1934-1936 Diamond Stars: #7 Lew Fonseca MG

Sunday, November 20, 2022

#7 Lew Fonseca MG - Chicago White Sox

Lewis Albert Fonseca

Chicago White Sox

Manager

Bats: Right Throws: Right Height: 5'10" Weight: 180

Born: January 21, 1899, Oakland, CA

Major League Teams: Cincinnati Reds 1921-1924; Philadelphia Phillies 1925; Cleveland Indians 1927-1931; Chicago White Sox 1931-1933

As a Manager: Chicago White Sox 1932-1934

Died: November 26, 1989, Ely, IA (90)

Injuries prematurely shortened the playing career of infielder Lew Fonseca, but he batted over .300 in six different seasons, winning the American League batting title in 1929. He's credited as one of the first players to use film to analyze games and study both his own and opposing players, and he'd enjoy a second career producing baseball films following his playing days. Fonseca spent the first four years of his career with the Reds as a part-time player and appeared in a then career-high 126 games with the Phillies in 1925. Holding out for a larger contract, Fonseca found himself in 1926 playing for the independent Newark Bears where he had his best professional season. He batted .381 with 40 doubles and 21 home runs, and the Bears sold the popular player to the Indians following the season. Fonseca began the most successful stretch of his career with Cleveland in 1927, batting over .300 in three straight seasons, culminating with his league leading .369 average in 1929, to go along with 44 doubles and 103 RBIs. He had come back from a broken leg suffered during the 1928 campaign, making his career year even more impressive.

He'd join the White Sox in 1931, being named as the club's player-manager following that season. Still on the active roster, he'd appear sparingly in 1932 (18 games) and 1933 (23 games), and no games in 1934. His White Sox clubs went 49-102 in 1932 and 67-83 in 1933, and got off to a 4-11 start in 1934 before Fonseca was dismissed and replaced with Jimmy Dykes (#42). He continued to put his interest in film to good use, working as director of promotions for the major leagues, and serving as director, editor and occasional narrator of the official World Series highlight films between 1943 and 1969. You can see and listen to a sample of his work with the 1950 World Series highlight film, found here, featuring the Yankees facing off against the Phillies.

Building the Set

October 11, 2022 from Chadds Ford, PA - Card #65

It was quite the unexpected October for Phillies fans, as the team surprisingly advanced to the postseason on October 3rd with a 3-0 win over the Astros in Houston. The Phillies hadn't been to the postseason since a shocking defeat to the Cardinals in the 2011 NLDS. It was on this day I added three more cards to my Diamond Stars set, starting with the Jim Bottomley (#59) card and then adding this Fonseca card along with a Roy Mahaffey (#10) variation card from eBay store MnM Vintage Toys & Sportscards, located in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. The Mahaffey and Fonseca cards arrived on October 11th, right after the start of NLDS Game 1 between the Phillies and Braves. I took the picture shown here in the second inning of that game, before Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suarez had fallen apart, and way before the Phillies eventually closed out a 7-6 win.

Variations Available

1 - 1934 / green back / 1933 statistics / 1934 copyright ✅

2 - 1935 / green back / 1934 statistics / 1934 copyright

The Card / White Sox Team Set

Fonseca is an interesting subject for a card in this set, especially as one of the first cards released in the first series, given he had appeared in only 23 games and batted .203 during the 1933 season. He was likely still enjoying some popularity as a result of his 1929 batting title though. The back of the card references he was a former first baseman, but makes no mention he began the 1934 season as Chicago's manager. The baseball tip explains the importance of a first baseman being able to stretch to receive a throw from an infielder.

1934 Season

As mentioned above, Fonseca lasted just 15 games as manager of the White Sox at the start of the 1934 season. Owner Lou Comiskey named Dykes as the new player-manager, but didn't inform Fonseca before the game on May 9th. With Dykes playing third base and Fonseca unaware of his fate, the White Sox defeated the Senators, 8-1, and the win was later credited to Dykes.

Phillies Career

On March 30, 1925, Fonseca was selected off waivers from the Reds by the Phillies. Seemingly finding a new home and semi-regular playing time, he batted .319 in 126 games, hitting seven home runs and 60 RBIs. He was the club's opening day second baseman, starting 65 games overall at second base and 52 games at first base. The Phillies were going through the franchise's darkest stretch and when Fonseca held out for more money following the season, the team sent his contract to the Newark Bears, as mentioned above.