Ernie Lombardi

 

Ernest Natali Lombardi, "Ernie"
Oakland Oaks, 1926
Brooklyn Dodgers, 1931
Cincinnati Redlegs, 1932-41
Boston Braves, 1942
NY Giants, 1943-47

Born and raised in Oakland, one of the most popular players baseball has known, Ernie won the 1938 batting title with a .342 average and most valuable player honors while with Cincinnati. He repeated batting title honors in 1942 with a .330 mark with the Boston Braves. In 17 National League seasons, Ernie compiled a lifetime batting average of .306. He hit over .300 ten different seasons. Infielders, knowing how hard he hit the ball and how slowly he ran, played him as much as 30 feet behind the infield. Ernie is also remembered for being behind the plate when Johnny Vander Meer tossed his two successive no-hitters. Enshrined in the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.