Simmy Murch
Encyclopedia
Simeon Augustus Murch was a professional baseball infielder
. He played parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball
for the St. Louis Cardinals
and Brooklyn Superbas
. Murch was 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 220 pounds.
, in 1880. He started his professional baseball career with the New England League
's Haverhill Hustlers in 1902. Murch had batting average
s of .237 in that year and .288 in the next. In November 1903, he was married to Gertrude McAdams.
Murch then signed with the National League
's St. Louis Cardinals before the 1904 season. However, he injured his hand while playing basketball
, and he was unable to report to the Cardinals that spring. Murch recovered by April but started the season in the New England League. In July, The Telegraph wrote that he was "the sensation of the league at second base." He batted .245 in 94 games and joined the Cardinals late in the season. In 13 major league games, he batted .137 with 1 run batted in
.
In 1905, Murch played four games for St. Louis, batted .111, and returned to the New England League. The following winter, he roller skated and was an official at a Boston
rink. Murch then batted .269 for the Manchester Textiles in 1906 and turned an unassisted triple play
. In July 1906, Sporting Life wrote that he "comes pretty near being one of the most valuable all-around men in the league." In 1907, he led the league with four home run
s. He was purchased by the Brooklyn Superbas in August, and the following year, he received his final shot in the majors. He batted .182 in six games for Brooklyn before returning to the New England League again and batting .227 there.
Murch rebounded in 1909. Playing for the Brockton Tigers, he batted .313 to set a career-high in batting average and also led the league with 144 hits
. Murch moved up to the class A American Association
in 1910 but batted just .230, and he finished his professional baseball career back in the New England League in 1912.
After retiring as a player, Murch coached at Middlebury College
for three years and then at Phillips Academy
from 1923 until his death in 1939.
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
. He played parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
and Brooklyn Superbas
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
. Murch was 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighed 220 pounds.
Career
Murch was born in Castine, MaineCastine, Maine
Castine is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States and was once the capital of Acadia . The population was 1,343 at the 2000 census. Castine is the home of Maine Maritime Academy, a four-year institution that graduates officers and engineers for the United States Merchant Marine and marine...
, in 1880. He started his professional baseball career with the New England League
New England League
The New England League was a mid-level league in American minor league baseball that played sporadically in five of the six New England states between 1886 and 1949. After 1901, it existed in the shadow of two Major League Baseball clubs in Boston and alongside stronger, higher-classification...
's Haverhill Hustlers in 1902. Murch had batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
s of .237 in that year and .288 in the next. In November 1903, he was married to Gertrude McAdams.
Murch then signed with the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
's St. Louis Cardinals before the 1904 season. However, he injured his hand while playing basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and he was unable to report to the Cardinals that spring. Murch recovered by April but started the season in the New England League. In July, The Telegraph wrote that he was "the sensation of the league at second base." He batted .245 in 94 games and joined the Cardinals late in the season. In 13 major league games, he batted .137 with 1 run batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
.
In 1905, Murch played four games for St. Louis, batted .111, and returned to the New England League. The following winter, he roller skated and was an official at a Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
rink. Murch then batted .269 for the Manchester Textiles in 1906 and turned an unassisted triple play
Unassisted triple play
In baseball, an unassisted triple play occurs when a defensive player makes all three putouts by himself in one continuous play, without any teammates touching the ball . In Major League Baseball , it is one of the rarest of individual feats, along with hitting four home runs in one game and the...
. In July 1906, Sporting Life wrote that he "comes pretty near being one of the most valuable all-around men in the league." In 1907, he led the league with four home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s. He was purchased by the Brooklyn Superbas in August, and the following year, he received his final shot in the majors. He batted .182 in six games for Brooklyn before returning to the New England League again and batting .227 there.
Murch rebounded in 1909. Playing for the Brockton Tigers, he batted .313 to set a career-high in batting average and also led the league with 144 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. Murch moved up to the class A American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
in 1910 but batted just .230, and he finished his professional baseball career back in the New England League in 1912.
After retiring as a player, Murch coached at Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
for three years and then at Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
from 1923 until his death in 1939.