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Today, Bill Schaefer sends us the fourth chapter of our ongoing series on baseball “goats.” No one in World Series history suffered more – and more unjustly – than Ernie Lombardi. It affected him for the rest of his life, proving our contention that “gaffes” in the World Series can often become greatly magnified. I think you’ll enjoy reading what Bill has to say about it. -GL

Baseball “Goats” Part Four:

TRAGIC STORY OF BASEBALL’S UNFORTUNATE HALL-OF-FAMER,

ERNIE LOMBARDI

“Next to Ernie molasses is a blur”–Anonymous teammate

“Lombardi was so slow he ran like he was carrying a piano—and the tuner”-Anonymous teammate

Although Ernesto Natali Lombardi would probably have lost a race to a snail, he pulverized baseballs, winding up with a .306 career batting average spanning 17 years, with an overlapping golf club batting grip.  Pretty good, since he seldom beat out an infield hit. I was intrigued by him as a kid because my dad told me he

once saw Lombardi thrown out from short left field on an apparent line-drive single. This is why I’m adding my two cents about the big backstop, following webmaster Gary Livacari’s outstanding essay, from earlier this year, focusing on Ernie’s alleged World Series gaffe.

Ernie played with the Brooklyn Robins, Reds, Braves, and Giants, beginning his career in 1931(the year Las Vegas legalized gambling) and playing his last year with New York in 1947 (the year transistors and the mobile phone were invented). I was a red-hot “hang-on-every-pitch” Giants fan when Lombardi belted four circuit shots that year, contributing to the team’s then-record 221 home runs.

The Schnozz

At 6’ 3” 230 pounds Ernie was huge, especially for a catcher, with a nose to match. “The Schnozz” moniker was a perfect fit with his prominent proboscis.  Asked if

the players and coaches razzed him about his oversized honker, Ernie answered good-naturedly, “No. It was mostly the fans in Oakland before I got to the majors who started calling me ‘Schnozz’.”

An excellent signal-caller, Lombardi was adored by his pitchers, particularly Johnny Vander Meer. They were Cincinnati battery mates for both of Vander Meer’s consecutive no-hitters, June 11 and 15,1938. The first, at Crosley Field against the Boston Bees, went into the books as a 3-0 win for the left-hander, with a tremendous assist from Lombardi. He walloped a key homer and unloaded two rifle throws to first nailing two baserunners. “Lom would pick off six or seven guys a year throwing side-arm behind left-handed hitters,” said the appreciative Vander Meer.

The second no-hit whitewash, 6-0, took place at Ebbets Field. It was the first night game at the Brooklyn ball field, and in New York City. This one was tougher, as Johnny walked eight and left the bags loaded in the ninth. Home plate umpire Bill Stewart observed,

“Sure, Vander Meer had to pitch perfectly to get his no-hitters, but give some credit to Lombardi. His judgment in calling pitches was just as perfect and just as important.”

The two other Cincinnati aces, Bucky Walters and Paul Derringer, had impeccable command, “You could sit in a rocking chair and catch them guys,” said Ernie. But Johnny V. was more erratic and once uncorked a pitch way outside. Lombardi reached for the ball with his bare hand and snagged it. As Vander Meer later exclaimed: 

“Listen, if you’re going to sit back there and catch me bare-handed, the least you could do is shake your hand a little like I had something on the pitch. You’re making me look bad!”

Lombardi possessed huge blacksmith mitts and could hold seven baseballs in one hand (Johnny Bench could also do this). Remarkably agile around the plate and possessing a cannon for an arm, he led the National League in putouts, double

plays and caught stealing percentage, one season apiece. He had four consecutive years (’35- ’38) where he batted a composite .338. Taking all the great hitting catchers, including Piazza, Mauer, Dickey, Hartnett, Cochrane, Bench, Berra, Fiske, Campanella—only Mike Piazza at .343, had a four year run with a higher batting average. The Schnozz won the batting crown in 1938 (.342), along with an MVP. And he won another title in 1942 (.330).

As so articulately expressed in Gary Livacari’s piece, Ernie Lombardi was vilified unnecessarily by the press because of an incident on October 8, 1939, in Game Four of the Yankees vs. Reds World Series. The Yanks were dominating three-games-to-none and looked to sweep with the score tied 4-4 in the tenth inning. Joe DiMaggio singled home the tie-breaking run, with Charlie Keller also trying to score and plowing into Lom, knocking him into a daze, as he safely crossed the plate. DiMag also scored, as the prostrate catcher was unable to offer more than a feeble swipe at the Yankee Clipper, scoring the final run of the World Series.

But “King Kong” Keller, at the next spring training, denied even touching Lombardi. Johnny Vander Meer had this take:

“Ival Goodman’s throw from right field short-hopped Lom and caught him in the groin and paralyzed him. Anybody but Lombardi they would have had to carry him off the field.”

A bum rap indeed was “Lombardi’s Big Snooze,” as the crazy play had nothing whatever to do with the outcome of the series. And further amplification revealed that for some unknown reason Lom was not wearing a protective cup at the time.

“Be kind to everyone you meet, for you know not what burdens they bear.” -Plato

Ernie never got over the terrible “Big Snooze” reference and being denied by the writers a place in the Hall of Fame. He fell into depression later in his life and agreed to get help. But while visiting relatives he excused himself to visit the bathroom and didn’t return. His wife found him in the bedroom with his throat slashed by a razor. Fortunately, medics arrived and saved his life. Ernie passed away in 1977 after a long illness. He was loved by the fans, by all accounts a terrific teammate and an amiable giant – but died a bitter man.

Fortunately, Birdie Tebbetts, a fine catcher in his own right, became a member of the Veterans Committee and almost single-handedly pushed Lombardi through for election into The Hall, posthumously, in 1986.

Bill Schaefer

Sources: Baseball Reference. com; Ernie Lombardi, Wikipedia; Plato’s quotations.com; Ernie Lombardi quotes.com; SABR Bioproject: article, Joseph Wancho.