Val Picinich

Valentine John Picinich

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 165 lb.
• School Princeton University
• Debut July 25, 1916
• Final Game August 28, 1933
• Born September 8, 1896 in New York, NY USA
• Died December 5, 1942 in Nobleboro, ME USA

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Biographical Information

Val Picinich played catcher for 18 seasons in the majors, never getting as many as 100 games in any one season. He broke in with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1916, on a team which featured the 41-year-old Nap Lajoie (Lajoie had broken in before Picinich was born), and ended his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1933, on a team which featured the 21-year-old Arky Vaughan (who was four years old when Picinich broke in).

Val's obituary in the New York Times indicates he attended Princeton University for one year before signing with the Athletics and going straight to the majors. He then played with the Atlanta Crackers in 1917 and 1918 buts also saw major league time both years. After his major league days he managed in the minors (with the Milford Giants and Allentown Wings), owned a chicken farm, and worked for the Bath Iron Works Corporation in Bath, ME.

After his playing career ended, he was a Cincinnati Reds coach in 1934.

Year-by-Year Minor League Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs	Notes
1935	Charleston Senators	Middle Atlantic League		7th	Detroit Tigers		replaced Russ Young July 1
1938	Milford Giants	Eastern Shore League	60-52	3rd	New York Giants	lost in first round
1939	Milford Giants	Eastern Shore League		7th	New York Giants		replaced Earl Smith
1940	Allentown Wings	Interstate League	19-29	--	St. Louis Cardinals	--	replaced by Bobby Barr (21-53) on June 25

Related Sites

• Val Picinich at the SABR Bio Project