Gus Niarhos

Gus Niarhos was a catcher who played in the major leagues from 1946 to 1955. He played for the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies over nine seasons, appearing in 315 games. He was a contact-oriented hitter with little power, batting .252 with 1 home run and 59 runs batted in, and he was a reliable defender with a .988 fielding percentage. In 1948 he led the Yankees with a .404 on-base percentage, and in 1950 he batted .324 in limited duty with the White Sox. He was a member of the Yankees' 1949 World Series-winning team, appearing in one game as a late-inning defensive replacement. After his playing days he coached for the Kansas City Athletics in the early 1960s and managed in the minor leagues, working with young players including Reggie Jackson, Rollie Fingers, and Catfish Hunter.