[Scott Garner]

I just picked up this sweet circa 1938 vintage signed photo of Johnny Vander Meer and Basketball HOF'er Benny Borgmann. Vandy and Borgmann both hailed from the same area in NJ and apparently knew each other quite well.

This photo originated from the personal estate of Benny Borgmann who starred in professional basketball and also played for many years as a baseball middle infielder and manager in the minor leagues.

Borgmann was also a pro basketball player and original Celtic, leading the American Basketball League in scoring 4 times (1926-1927, 1928-1929, 1929-1930, 1930-1931). He was elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 1961 Borgmann passed away in November, 1978
Here is Borgmann's bio from Baseball Resference for anyone that cares to look.

Bernhard "Benny" Borgmann
Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 5' 8", Weight 170 lb.
Born November 22, 1898 in Haledon, NJ USA
Died November 11, 1978 in Pompton Plains, NJ USA

Infielder Benny Borgmann played and managed in the minors and scouted. He starred in basketball. He hit .304 and scored 1,015 runs as a player.

He was a minor league player from 1928 to 1942. He debuted with the Wilkes-Barre Barons, hitting .308/~.385/.345 and fielded .932 as a shortstop. In 1929, he played for the Pittsfield Hillies and hit .264/~.339/.325. He tied Arlie Pond for third in the Eastern League in stolen bases (27). He fielded .971 when playing third base, second-best in the EL.

In 1930, Benny hit .292 for Pittsfield and .370 for the Harrisburg Senators. Back with Wilkes-Barre in 1931, the 34-year-old hit .263 while playing second base. Borgmann was back at short in 1932 with the Greensboro Patriots. He batted .321 and led the Piedmont League in runs (122 in 123 games) and steals (51).

Borgmann split 1933 between the Columbus Red Birds (.340/~.401/.390, 28 SB in 90 games; third in the American Association in steals) and the Rochester Red Wings (.341/~.420/.409 in 30 games). He stole 35 bases and scored 89 runs while playing in arguably the top two minor leagues of the era.

Borgmann played all of 1934 with Rochester and hit .279/~.325/.358 with 86 runs and 18 steals, playing second base and third base alongside Johnny Mize. In 1935, the veteran became a player-manager for the Huntington Red Birds and hit .307 with 92 runs. The 38-year-old stole 35 bases to lead the Middle Atlantic League.

In 1936, he hit .314, scored 90 runs and swiped 26 bases for Huntington. With the 1937 Portsmouth Red Birds, Benny hit .348, scored 114 runs and stole 22 bases. He guided Portsmouth to the 1938 MAL title, scoring 101 times in 117 runs and hitting .315/~.374/.386.

Borgmann also managed the 1939 Sacramento Solons to a title, but his playing performance fell at age 42, only hitting .231 in 58 games. He did not play in 1940, only managing Sacramento, but was back in the field for 2 games in 1941 (0 for 5 for the Syracuse Chiefs) and for 63 games for the 1942 Allentown Wings (.258).

Overall, Benny played 1,438 games in the minors, collecting 1,671 hits and 1,015 runs while stealing 284 bases. Never a slugger, he only cracked 11 homers. His average was .304.
He managed in the minors from 1935 to 1950. He scouted for the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins ( -1968), Seattle Pilots (1969), Milwaukee Brewers (1970-1971), and Oakland A's (1972-1974).