{{Short description|American baseball player (1916–1990)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Phil Masi |image=Phil Masi.jpg |position=Catcher |bats=Right |throws=Right |birth_date={{birth date|1916|1|6}} |birth_place=Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |death_date={{death date and age|1990|3|29|1916|1|6}} |death_place=Mount Prospect, Illinois, U.S. |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=April 23 |debutyear=1939 |debutteam=Boston Braves |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=August 17 |finalyear=1952 |finalteam=Chicago White Sox |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Batting average |stat1value=.264 |stat2label=Home runs |stat2value=47 |stat3label=Runs batted in |stat3value=417 |teams= * Boston Braves ({{Baseball year|1939}}–{{Baseball year|1949}}) * Pittsburgh Pirates ({{baseball year|1949}}) * Chicago White Sox ({{Baseball year|1950}}–{{Baseball year|1952}}) |highlights= * 4× All-Star (1945–1948) }} '''Philip Samuel Masi''' (January 6, 1916{{spaced ndash}}March 29, 1990) was an American professional baseball player.<ref name="Phil Masi statistics">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/masiph01.shtml?redir |title=Phil Masi statistics |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1939 to 1952, most prominently for the Boston Braves where he was a four-time All-Star player and was an integral member of the {{mlby|1948}} National League pennant-winning team.

Although Masi was considered one of the best defensive catchers of his era, he was also notable for his involvement in a controversial play that occurred during the 1948 World Series between the Boston Braves and the Cleveland Indians.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi">{{cite web|url=http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=1452&pid=8926|title=The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi|last=McMurray|first=John|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|accessdate=7 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="Major League Baseball in the 1940s">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZjQDAAAAMBAJ&q=phil+masi+baseball+digest&pg=PA50 |title=Major League Baseball in the 1940s |author=Ahrens, Art |date=February 1978 |work=Baseball Digest |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> He also played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Chicago White Sox.<ref name="Phil Masi statistics"/>

==Playing career==

===Early career=== Born in Chicago, Masi attended Austin High School, then began his professional baseball career when he was contracted in {{Baseball year|1936}} by the Cleveland Indians at the age of 20.<ref name="Phil Masi Trades and Transactions">{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=masiph01 |title=Phil Masi Trades and Transactions |publisher=Baseball Almanac |accessdate=9 March 2011 }}</ref> In {{Baseball year|1937}}, he played for the Wausau Timberjacks and demonstrated his versatility by playing as a catcher, outfielder, third baseman and as a first baseman.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/> Masi became known as the Pepper Martin of the Northern League because of his head-first slides and prancing running style, while leading the league with 31 home runs and being named to the league's All-Star team.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Brewers Land a Pepper Martin Of Northern Loop |work=The Milwaukee Journal |page=3 |date=11 August 1937 |accessdate=12 March 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=66lQAAAAIBAJ&pg=4529,372974&dq=phil+masi&hl=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=13128 |title=1937 Northern League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref>

Masi was then purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers who assigned him to play for the Springfield Indians of the Middle Atlantic League.<ref name="Phil Masi minor league statistics">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=masi--001phi |title=Phil Masi minor league statistics |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis found this move to be in violation of baseball rules and allowed him to sign a non-reserve contract with Springfield, meaning that he would be a free agent at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=One Base Hits |work=The Milwaukee Journal |page=3 |date=15 May 1938 |accessdate=12 March 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NrNQAAAAIBAJ&pg=3096,4693896&dq=phil+masi&hl=en}}</ref> He played mostly as a catcher for Springfield in {{Baseball year|1938}} where his backup that year was the future All-Star catcher for the Cleveland Indians, seventeen-year-old Jim Hegan.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=33535 |title=1938 Springfield Indians |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> Masi posted a .308 batting average with 16 home runs and 97 runs batted in for Springfield, earning a promotion to the major leagues when he was signed by the Boston Braves, then known as the Bees.<ref name="Phil Masi minor league statistics"/>

The Bees already had future Hall of Fame member, Al López, as well as future All-Star, Ray Mueller and veteran Johnny Riddle as catchers going into spring training in 1939 however, Masi impressed Bees' manager Casey Stengel so much that, Mueller and Riddle would be traded before the start of the season, leaving Masi as Lopez's backup.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Stengel Likes Rookie Catcher |agency=Associated Press |work=St. Petersburg Times |page=18 |date=9 March 1939 |accessdate=12 March 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lBRPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3949,1652880&dq=phil+masi&hl=en}}</ref> He made his major league debut with the Bees on April 23, 1939 at the age of 23.<ref name="Phil Masi statistics"/> After his father died in 1942, he was given a 3-A draft classification exempting him from military duty as he was the sole support for his family.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Phil Masi Signs Braves' Contract |agency=Associated Press |work=Meriden Record |page=3 |date=19 March 1943 |accessdate=13 March 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oX1HAAAAIBAJ&pg=4171,1516687&dq=phil+masi&hl=en}}</ref>

Masi served as the Braves' backup catcher first to Al López, then Ray Berres, and finally to Ernie Lombardi.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/> He began to develop his reputation as a good defensive catcher from his association with knuckleball pitcher Jim Tobin.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/> The other Braves catchers shunned Tobin due to the unpredictability of the notoriously difficult to catch knuckleball and, Masi took over the job as his catcher.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aS4DAAAAMBAJ&q=phil+masi+baseball+digest&pg=PA34 |title=Is Knuckler Losing Its Effectiveness? |author=Meany, Tom |date=January 1954 |work=Baseball Digest |accessdate=14 March 2011 }}</ref> When Lombardi was traded to the New York Giants in 1943, Masi became the Braves regular catcher.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/> His work with Tobin paid off on April 27, 1944 when Tobin pitched a no hitter against the Brooklyn Dodgers.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1944/B04270BSN1944.htm |title=April 27, 1944 Dodgers-Braves box score |publisher=retrosheet.org |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref>

===All-Star=== Masi's batting continued to improve in 1945 when he was hitting at a .335 pace in July to earn a place as a reserve catcher for the National League team in the 1945 All-Star Game however, the game was cancelled due to wartime travel restrictions.<ref>{{cite news |title=The 1945 All-Stars |work=The Evening Independent |page=10 |date=11 July 1945 |accessdate=13 March 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ecwLAAAAIBAJ&dq=1945%20national%20league%20all-star%20team&pg=5342%2C1761002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/asgbox/yr1945as.shtml |title=1945 All-Star Game |publisher=Baseball Almanac |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> Masi finished the season with a .272 batting average along with 25 doubles, 7 home runs and 46 runs batted in.<ref name="Phil Masi statistics"/> He also led National League catchers in assists and was second in putouts and in baserunners caught stealing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1945-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1945 National League Fielding Leaders |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref>

Masi was hitting for a .300 average in late June 1946, earning him a place as a reserve player for the National League in the 1946 All-Star Game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=masiph01&t=b&year=1946 |title=1946 Phil Masi batting log |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS194607090.shtml |title=1946 All-Star Game |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> He ended the season with a .267 average, 3 home runs, a career-high 62 runs batted in and, led the league's catchers in putouts.<ref name="Phil Masi statistics"/> In {{Baseball year|1946}}, pitchers Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain returned to the Braves from their military service and, their success further enhanced Masi's reputation for handling pitching staffs.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/> Sain won 20 games in 1946 and led the league with 24 complete games as the Braves improved to a fourth-place finish in the National League standings.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1946-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1946 National League Pitching Leaders |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=14 March 2011 }}</ref>

Masi had his most productive season in 1947, earning his third selection as a reserve for the National League in the 1947 All-Star Game and ending the year ranked tenth in the league in hitting with a career-high .304 batting average.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS194707080.shtml |title=1947 All-Star Game |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1947-batting-leaders.shtml |title=1947 National League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> He also posted career-highs in home runs (9) and in on-base percentage (.377) and continued to build upon his excellent defensive reputation by leading National League catchers with a .989 fielding percentage.<ref name="Phil Masi statistics"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1947-fielding-leaders.shtml |title=1947 National League Fielding Leaders |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> Masi guided the Braves' pitching staff to a league-leading 14 shutouts and the second-best team earned run average in the league, as both Spahn and Sain won 21 games each.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1947.shtml#teams_standard_pitching::none |title=1947 National League pitching statistics |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BSN/1947.shtml#team_pitching::none |title=1947 Boston Braves pitching statistics |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> The Braves continued to improve, finishing the {{Baseball year|1947}} season in third place behind the Dodgers and Cardinals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1947.shtml |title=1947 National League Team Statistics and Standings |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=22 October 2011 }}</ref>

Although Masi's offensive output began to decline in 1948, he earned his fourth consecutive All-Star selection due to his excellent defensive abilities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS194807130.shtml |title=1948 All-Star Game |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> His pitch-calling skills helped the Braves' pitching staff lead the league in earned run average as the team clinched the {{Baseball year|1948}} National League pennant by six and a half games over the St. Louis Cardinals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1948.shtml#teams_standard_pitching::7 |title=1948 National League pitching statistics |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1948.shtml |title=1948 National League final standings |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> He also contributed a .253 batting average with 19 doubles, 5 home runs and 44 runs batted in.<ref name="Phil Masi statistics"/>

===1948 World Series controversy=== It was in the first game of the 1948 World Series held at Braves Field against the favored Cleveland Indians that Masi would become embroiled in a controversy that secured his place in baseball history.<ref name="Major League Baseball in the 1940s"/><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eTMDAAAAMBAJ&q=phil+masi+baseball+digest&pg=PA22 |title=Memorable World Series Controversies |author=Vass, George |date=October 1972 |work=Baseball Digest |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> The Braves' Johnny Sain and Indians' Bob Feller were engaged in a scoreless pitchers' duel when the Braves came to bat in the bottom of the eighth inning. Feller walked Braves catcher Bill Salkeld to open the inning. Braves manager Billy Southworth then substituted the slow-footed Salkeld with Masi, who entered the game as a pinch runner. Mike McCormick followed with a sacrifice bunt, advancing Masi to second base. Feller issued an intentional walk to Eddie Stanky, who was replaced by Sibby Sisti. Feller then made a pick off attempt of Masi at second base. Indians' shortstop Lou Boudreau appeared to tag Masi out, but umpire Bill Stewart called him safe.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/> Tommy Holmes followed with a single that scored Masi with the only run of the game, giving the Braves a 1-0 victory.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN194810060.shtml |title=1948 World Series Game 1 box score |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> The umpire's controversial ruling touched off heated debates among the media and fans, especially after Associated Press photographs of the play were published.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ozIDAAAAMBAJ&q=phil+masi+baseball+digest&pg=PA84 |title=Pickoff Play Caused A Storm in 1948 Series |author=Lebovitz, Hal |date=October 1971 |work=Baseball Digest |accessdate=14 March 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Putout Dispute Still Rages; Was Masi Safe Or Not? |agency=Associated Press |work=Prescott Evening Courier |page=5 |date=7 October 1948 |accessdate=13 March 2011 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zgALAAAAIBAJ&pg=6286,1656034&dq=phil+masi&hl=en}}</ref> Although the victory gave the Braves a 1-0 lead, the Indians won the World Series in six games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1948_WS.shtml |title=1948 World Series |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref>

===Later career=== Masi's offensive production continued to decline and, with young prospect Del Crandall ready to play, the Braves traded Masi to the Pittsburgh Pirates in June 1949.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/><ref name="Phil Masi Trades and Transactions"/> After only a half-season with Pittsburgh, he was traded to his hometown Chicago White Sox in 1950.<ref name="Phil Masi Trades and Transactions"/> He earned the starting catchers job with the White Sox and helped them become a respectable team with his handling of the pitching staff.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/> The team's earned run average ranked sixth in the league prior to Masi's arrival. With Masi handling the pitching staff, the team's earned run average improved to fourth best in 1950.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1950.shtml |title=1950 American League Team Statistics and Standings |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> He had a .279 batting average in 1950 and led all American League catchers with a .996 fielding percentage, committing only two errors in 114 games.<ref name="Phil Masi statistics"/> In 1951, Masi's experience was again evident as he helped the White Sox pitching staff improve their earned run average to second best in the American League behind the Cleveland Indians.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1951.shtml |title=1951 American League Team Statistics and Standings |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=12 March 2011 }}</ref> He hit for a .271 batting average in 1951 at the age of 35.<ref name="Phil Masi statistics"/> When the White Sox acquired a younger Sherm Lollar in 1952, Masi returned to backup duties before being released at the end of the season.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/>

Masi returned to the minor leagues in {{Baseball year|1953}} where he helped the Dallas Eagles win the Texas League championship before going on to win the 1953 Dixie Series.<ref name="Major League Baseball in the 1940s"/><ref name="Phil Masi minor league statistics"/> He retired as a player at the end of the 1953 season at the age of 37.<ref name="Phil Masi minor league statistics"/>

==Career statistics== In a fourteen-year major league career, Masi played in 1,229 games, accumulating 917 hits in 3,468 at bats for a .264 career batting average along with 47 home runs, 417 runs batted in and a .344 on-base percentage.<ref name="Phil Masi statistics"/> Over his career, he committed only 72 errors in 4,257 chances for a career .983 fielding percentage.<ref name="Phil Masi statistics"/> A four-time All-Star, he led National League catchers in fielding percentage twice and, American League catchers once. A fast running catcher, he collected 45 stolen bases in his career and was often used in pinch-running duties.

Masi died on March 29, {{Baseball year|1990}} in Mount Prospect, Illinois, at the age of 74. Upon his death, his will revealed that he really was out on the pick-off play in the 1948 World Series.<ref name="The Baseball Biography Project: Phil Masi"/>

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== {{Baseballstats | br=m/masiph01 |fangraphs=1008212}} *[http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=1452&pid=8926 Phil Masi at The Baseball Biography Project] *{{Find a Grave}} *[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZjQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50 ''Major League Baseball in the 1940s'', by Art Ahrens, Baseball Digest, February 1978]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Masi, Phil}} Category:1916 births Category:1990 deaths Category:Baseball players from Chicago Category:Major League Baseball catchers Category:Boston Braves players Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players Category:Chicago White Sox players Category:National League All-Stars Category:Wausau Timberjacks players Category:Eau Claire Bears players Category:Springfield Indians (baseball) players Category:Dallas Eagles players Category:Major League Baseball controversies Category:American people of Italian descent Category:Austin Community Academy High School alumni Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:Burials at All Saints Cemetery (Des Plaines, Illinois)