Ernie Lombardi, better known as "Schnozz," was one of baseball's all-time great catchers. Lombardi, who was of Italian descent, began his professional baseball career in 1931 with the Cincinnati Reds. He would spend the next thirteen years playing for the Reds, during which time he established himself as one of the best catchers in the game.

Lombardi was known for his powerful bat and his strong throwing arm. He was a prolific hitter in the National League, averaging over .300 for nine consecutive seasons, and was a two-time All-Star. He led the league in batting average in 1938, when he hit .342, and again in 1942, when he hit .330. He was also a member of the Reds' 1940 championship team.

In addition to his batting prowess, Lombardi was an outstanding defensive player. He was known for his ability to block the plate with his body and had a knack for handling pitchers. He was also a great handler of pitchers, and his presence behind the plate often allowed pitchers to be more effective.

Lombardi was traded to the Boston Braves in 1944 and spent two and a half seasons there before retiring in 1947. During his career, he had a .306 batting average with 1,794 hits, 107 home runs, and 829 runs batted in. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986, cementing his legacy as one of the all-time great catchers.

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