Sibby Sisti
Encyclopedia
Sebastian Daniel "Sibby" Sisti (July 26, 1920, Buffalo, New York
—April 24, 2006, Buffalo), was an American
Major League Baseball
utility player
.
Known for his versatility, Sisti played every position except pitcher and catcher during his big league career. He made his major league debut with the Boston Bees on July 21, 1939 and remained with the club (later known as the Braves) until World War II
. He served in the United States Coast Guard
from 1943-1945. After returning from the war, the Braves had no place for him in their lineup, and he spent most of 1946 with the Indianapolis Indians
of the American Association
. He hit .343 for the club and was named Minor League Player of the Year by The Sporting News
.
The following year he returned to the Braves. In 1948, he played a key role in the club's run to the World Series
, filling in for injured second baseman
Eddie Stanky
for part of the season. He remained with the team when they became the Milwaukee Braves in 1953 and retired in 1954 to join their coaching staff.
for the expansion Seattle Pilots
in 1969.
The last page of The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book
(by Brendan C. Boyd & Fred C. Harris, Little Brown & Co, 1973) had a card of Sisti in his Braves uniform, catching a ball, with the authors' caption, "Goodnight, Sibby Sisti, wherever you are."
Sisti answered that implied question by appearing in a small role in the 1984 film The Natural
(which was filmed in Buffalo), portraying the Pittsburgh manager. He was also a consultant on the film, ensuring it captured the feel of 1930s baseball.
Sisti died at the age of 85 in Amherst, New York
. He was interred at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cheektowaga, New York.
He was a first cousin of Dan Carnevale
, a minor league manager. Carnevale made the majors in 1970 with the Kansas City Royals
(first base coach).
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...
—April 24, 2006, Buffalo), was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
.
Playing career
Sisti stood 5' 11" (180 cm) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg). His perseverance in the face of numerous injuries made him a fan favorite.Known for his versatility, Sisti played every position except pitcher and catcher during his big league career. He made his major league debut with the Boston Bees on July 21, 1939 and remained with the club (later known as the Braves) until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He served in the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
from 1943-1945. After returning from the war, the Braves had no place for him in their lineup, and he spent most of 1946 with the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
of 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...
. He hit .343 for the club and was named Minor League Player of the Year by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
.
The following year he returned to the Braves. In 1948, he played a key role in the club's run to the World Series
1948 World Series
The 1948 World Series matched the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Braves. The Braves had won the National League pennant for the first time since the "Miracle Braves" team of . The Indians spoiled a chance for the only all-Boston World Series by winning a one-game playoff against the Boston...
, filling in for injured second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Eddie Stanky
Eddie Stanky
Edward Raymond Stanky , nicknamed "The Brat", was an American second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago Cubs , Brooklyn Dodgers , Boston Braves , New York Giants , and St. Louis Cardinals...
for part of the season. He remained with the team when they became the Milwaukee Braves in 1953 and retired in 1954 to join their coaching staff.
After retirement
After leaving the Braves, he coached and managed in the minors for many years and was a coachCoach (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...
for the expansion Seattle Pilots
Seattle Pilots
The Seattle Pilots were an American professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington for one season, . The Pilots played home games at Sick's Stadium and were a member of the West Division of Major League Baseball's American League...
in 1969.
The last page of The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book
The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book
The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book is a book written by Brendon C. Boyd & Fred C. Harris about baseball cards, primarily ones issued during the 1950s and 1960s, and the players on the cards....
(by Brendan C. Boyd & Fred C. Harris, Little Brown & Co, 1973) had a card of Sisti in his Braves uniform, catching a ball, with the authors' caption, "Goodnight, Sibby Sisti, wherever you are."
Sisti answered that implied question by appearing in a small role in the 1984 film The Natural
The Natural
The Natural is a 1952 novel about baseball written by Bernard Malamud. The book follows Roy Hobbs, a baseball prodigy whose career is sidetracked when he is shot by a woman who seeks to kill arrogant athletes to "better the world"...
(which was filmed in Buffalo), portraying the Pittsburgh manager. He was also a consultant on the film, ensuring it captured the feel of 1930s baseball.
Sisti died at the age of 85 in Amherst, New York
Amherst, New York
Amherst is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 122,366. This represents an increase of 5.0% from the 2000 census. The town is named for Jeffrey Amherst, a British Army officer of the colonial period...
. He was interred at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cheektowaga, New York.
He was a first cousin of Dan Carnevale
Dan Carnevale
Daniel Joseph Carnevale was an American professional baseball shortstop, second baseman, manager, coach and scout...
, a minor league manager. Carnevale made the majors in 1970 with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
(first base coach).
External links
- Sibby Sisti Article
- His biography at the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame
- BaseballLibrary.com
- Baseball-Almanac.com
- Sibby Sisti at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- TheDeadBallEra.com - obituary by Brad Bisbing
- Retrosheet.org