Paul Russell Semendinger - The Least Among Them: 29 Players, Their Brief Moments in the Big Leagues, and a Unique History of the New York Yankees

The Least Among Them

THE LEAST

AMONG THEM

29 Players,

Their Brief Moments in the Big Leagues, and a Unique History

of the New York Yankees

Paul Russell Semendinger

ISBN: 978-1-951122-16-4 (paperback)

ISBN: 978-1-951122-27-0 (ebook)

LCCN: 2021936587

Copyright 2021 by Paul Semendinger, Ed.D.

First Edition

Cover Design: Geoff Habiger

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage or retrieval system without written permission of the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

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info@artemesiapublishing.com

Contact the author at: drpaulsem@hotmail.com

Praise for The Least Among Them

True Yankee fans, those who have attained a virtual Ph.D. level of fandom, can address each other in code. They can say 34 and know they are referring to Tony Kubeks rookie uniform number. So now comes this, perhaps the ultimate insider book. If you say Loyd Colson to a Yankee fan and get a knowing wink in return, with a reminder that there is only one L in Loyd, you know you are talking to someone worthy. Otherwise, send them home to read Paul Semendingers book of one-game wonders and tell them not to return until they have mastered it. Only then can they write Ph.D. NYY after their names.

Marty Appel , Yankee historian and former team executive, and author of Pinstripe Empire: The New York Yankees from Before the Babe to After the Boss .

Forget Babe, Lou, and the Mick for a moment, and enjoy the stories of Honey, Rugger, and Clem. This charming and meticulously researched book will remind you of baseballs power to change and enrich lives far beyond the diamond.

Jonathan Eig , New York Times best-selling author of Luckiest Man , Opening Day , and Ali: A Life

In the United States, there are surely more books written about baseball than any other sport. Even Amazon cant keep a tally. When you type baseball books into the search window, Amazon has the total narrowed to over 20,000. So youd think all the good baseball-book ideas have been used up by now. But here comes author Paul Russell Semendinger with a fresh angle. His new book, The Least Among Them: 29 Players, Their Brief Moments in the Big Leagues, and A Unique History of the New York Yankees , is a fascinating study of luck, timing and the unpredictable, arduous, near-impossible path to the Major Leagues. These are the stories of men who spent a single day with the Yankees. Elvio Jimenez in 1964 was fortunate enough in his one game to play 13 innings. Frank Verdi in 1953 played one, never touching the ball and never stepping to the plate. Charlie Fallon in 1905 was a pinch runner in the last inning back when the Yankees were the Highlanders. Floyd Newkirk in 1934 pitched a solid ninth inning despite having just three fingers on his pitching hand. Thats another thing I like about the bookthe short history lessons interspersed with the players stories. Most of us know that Derek Jeter had the longest tenure as Yankees team captain with 12. But did you know Babe Ruth had the shortest with just five games? Semendinger is a fine writer and his passion for the gameand its playersshine through every page of The Least Among Them .

Joan Ryan , award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author of five books including Intangibles

The most impressive scholarship on the Yankees I have read, The Least Among Them literally fills the gaping hole between biographies of famous Yankees of world fame and national attention, like Dinner with DiMaggio , with genuinely profound sketches of lesser-known Yankees who could have nudged the likes of the Yankee Clipper but could not. It reads like a good novel. Its a page turner mainly because the writing is superb, the scholarship involved impeccable, and the author sticks to his narrative in spite of a bewildering history of Minor, Major and international League involvement of his many profiles. It is a back door history: we get the origin of the Seventh Inning Stretch, three fingered ball players, a history of varied Docs (ball players with that nickname and why) and other social histories. If you are a Yankee fan, and want a good read, The Least Among Them is a mandatory purchase.

Dr. Rock Positano and John Positano , award-winning authors of Dinner With DiMaggio

I am an admirer of deep dives when it comes to baseball, and Paul splashes elegantly into the pool in this regard. Exhaustively researched and very well-crafted, even a Mets guy like me can appreciate his work! This is for fans who want to fill their curiosity gaps; Paul has done the work and done it well. If you like learning things you never knew, and if the Yankees are your team, jump on in.

Josh Lewin , Sportscaster (Fox Sports, and various teams including the Mets, Red Sox, Cubs, Rangers, Orioles, and Tigers)

I dont think Ive ever seen a book quite like itthe least storied players on baseballs most storied team. Paul Semendinger digs deep to find not the hidden gems of the Yankee organization but the fools goldplayers who for one reason or another lasted but a single game with the Bombers. Its a fascinating concept and Semendingers book delivers. Semendinger manages to pull off the seemingly impossiblea deep dive into the shallow waters of these most minor Yankees. Pick up a copy and I promise that youll stick with it longer than these guys did in pinstripes.

Mitchell Nathanson , author of Bouton: The Life of a Baseball Original and God Almighty Hisself: The Life and Legacy of Dick Allen

The Least Among Them is a treasure trove of fascinating stories about lesser known Yankees, lovingly researched and crafted by writer/historian Paul Semendinger. A must-read for Yankee fans and the baseball cognoscenti.

Jon Leonoudakis , Baseball Documentarian

The Least Among Them is a unique and fascinating work, a look at the greatest of sports franchises through its most marginal players. Here are the good, the bad, the ugly, and even the (briefly) perfect, men who for one reason or another lasted just one game for the New York Yankees. Paul Semendinger pivots from their individual storiespoignant, tragic, upliftingto tell the extraordinary story of baseball.

Kevin Baker , author of Sometimes You See It Coming and Becoming Mr. October (with Reggie Jackson)

Paul Semendinger cleverly unravels New York Yankees history by pulling on the string of 29 players whose Major League careers consisted of one game with the club. While telling their unknown stories, he finds connections with other Yankees and events. The Least Among Them is a delightful journey into the past of baseballs most hallowed franchise.

Barry Sparks , author of Frank Home Run Baker: World Series Hero and Hall of Famer

The Least Among Them provides an original look into 29 unique threads that contribute to the fabric of the games most storied franchiseThe New York Yankees. Inside this well researched book youll be amazed by the stories within the stories, and come away with a new appreciation for the cup of coffee ballplayer. Semendinger delivers a fun and thoughtful book; an enjoyable read for not only passionate Yankee fans, but for any lover of the history of the game.

Matt Dahlgren , author of Rumor In Town: A Grandsons Promise to Right a Wrong and The Flannel Past .