and ran with yearly elections until 1963. The selections for the Hall of Fame were made by the International League Baseball Writers Association...
, the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame and the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame. He was an inaugural member of the International League Hall of Fame and the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame in 1942 and 1985 respectively. The number six Carnegie wore while he was a member of the Buffalo Bisons was retired by the team. Carnegie is the Buffalo Bisons all-time leader in home runs (285), runs batted in (1,044), games played
Games 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,...
(1,273) and hits (1,362). He is also tied for first all-time on the Bisons in doubles (249). Carnegie led the Bisons in home runs and runs batted in seven times.
During his tenure in the Allegheny County semi-professional
Semi-professional
A semi-professional athlete is one who is paid to play and thus is not an amateur, but for whom sport is not a full-time occupation, generally because the level of pay is too low to make a reasonable living based solely upon that source, thus making the athlete not a full professional...
baseball league, local papers described Carnegie as the "sandlot
Sandlot ball
Sandlot ball is a North American adolescent game that generally follows the basic rules of baseball. More specific rules can be set for games and may vary each time the game is played. These rules are usually agreed upon before the game begins by teams of young boys or girls usually from the same...
Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
" and nicknamed him the "Bambino". In Close Shave: The Life and Times of Baseball's Sal Maglie, author James Szalontai compared Carnegie to Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
. Carnegie never played in Major League Baseball. Carnegie did; however, spark some major league team's interest, but was eventually written off as too old since he did not start playing professional baseball
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....
regularly until he was 32 years old. The duo of Carnegie and Bisons teammate Ollie Tucker
Ollie Tucker
Oliver Dinwiddie Tucker was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for two seasons. He played for the Washington Senators for 20 games in 1927 and the Cleveland Indians for 14 games in 1928.-External links:...
were known as "The Italian Connection" and "The Home Run Twins". The Pittsburgh Press described Carnegie as "one of Western Pennsylvania's
Western Pennsylvania
Western Pennsylvania consists of the western third of the state of Pennsylvania in the United States. Pittsburgh is the largest city in the region, with a metropolitan area population of about 2.4 million people, and serves as its economic and cultural center. Erie, Altoona, and Johnstown are its...
greatest batters".
Accomplishments and awards
- International League and Buffalo Bisons all-time leader in home runs (258)
- International League and Buffalo Bisons all-time leader in runs batted in (1,044)
- Buffalo Bisons all-time leader in doubles (249)
- Buffalo Bisons all-time leader in games played (1,273)
- Buffalo Bisons all-time leader in hits (1,362)
- Buffalo Bisons single-season leader in home runs (45)
- 1931 New York – Penn League leader in slugging percentage (.659)
- Member of the 1933 Governors' CupGovernors' CupThe Governors' Cup is the trophy awarded each year to the champion of the International League, one of the two current Triple-A level minor leagues of Major League Baseball.-Governors' Cup history:...
champion Buffalo Bisons
- Member of the 1936 International League Pennant winning Buffalo Bisons
- 1938 International League leader in home runs (45)
- 1939 International League leader in runs batted in (136)
- 1938 International League Most Valuable Player
- 1939 International League leader in home runs (29)
- 1942 International League Hall of Fame inductee
- 1985 Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame inductee
- 1992 Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame inductee
- Buffalo Bisons #6 retired
Personal
Carnegie resided in HaysHays (Pittsburgh)
Hays is a neighborhood in the 31st Ward of southeastern Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is represented on by the representative of . It occupies ZIP codes 15227, 15207, and 15236. It is named after James H...
, a district in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Carnegie was from Italian American
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
ancestry. Carnegie married Anna Plascoe of Braddock, Pennsylvania
Braddock, Pennsylvania
Braddock is a borough located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, 10 miles upstream from the mouth of the Monongahela River. The population was 2,159 at the 2010 census...
and with her, he fathered two children; Ollie Carnegie, Jr. and Elaine Carnegie. During the off-seasons, Carnegie hunted
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
and fished
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. Also during the off-season, Carnegie worked in a steel mill
Steel mill
A steel mill or steelworks is an industrial plant for the manufacture of steel.Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is produced in a two-stage process. First, iron ore is reduced or smelted with coke and limestone in a blast furnace, producing molten iron which is either cast into pig iron or...
and received the nickname the "Iron Man". During the 1941 off-season, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette interviewed Carnegie about hit winter job at Republic Steel
Republic Steel
Republic Steel was once the third largest steel producer in the United States.The Republic Iron and Steel Company was founded in Youngstown, Ohio in 1899....
patrolling the plant equipped with a Colt Single Action Army
Colt Single Action Army
The Colt Single Action Army is a single action revolver with a revolving cylinder holding six metallic cartridges. It was designed for the U.S...
. Carnegie told the newspaper, "this is the kind of a job a player should have in the off-season—lots of walking".