Joe Abreu
Joseph Lawrence Abreu
(The Magician)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 8", Weight 160 lb.
- High School McClymonds High School
- Debut April 23, 1942
- Final Game July 11, 1942
- Born May 24, 1913 in Oakland, CA USA
- Died March 17, 1993 in Hayward, CA USA
Biographical Information[edit]
The parents of Joe Abreu were immigrants from Portugal who came to Oakland, California in 1906. Joe was one of nine children and three of his brothers boxed professionally. He graduated from McClymonds High School in 1934 and worked in a wholesale liquor firm while playing semipro baseball. He was signed by the Oakland Oaks in 1936 and played for the Oaks and the Spokane Hawks of the Class B Western International League in 1937. The next two seasons, he played for the Oaks in the Pacific Coast League. Abreu married in 1939 and the next year played for the Fort Worth Cats in the Texas League. He split 1941 between Ft. Worth and the Milwaukee Brewers of the AA American Association.
He made his major league debut on April 23, 1942, with the Cincinnati Reds and played in 9 games before he was released to the Newark Bears of the AA International League. From there he went in the Navy, where he played baseball in the Army and Navy League in California. When released from the service in 1946, he was player/manager for the Wellsville Yankees in the Class D PONY League. In 1947 he managed the Newnan Brownies (Georgia-Alabama League), 1948 the Tampa Smokers (Florida International League) and 1949 the Santa Rosa Cats (Far West League).
He came by his nickname the honest way: he was a real magician, knowing some 400 card tricks and being a member in good standing of the National Society of Magicians.
He primarily wore number 12.
Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]
| Year | Team | League | Record | Finish | Playoffs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Wellsville Yankees | PONY League | 52-72 | 6th | ||
| 1947 | Newnan Brownies | Georgia-Alabama League | -- | -- | Replaced by Ed Westbrook | |
| 1948 | Tampa Smokers | Florida International League | 47-36 | -- | -- | Replaced by Jack Russell (33-30) on July 7 |
| 1949 | Santa Rosa Cats | Far West League | -- | -- | Replaced by Alvin Kruk |
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