Verdi joined the United States Navy after high school and spent most of his time in the Navy boxing and playing baseball in Virginia. After being discharged from the Navy, he enrolled at New York University (NYU) but signed a contract with the Yankees during his first semester at NYU.[1]
Playing career
Verdi played in the minor league for a total of 18 seasons (1946–1963) mainly with Yankees' farm teams. He spent all or part of 12 seasons at the Triple-A level, where he batted .269 with 21 home runs and 284 RBIs in 996 games.
Verdi only appeared in a single MLB game, as a one-inning defensive replacement on May 10, 1953.[3] In a Yankees game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, Verdi entered the game at shortstop in the bottom of the sixth inning, after Joe Collins had pinch hit for starter Phil Rizzuto. Verdi did not handle any chance in the field. In the top of the seventh inning, Bill Renna pinch hit for Verdi.
Verdi survived a potentially tragic accident on July 25, 1959, when, as a player for the Rochester Red Wings, he was struck in the head by a stray bullet in Havana during a game against the Havana Sugar Kings. Verdi was standing in as the team's third base coach after the ejection of Rochester manager Cot Deal when shooting broke out in the stands. Verdi was still wearing the plastic lining in his baseball cap, in lieu of a batting helmet, and the lining deflected the bullet away from his head; it lodged in his shoulder and caused a minor wound.[2][4]
After his managerial career with affiliated minor league teams, Verdi managed in independent leagues during the 1990s. In winter ball, he skippered the Indios de Mayagüez of the Puerto Rico Baseball League from 1984 to 1985, and had previously managed the Leones de Ponce team to the league championship in the 1971–72 season.
Personal life
A son, Mike Verdi, was also a minor league manager.[citation needed]