Hemsley drank himself off four clubs before whipping alcoholism with the help of Alcoholics Anonymous. Early on, his speed was above average for a catcher. Platooned in Pittsburgh, he was traded to the Cubs in 1931 to back up Gabby Hartnett, and then to the Reds in 1933. Waived to the Browns in 19933, he became a top AL receiver, hitting .309 in 1934. Despite a .222 batting average in 1937, Cleveland traded three players to get him, and he handled the bulk of the Indians’ catching chores in 1939 after an injury to Frank Pytlak. He caught Bob Feller‘s 1940 Opening Day no-hitter, and drove in the game’s only run with a triple. He became a backup after his December 1941 sale to the Reds. Hemsley was TSN Minor League Manager of the Year in 1950 and 1963.
