Whitey Kurowski
| Whitey Kurowski | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Third baseman | |
| Born:April 19, 1918 Reading, Pennsylvania,U.S. | |
| Died:December 9, 1999(aged 81) Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania,U.S. | |
Batted:Right Threw:Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 23, 1941, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 1, 1949, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .286 |
| Home runs | 106 |
| Runs batted in | 529 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
George John"Whitey"Kurowski(April 19, 1918 – December 9, 1999) was an Americanprofessional baseballthird baseman.He played his entire career inMajor League Baseball(MLB) for theSt. Louis Cardinalsfrom1941to1949and was anAll-Starin five consecutive seasons. Kurowski's childhood nickname came from his already white hair.[1]
Childhood
[edit]A native ofReading, Pennsylvania,Kurowski overcame several personal problems, including a bout with childhoodosteomyelitis[2]that eventually forced the removal of part of a bone on his right forearm.[1]Before he started his baseball career, his older brother died in a mine accident, and his father died from a heart attack during spring training in 1942.[1][3]
Playing career
[edit]Kurowski batted and threw right-handed, and debuted as Major Leaguer on September 23, 1941.
His most productive season came in1947,when he posted career-highs in average (.310), home runs (27), RBI (104),runs(108),doubles(27),slugging %(.544) andon-base %(.420).
AnAll-Starduring five consecutive seasons (1943–47), Kurowski exceeded the 20 home run mark three times to set a major league record for a third baseman (1944–45, 1947), and hit over.300 three times (1945–47). He also led theNational Leaguethree times inputouts,twice infielding %,and once indouble plays.[2]
In fourWorld Seriesappearances, Kurowski hit.253 (21-for-83) with one home run and nine RBI in 23 games, as the Cardinals were World Champions in1942,1944and1946.His only postseason homer came in 1942, offRed Ruffing,broke a 2–2 tie in the ninth inning of Game Five to clinch the title for St. Louis over theNew York Yankees.[2]
In 1949, he developed arm and elbow problems and his playing career ended, with his final game taking place on October 1, 1949.[2]
Across a nine-season career, Kurowski posted a.286batting averagewith 106home runsand 529RBIin 916games played.
Managing career
[edit]After retiring as a player, Kurowskicoachedandmanagedin theminor leaguesfor 18 years until 1972.[1]Additionally, he made rare appearances on the field as a player, working in both the Cardinal andCleveland Indiansorganizations. In his final professional at-bat in 1959, he recorded a base hit with Billings Mustangs of the Pioneer League.[4]
Legacy
[edit]Kurowski was a huge contributor for the Cardinals during their most successful run as a franchise, winning the World Series in1942,1944and1946and adding another National League pennant in1943.In games that Kurowski played, the Cardinals had a winning percentage of.620, finishing in second place or higher in every season of his career and winning 90+ games in all but two seasons. After retiring, the Redbirds wouldn't finish as high as second place again until 1957, and wouldn't claim anotherNational League pennant until 1964.
The five time National League All-Star started the 1946 All-Star Game at third base. But Kurowski's impact each season was felt long after the Midsummer Classic, as he proved to be a consistent player as the dog days of an often unforgiving baseball summer wore on. For instance, his slugging percentage increased by 15 points in the second half of the season, and he maintained his career.286 batting average across both halves of the season. Moreover, he hit 47% more home runs (and 15% more extra-base hits) in the second half of the season.[5]
Such was his consistency that Kurowski appeared five times in the National LeagueMVPballot, in 1942 and from 1944 through 1947.
He gained induction into theNational Polish-American Hall of Famein 1988.[1]
Kurowski was selected to theSt. Louis Cardinals Hall of Famein 2024.
Kurowski died inSinking Spring, Pennsylvania,at age 81.
See also
[edit]Notes and references
[edit]- ^abcde"The Baseball Biography Project".RetrievedOctober 30,2008.
- ^abcdCharlton, James; Shatzkin, Mike; Holtje, Stephen (1990).The Ballplayers: baseball's ultimate biographical reference.New York: Arbor House/William Morrow. p.592.ISBN0-87795-984-6.
- ^The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract.Free Press. 2001. p.568.ISBN0-684-80697-5.
- ^"1959 Billings Mustangs Statistics".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedDecember 26,2022.
- ^"Whitey Kurowski Career Batting Splits".Baseball-Reference.RetrievedDecember 26,2022.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference
- Baseball Almanac
- Whitey Kurowski- Baseballbiography
- Whitey KurowskiatFind a Grave
- Retrosheet
- The Deadball Era
- 1918 births
- 1999 deaths
- Allentown Cardinals players
- American people of Polish descent
- Billings Mustangs players
- Billings Mustangs managers
- Buffalo Bisons (minor league) managers
- Caruthersville Pilots players
- Columbus Red Birds players
- Houston Buffaloes players
- Lynchburg Cardinals players
- Major League Baseball third basemen
- National League All-Stars
- Peoria Chiefs players
- Portsmouth Red Birds players
- Rochester Red Wings players
- St. Louis Cardinals players
- Baseball players from Reading, Pennsylvania
- Wytheville Cardinals players