A consistent performer with a good eye at the plate, Hemus led the NL three times in HBP. Aided by 20 HBP and 96 walks in 1952, Hemus scored 105 runs to tie teammate Stan Musial for the NL lead. The regular Cardinals shortstop from 1951 through 1953, in 1954 Hemus batted a career-high .302.
Since 1959 there have been only five ML playing managers: Pete Rose, Frank Robinson, Joe Torre, Don Kessinger, and Hemus. As the Cardinals skipper in 1959, he played 24 games, mostly pinch hitting, as St. Louis finished seventh. In 1960 he managed the team to third place. With the Cardinals in sixth place midway through the 1961 season, Hemus was replaced. He later coached for the Mets and Indians.
