Jump to: player bio | view more cards | tour stops | view random player
Card: 1952 Bowman #15
Position: RF/1B
playerbio
Player Bio:
Sabath Anthony "Sam" Mele was a right fielder, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball.
Mele was born in 1922 in Queens, New York, where his parents had immigrated to from Italy. Both of Mele's parents were born in Italy, and he was the nephew (mother's brothers) of major league baseball players Tony and Al Cuccinello.
He was signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1946. Playing for the Scranton Red Sox that summer, he went on to lead the Eastern League with a .342 batting average and 18 triples. The following year, 1947, he reached the majors, starting in right field on Opening Day. As part of an outfield that included Ted Williams and Dom DiMaggio, he hit .302 with 12 home runs and 73 RBI in his rookie campaign. After being traded to the Washington Senators during the 1949 season, Mele led the American League with 36 doubles in 1951, while driving in a career-high 94 runs.
As a manager, he led the Minnesota Twins to their first American League championship in 1965 and won Manager of the Year.
(excerpted from SABR, BR Bullpen & Wikipedia)
morecards
tourstops
Sam Mele is part of the New York City Born Player Tour – Go to the Next Stop
Sam is also part of the MLB Managers Tour – Go to the Next Stop
Sam is also part of the Boston Red Sox Player Tour – Go to the Next Stop
See all of Sam’s baseball cards at TCDB
randomplayer
Visit a random Italian American MLB player: