Steve Molinari

Stephen Peter Molinari

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 195 lb.
• High School Medford (MA) High School

• Born August 13, 1931 in Medford, MA USA
• Died April 14, 2012 in Williston, ND USA

BR Minors page

Biographical information

Steve Molinari played in the minor leagues from 1949 to 1952 and from 1955 to 1956. He won two home run titles.

He began his career as a 17-year-old in 1949, hitting .125 with one home run in 25 games split between the Ada Herefords and Seminole Oilers. He exploded in his second season, hitting .360/.476/.683 with 39 home runs, 33 doubles, 174 hits, 330 total bases, 103 walks, 131 runs and 162 RBI in 132 games for the Herefords. He led the Sooner State League in home runs (two more than Bill Milligan), RBI (3 more than Milligan) and total bases (17 ahead of Milligan), finished second behind Clint Weaver in slugging percentage, was second to Milligan in OBP and third in batting average. The home run and RBI marks would be Sooner State records.

In 1951, his average slipped 84 points to .276, though he still hit 24 home runs and posted a .523 slugging percentage in 130 games for the Pine Bluff Judges. He finished second in the Cotton States League in home runs, three behind Peter Konyar, and led with 106 RBI. With the Scranton Miners in 1952, he hit .257/.343/.426 with 19 home runs and 129 hits in 140 games. He finished second in the Eastern League in games (one behind Bill Boudreau), was fourth in home runs and tied Billy Smith for third in total bases. His 12 errors were second among EL outfielders. He served in the US Army in Germany from October 1952 to 1954.

Returning to the US in 1955, Molinari struggled in 103 games by hitting only .231/?/.387 with 13 home runs and 11 doubles between the Aberdeen Pheasants (89 G) and Wichita Indians (14 G). While in Aberdeen, though, he met his wife. He was probably one of the most well-traveled players in 1956 as he spent time with the Victoria Eagles, Lubbock Hubbers/Texas City Texans, Monterrey Sultanes and Nuevo Loredo Tecolotes. He hit .269/?/.516 between Victoria and Lubbock/Texas City and .242/~.329/.366 between the two Mexican clubs.

He later worked for the Williston Police Department for almost 39 years, reaching captain. He umpired American Legion games to stay active in baseball.

Sources

• 1951 and 1953 Baseball Guides
• The Mexican League: Comprehensive Player Statistics by Pedro Treto Cisneros
• Williston Herald obituary