Arnovich, Morrie "Snooker"

Morris Arnovich

The classic "Spring Hitter," Arnovich generally tore up the league early in the season and then faded through the summer; but he was a good enough hitter to compile a .287 lifetime average over his seven-year career. He hit .300 twice -- in his rookie year of 1936, he hit .313 in 13 games; and in 1939, he batted a rousing .324 and was an All-Star. He was also a member of the 1940 world champion Cincinnati Reds.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. November 16, 1910 - d. July 20, 1959

Career Highlights:
Born to Orthodox parents, Arnovich (who kept kosher his entire life) was a basketball star at Superior State Teachers College and was a two-time member of the All-Wisconsin basketball team. Morris was also excellent at pocket billiards, which earned him the nickname, "Snooker."

In 1933, Arnovich began playing professional baseball and after three years in the minors, he made his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1936. A stocky line drive hitter, Arnovich hit .290 in 1937 and .275 in 1938. He then had an outstanding 1939 season, and was an All-Star as he led the league through June, hitting over .400 to that point. He finished the season with a .324 average (fifth in the NL) and a .398 on-base percentage (sixth).

During the 1940 season, the Phillies traded him to the Cincinnati Reds, for whom he appeared in one game in the World Series that year, as the Reds defeated Hank Greenberg and the Detroit Tigers, 4-3. He played with the New York Giants in 1941, but then joined the U.S. Army during World War II. In 1946, he returned to the Giants for a one-game appearance, but then retired.

After his retirement, Arnovich returned to Superior, Wisconsin, where he coached basketball at a local high school. Morrie also ran a jewelry store and a sporting goods store until his death in 1959.

Career Dates:
Arnovich played for the Philadelphia Phillies, 1936-1940, the Cincinnati Reds, 1940, and the New York Giants, 1941 and 1946.

Position:
Outfield.

Physical description:
5'10", 168 pounds
Right-handed

Career Statistics:
Games: 590
Batting Avg.: .287
Slugging Avg.: .383

At-bats: 2013
Hits: 577
Doubles: 104
Triples: 12

Home Runs: 22
Home Run %: 1.1
Runs: 234
RBI: 261

BB: 185
Strike Outs: 139
Stolen Bases: 17

Pinch Hitting
At-bats: 41
Hits: 9

Fielding Statistics
Put-outs: 1260
Assists: 52
Errors: 25
Double-plays: 5

Total Chances per Game: 2.5
Fielding Avg: .981

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