{{short description|American baseball player (1922-2015)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=George Genovese |image=George Genovese 1951.jpg |width=250px |caption=Genovese, circa 1951 |position=Pinch hitter |bats=Left |throws=Right |birth_date={{Birth date|1922|2|22}} |birth_place=Staten Island, New York, U.S. |death_date={{Death date and age|2015|11|15|1922|2|22}} |death_place=Burbank, California, U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=April 29 |debutyear=1950 |debutteam=Washington Senators |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=May 6 |finalyear=1950 |finalteam=Washington Senators |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Batting average |stat1value=.000 |stat2label=Home runs |stat2value=0 |stat3label=Runs batted in |stat3value=0 |teams= *Washington Senators ({{baseball year|1950}}) }} '''George Genovese''' (February 22, 1922 – November 15, 2015) was an American Washington Senators baseball player who played for the team in 1950. He also played in the minor leagues for 15 seasons and managed at that level for over a decade.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.silive.com/sports/advance/gordon/index.ssf/2015/11/island_sports_hall_of_famer_an.html |title=Staten Island sports Hall of Famer and legendary baseball scout George Genovese dead at 93 |last=Gordon |first=Cormac |date=November 16, 2015 |publisher=silive.com |accessdate=November 16, 2015}}</ref> He was born in Staten Island, New York.
==Playing career== Genovese began his major league career on April 29, 1950, appearing as a pinch hitter for pitcher Ray Scarborough. He would walk against New York Yankees' pitcher Allie Reynolds in his first career plate appearance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WS1/WS1195004290.shtml|title=Apr 29, 1950, Yankees at Senators Box Score and Play by Play|website=baseball-reference.com|publisher=sports-reference.com|date=April 29, 1950|accessdate=November 16, 2015}}</ref> In his next game, May 5, Genovese pinch hit for pitcher Mickey Harris and grounded out.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WS1/WS1195005050.shtml|title=May 5, 1950, Tigers at Senators Box Score and Play by Play|website=baseball-reference.com|publisher=sports-reference.com|date=May 5, 1950|accessdate=November 16, 2015}}</ref> He pinch ran for catcher Al Evans in his third and final game (May 6), scoring a run when Eddie Yost doubled him home two batters later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/WS1/WS1195005060.shtml|title=May 6, 1950, Tigers at Senators Box Score and Play by Play|website=baseball-reference.com|publisher=sports-reference.com|date=May 6, 1950|accessdate=November 16, 2015}}</ref>
He played considerably longer in the minor leagues, beginning his career in 1940 and ending it in 1957, at the age of 35. He did not play from 1943 to 1945, as minor league baseball was interrupted due to World War II, a war in which he served. A shortstop in the minors, Genovese played in at least 1,387 games, collecting at least 1,162 hits (of which at least 241 were for extra bases). His minor league record is incomplete, though it is known he spent the final three seasons of his playing career with the Mexico City Tigers of the Mexican League. His brothers, Frank and Tony Genovese, also played in the minor leagues.
==Professional career== Genovese managed the Batavia Clippers (1952), St. Jean Canadians (1953), Hutchinson Elks (1954), Salinas Packers (1954), Tigres del México (1955–1958), Artesia Giants (1960) and El Paso Sun Kings (1961–1963). He led the Tigres to a league championship victory in 1955. In 1957 he led them to the league finals, which they lost. In 1962 and 1963 he led the Sun Kings to the Texas League playoffs, which they lost in the first round.
He was later a scout for the San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Florida Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers.<ref name=cube>{{cite web|title=George Genovese: Profile and Statistics |url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=George-Genovese |website=baseballcube.com |accessdate=November 16, 2015 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033331/http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=George-Genovese |archivedate=November 17, 2015 }}</ref> Covering Southern California for the Giants from 1964 through 1995, he played a major role in the signing of about 40 players who eventually made the major leagues, including Jim Barr, Bobby Bonds, Jack Clark, Chili Davis, Rob Deer, George Foster, Eric King, Dave Kingman, Garry Maddox, Gary Matthews, Randy Moffitt, Matt Nokes, Matt Williams. He also signed future CBS Sportscaster Rich Perez in 86.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120210&content_id=26640732&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf|first1=Chris|last1=Haft|title=Ex-scout George Genovese important to many San Francisco Giants greats|work=San Francisco Giants|date=February 13, 2012|accessdate=November 16, 2015|archive-date=August 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813094256/http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120210&content_id=26640732&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
George's brother, Frank "Chick" Genovese, was also a successful scout, having signed Juan Marichal and the three Alou brothers; Matty, Felipe, and Jesús.
==Death and legacy== Genovese died on November 15, 2015, aged 93. He was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).<ref>[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=genovge01 George Genovese]</ref>
Major League Baseball (MLB) annually conducts the George Genovese Lifetime Achievement Awards.
Genovese was inducted into the Staten Island Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
==See also== {{Portal|Baseball}} *{{section link|List of people from Staten Island|Baseball}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Baseballstats|mlb=114695|espn=|br=g/genovge01|fangraphs=|brm=genove001geo}}
{{Tigres de Quintana Roo managers}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Genovese, George}} Category:2015 deaths Category:1922 births Category:Washington Senators (1901–1960) players Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:Mexican Baseball League managers Category:Minor league baseball managers Category:Major League Baseball scouts Category:San Francisco Giants scouts Category:Miami Marlins scouts Category:Los Angeles Dodgers scouts Category:St. Louis Cardinals scouts Category:Baseball players from Staten Island Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)