Phil Masi

Philip Samuel Masi (January 6, 1916 – March 29, 1990) was an American professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1939 through 1952, most prominently for the Boston Braves. He was a four-time All-Star and a regular on the 1948 Braves club that won the National League pennant. He also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox. Regarded as one of the better defensive catchers of his era, Masi was involved in a disputed play in Game 1 of the 1948 World Series against the Cleveland Indians: on a pickoff attempt, Indians shortstop Lou Boudreau appeared to tag him at second base, but umpire Bill Stewart called him safe; Tommy Holmes then singled Masi home for the only run in a 1–0 Boston win. Masi was also the Braves catcher in Jackie Robinson's first major league at-bat in 1947. His career spanned the prewar, wartime, and early postwar National League before he finished in the American League. He died in 1990 at age 74.