Solly Hemus

Solomon Joseph Hemus (1923–2017) was a right-handed-throwing, left-handed-hitting infielder who spent an 11-year MLB career (1949–1959) with the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies. A Phoenix native raised in San Diego, Hemus served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before entering the Cardinals' farm system in 1946. Standing 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds, he played primarily shortstop while also logging substantial time at second base. He compiled a .273 lifetime average across 961 games with 736 hits, 51 home runs, and 263 RBI, and led National League batters in hit-by-pitch three times. Hemus later served as a player-manager, a dual role held by few in big-league history.