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Lew Fonseca

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Lew Fonseca
Fonseca in 1923
First baseman / Second baseman / Manager
Born: (1899-01-21)January 21, 1899
Oakland, California, U.S.
Died: November 26, 1989(1989-11-26) (aged 90)
Ely, Iowa, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 13, 1921, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
September 11, 1933, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average.316
Home runs31
Runs batted in485
Managerial record120–196
Winning %.380
Teams
As player

As manager

Career highlights and awards

Lewis Albert Fonseca (January 21, 1899 – November 26, 1989) was an American professional baseball first baseman, second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox. While not a power hitter, he hit for average and was a good contact hitter for most of his career. He topped the .300 mark six times, with his best season coming in 1929 with the Indians, when he hit .369 to win the American League batting title, after coming off a 1928 season in which he broke his leg. His success was short-lived, however, as he broke his arm in 1930, and a torn ligament in his leg prematurely ended his playing career.

In a 12-year major league career, Fonseca posted a .316 batting average (1075-3404), scoring 518 runs, hitting 31 home runs, and compiling 485 RBI in 937 games played. His on-base percentage was .355 and slugging percentage was .432. His career fielding percentage was .983.

Fonseca was one of the first to use film in analyzing baseball games and finding flaws in players. It is said that his interest with cameras began while shooting Slide, Kelly, Slide in 1927. As manager of the Chicago White Sox, he used film extensively.

After retiring from playing the game, Fonseca teamed with Charley Grimm to call Chicago White Sox and Chicago Cubs radio broadcasts on station WJJD in 1939 in 1940, then was employed as director of promotions for both major leagues. Fonseca worked on World Series highlight films from their inception in 1943 through 1969, as an editor and director, and narrated the World Series films from 1949-53 and 1955-58 (Jack Brickhouse narrated the 1954 World Series film). Television sportscaster Bob Costas wrote of Fonseca's narration: "[his] vocal stylings were somewhat less than mellifluous, but still endlessly entertaining." Fonseca was batting coach for the Chicago Cubs for many years, until quite late in life. His daughter Carolynn was a talented actress who worked mostly out of Rome, Italy.[1]

Fonseca died in Ely, Iowa at age 90.

Managerial record

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Team Year Regular season Postseason
Games Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
CWS 1932 151 49 102 .325 7th in AL – – – –
CWS 1933 150 67 83 .447 6th in AL – – – –
CWS 1934 15 4 11 .267 fired – – – –
Total 316 120 196 .380 0 0 –

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Heldenfels, Rich (November 4, 2009). "New DVDs tell the story of fall classic: 20-DVD set catalogs 70 years of the Series". Akron Beacon Journal. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2009.
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