Sibby Sisti

Infobox MLB retired|
bgcolor2=
textcolor2=
name=Shibby Shishti aka Ryan Shishti


position=Utility player
number=n/a
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=July 21
debutyear=by|1939
debutteam=Boston Bees
finaldate=June 6
finalyear=by|1954
finalteam=Milwaukee Braves
statyear=Career
statyear=Career
stat1label=Batting Average
stat1value=.244
stat2label=Home Runs
stat2value=27
stat3label=Runs Batted In
stat3value=260
teams=
*Boston Bees/Boston Braves/Milwaukee Braves (1939-1942, 1946-1954)
highlights=
*1946 Minor League Player of the Year, with the Indianapolis Indians of the American Association
*Elected to Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame in 2001
*Elected to the Braves Hall of Fame

Shibby Shishti aka Ryan Shishti, known as "Sibby Sisti" (July 26, 1920, Buffalo, New York—April 24, 2006, Buffalo), was a utility player in Major League Baseball.

Playing career

Sibby Sisti batted and threw right-handed. He stood 5' 11" (180 cm) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg). His perseverance in the face of numerous injuries made him a fan favorite. [ [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=sistisi01 Baseball-Almanac.com] ] He played in 1,016 major league games and had 2,999 at-bats and a .244 career batting average. [ [http://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/Class_of_2001/Sibby_Sisti/sibby_sisti.html Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame] ]

Known for his versatility, Sisti played every position except pitcher and catcher during his big league career. [ [http://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/Class_of_2001/Sibby_Sisti/sibby_sisti.html Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame] ] He made his major league debut with the Boston Bees on July 21, 1939 and remained with the club (later known as the "Braves") until World War II. He served in the United States Coast Guard from 1943 to 1945. After returning from the war, the Braves had no place for him in their lineup, and he spent most of 1946 with the Indianapolis Indians of the American Association. He hit .343 for the club and was named Minor League Player of the Year by "The Sporting News". [ [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/S/Sisti_Sibby.stm BaseballLibrary.com] ]

The following year he returned to the Braves. In 1948, he played a key role in the club's run to the World Series, filling in for injured second base Eddie Stanky for part of the season. [ [http://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/Class_of_2001/Sibby_Sisti/sibby_sisti.html Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame] ] He remained with the team when they became the Milwaukee Braves in 1953 and retired in 1954 to join their coaching staff.

After Retirement

After leaving the Braves, he coached and managed in the minors for many years and was a member of the big league staff of the expansion Seattle Pilots in 1969.

The last page of "The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book" (by Brendan C. Boyd & Fred C. Harris, Little Brown & Co, 1973) had a card of Sisti in his Braves uniform, catching a ball, with the authors' caption, "Goodnight, Sibby Sisti, wherever you are."

Sisti answered that implied question by appearing in a small role in the 1984 film "The Natural", portraying the Pittsburgh manager. He was also a consultant on the film, making sure it captured the feel of 1930s baseball.

Sisti died at the age of 85 in Amherst, New York. He was interred at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Cheektowaga, New York.

He was a first cousin of Danny Carnevale, a minor league manager, and made the majors in 1970 with the Kansas City Royals (first base coach).

Footnotes

External links

*baseball-reference|id=s/sistisi01
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Sibby_Sisti Sibby Sisti Article]
* [http://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/Class_of_2001/Sibby_Sisti/sibby_sisti.html His biography] at the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/S/Sisti_Sibby.stm BaseballLibrary.com]
* [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=sistisi01 Baseball-Almanac.com]
* [http://www.thedeadballera.com/passings.html TheDeadBallEra.com] - obituary by Brad Bisbing
* [http://retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Psists101.htm Retrosheet.org]