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Myron 'Joe' Ginsberg, a long-time Catcher who made the first Opening Day roster for the first New York Mets and played for them briefly in the final stop a 13-year major league career and a
17- year professional baseball career died at the age of 86 on November 2. He was about three weeks past his 86th birthday (October 11).
Ginsberg was a 17 year old and a local signing when he signed out of his suburban Detroit hometown with the Detroit Tigers in 1944 after completing high school. After that sesason he entered the military and saw action overseas. He missed the entire 1945 & 1946 seasons to military service and resumed his career in 1947. He got his first taste of major league competiton the following year, having an 11 game cup of coffee with Detroit. Ginsberg wasprimarily a back up catcher throughout his career, but did acheive first string or platoone status with Detroit in 1951 & 1952, the two seasons where he enjoyed he most playing time. He was primarily known as a Tiger (1948, 1950-1953) and as a Baltimore Oriole
(1956-1960).He also played for the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, ChicagoWhite sox and the mets in a 15 year period (1948 to 1962, with returns to the minors in 1949 and 1955. After retiring Ginsberg returned to his native Michigan and was living not far from Detroit until the time he passed away.
Ginsberg played in the second Mets game ever. He would play in only one other game for the Mets. His final game was on April 15, 1962, the Mets' fourth game of the season. He sustained an injury that landed him on the 15 day Disbled List.When he was healthy enough to be activated the Mets released him on May 1, 1962 and he announced his retirement shortly afterwards. Ginsberg hit .241 lifetime with 20 home runs. He was 0 for 5 .000 in 2 games as a Met.
Ginsberg was one of seven catchers used by the Mets in '62, their inaugural year. That list included Ginsbeg, Chris Cannizarro, Sammy Taylor, Joe Pignatanto, Harry Chiti, Hobie Landrith, and Clarence "Choo-Choo" coleman.
17- year professional baseball career died at the age of 86 on November 2. He was about three weeks past his 86th birthday (October 11).
Ginsberg was a 17 year old and a local signing when he signed out of his suburban Detroit hometown with the Detroit Tigers in 1944 after completing high school. After that sesason he entered the military and saw action overseas. He missed the entire 1945 & 1946 seasons to military service and resumed his career in 1947. He got his first taste of major league competiton the following year, having an 11 game cup of coffee with Detroit. Ginsberg wasprimarily a back up catcher throughout his career, but did acheive first string or platoone status with Detroit in 1951 & 1952, the two seasons where he enjoyed he most playing time. He was primarily known as a Tiger (1948, 1950-1953) and as a Baltimore Oriole
(1956-1960).He also played for the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Athletics, ChicagoWhite sox and the mets in a 15 year period (1948 to 1962, with returns to the minors in 1949 and 1955. After retiring Ginsberg returned to his native Michigan and was living not far from Detroit until the time he passed away.
Ginsberg played in the second Mets game ever. He would play in only one other game for the Mets. His final game was on April 15, 1962, the Mets' fourth game of the season. He sustained an injury that landed him on the 15 day Disbled List.When he was healthy enough to be activated the Mets released him on May 1, 1962 and he announced his retirement shortly afterwards. Ginsberg hit .241 lifetime with 20 home runs. He was 0 for 5 .000 in 2 games as a Met.
Ginsberg was one of seven catchers used by the Mets in '62, their inaugural year. That list included Ginsbeg, Chris Cannizarro, Sammy Taylor, Joe Pignatanto, Harry Chiti, Hobie Landrith, and Clarence "Choo-Choo" coleman.
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