Melvin Leonard "Mike" Mazzera (January 31, 1914 – December 17, 1997) was an American professional baseball player. In an 11-year career, Mazzera participated in five Major League seasons: four with the St. Louis Browns and one with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was officially listed as standing 5 feet 11 inches (180 cm) and weighing 180 pounds (82 kg).[1]
In 1933, Mazzera began his professional baseball career playing for the C-level San Antonio Missions. That year, Mazzera also played for the Baton Rouge Solons of the Dixie League, recording a combined batting average of .320 in 124 games played. Mazzera continued his minor-league career in 1934, playing for both the Palestine Pals of Palestine, Texas, and the San Antonio Missions. In 1935, Mazzera participated in 154 games for the San Antonio Missions while making his Major League debut for the St. Louis Browns on September 9, 1935. For his debut, Mazzera replaced Ed Coleman as a pinch runner.[4]
Mazzera spent the entire 1936 season and the majority of the 1937 season with the San Antonio Missions, recording 96 hits, 13 doubles, and four home runs for the Missions in 1936 while recording 134 hits and nine home runs for them in 1937.[5]
Mazzera's 1938 season was spent with the St. Louis Browns. In 86 games played, Mazzera batted for a .279 average with six home runs and twenty-five strikeouts, helping the Browns to finish seventh in the American League with a 55-97 record.[6] Mazzera played in 33 games for the Browns, but also played for the Philadelphia Philliesdouble-A affiliate, the Toronto Maple Leafs, later that season. Mazzera made his Philies debut in 1940, playing in 69 games for the Phillies. In his only season as a Phillie, Mazzera recorded a .237 batting average with fifteen strikeouts, nineteen walks, and thirteen runs batted in.
In 1940, Mazzera was signed by the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League. Mazzera played for the Padres in the 1941, 1942, and 1944 seasons. In 1942, Mazzera led the Padres in home runs, runs batted in, doubles, and triples,[7] leading to the observance of a "Mel Mazzera Day" on August 30, 1942.[8]
After baseball
Mazzera died on December 17, 1997, in Stockton, California, and was buried in San Joaquin Cemetery in Stockton.[1]
References
^ ab"Mel Mazzera Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com". baseball-reference.com. 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
^Gammons, Peter (2006). Pete Palmer; Gary Gillette; Stuart Shea (eds.). The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia. Sterling. p. 439. ISBN1-4027-3625-8.
^"Mel Mazzera Statistics – The Baseball Cube". thebaseballcube.com. 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
^"Retrosheet Boxscore: St. Louis Browns 5, Philadelphia Athletics 1". Retrosheet. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
^"Mel Mazzera Minor League Statistics & History – Baseball-Reference.com". baseball-reference.com. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
^"1938 St. Louis Browns Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics – Baseball-Reference.com". baseball-reference.com. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
^"1942 San Diego Padres Statistics -- Minor Leagues – Baseball-Reference.com". baseball-reference.com. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
^"Mel Mazzera". San Diego History Center. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2011.
External links
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
February 27, 2023
mazzera, melvin, leonard, mike, mazzera, january, 1914, december, 1997, american, professional, baseball, player, year, career, mazzera, participated, five, major, league, seasons, four, with, louis, browns, with, philadelphia, phillies, officially, listed, st. Melvin Leonard Mike Mazzera January 31 1914 December 17 1997 was an American professional baseball player In an 11 year career Mazzera participated in five Major League seasons four with the St Louis Browns and one with the Philadelphia Phillies He was officially listed as standing 5 feet 11 inches 180 cm and weighing 180 pounds 82 kg 1 Mel MazzeraOutfielderBorn 1914 01 31 January 31 1914Stockton CaliforniaDied December 17 1997 1997 12 17 aged 83 Stockton CaliforniaBatted LeftThrew LeftMLB debutSeptember 9 1935 for the St Louis BrownsLast MLB appearanceSeptember 29 1940 for the Philadelphia PhilliesMLB statisticsBatting average 268Home runs10Runs batted in66 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Career 1 3 After baseball 2 References 3 External linksBiography EditEarly life Edit Mazzera was born Melvin Leonard Mazzera 2 on January 31 1914 in Stockton California 3 Career Edit In 1933 Mazzera began his professional baseball career playing for the C level San Antonio Missions That year Mazzera also played for the Baton Rouge Solons of the Dixie League recording a combined batting average of 320 in 124 games played Mazzera continued his minor league career in 1934 playing for both the Palestine Pals of Palestine Texas and the San Antonio Missions In 1935 Mazzera participated in 154 games for the San Antonio Missions while making his Major League debut for the St Louis Browns on September 9 1935 For his debut Mazzera replaced Ed Coleman as a pinch runner 4 Mazzera spent the entire 1936 season and the majority of the 1937 season with the San Antonio Missions recording 96 hits 13 doubles and four home runs for the Missions in 1936 while recording 134 hits and nine home runs for them in 1937 5 Mazzera s 1938 season was spent with the St Louis Browns In 86 games played Mazzera batted for a 279 average with six home runs and twenty five strikeouts helping the Browns to finish seventh in the American League with a 55 97 record 6 Mazzera played in 33 games for the Browns but also played for the Philadelphia Phillies double A affiliate the Toronto Maple Leafs later that season Mazzera made his Philies debut in 1940 playing in 69 games for the Phillies In his only season as a Phillie Mazzera recorded a 237 batting average with fifteen strikeouts nineteen walks and thirteen runs batted in In 1940 Mazzera was signed by the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League Mazzera played for the Padres in the 1941 1942 and 1944 seasons In 1942 Mazzera led the Padres in home runs runs batted in doubles and triples 7 leading to the observance of a Mel Mazzera Day on August 30 1942 8 After baseball Edit Mazzera died on December 17 1997 in Stockton California and was buried in San Joaquin Cemetery in Stockton 1 References Edit a b Mel Mazzera Statistics and History Baseball Reference com baseball reference com 2011 Retrieved May 23 2011 Gammons Peter 2006 Pete Palmer Gary Gillette Stuart Shea eds The 2006 ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia Sterling p 439 ISBN 1 4027 3625 8 Mel Mazzera Statistics The Baseball Cube thebaseballcube com 2011 Retrieved May 23 2011 Retrosheet Boxscore St Louis Browns 5 Philadelphia Athletics 1 Retrosheet 2011 Retrieved May 26 2011 Mel Mazzera Minor League Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com baseball reference com 2011 Retrieved May 27 2011 1938 St Louis Browns Batting Pitching amp Fielding Statistics Baseball Reference com baseball reference com 2011 Retrieved May 27 2011 1942 San Diego Padres Statistics Minor Leagues Baseball Reference com baseball reference com 2011 Retrieved May 27 2011 Mel Mazzera San Diego History Center 2011 Retrieved May 27 2011 External links EditCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mel Mazzera amp oldid 1057388278, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
