Phil Masi/pagetext
From SABR Encyclopedia
Phil was one of the National League's top defensive and uncommonly fast for a catcher. A weak bat held him back initially but he became a first stringer due to his fine handling of pitchers. That included knuckleballer Jim Tobin to stars Warren Spahn and Johnny Sain. In 1949, during his 11th season with the Braves he was traded to the Pirates, who sold him to the White Sox that winter. In his first season in the AL, he led the league's catchers in fielding.
[edit] Source
- The Ballplayers. New York: Arbor House-William Morrow, 1990.