Gus Niarhos

Constantine Gregory Niarhos

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 165 lb.
• School Auburn University
• High School West End High School
• Debut June 9, 1946
• Final Game September 9, 1955
• Born December 6, 1920 in Birmingham, AL USA
• Died December 29, 2004 in Harrisonburg, VA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Gus Niarhos was a catcher for 9 seasons in the majors, mostly as a backup.

He was a three-sport athlete at West End High School in Birmingham, AL. He was attending Auburn University on scholarship when he was signed by a scout for the New York Yankees. After World War II broke out, he served in the Navy.

Gus spent his first 3+ years in the majors with the Yankees. Yogi Berra was the up-and-coming catcher, and in 1948 Gus platooned at catcher with him while Yogi also played in the outfield. He appeared in one game in the 1949 World Series, which the Yankees won.

The Chicago White Sox picked him off waivers in 1950, and he hit .324 in 104 at-bats for them. The next year (1951), he hit .256, and he was on his way to the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies to close out his major league career.

After his playing career ended, he managed in the minors for many years and was a Kansas City Athletics coach from 1962 to 1964. He was Midwest League manager of the year in Burlington in 1965.

Quote

• That was a tough organization if you were a catcher. They had Bill Dickey. Then Yogi came up. From '49 on, it was just forget about being a catcher with the Yankees." - Gus Niarhos, quoted in "Baseball's Golden Greeks"

Notable Achievement

• Won a World Series with the New York Yankees in 1949

Related Sites

• Gus Niarhos at the SABR Bio Project