Ed Sadowski
Encyclopedia
Edward Roman Sadowski was a catcher
in Major League Baseball
who played from through for the Boston Red Sox
(1960), Los Angeles Angels
(1961–1963) and Atlanta Braves
(1966). Sadowski batted and threw right-handed. He debuted on April 20, 1960 and played his final game on October, 1966. He is the brother of Bob Sadowski and Ted Sadowski
, and uncle of Jim Sadowski
.
Coming from a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
baseball family, Sadowski was a valuable backup catcher for Russ Nixon
in Boston, Earl Averill
and Buck Rodgers
with the original Angels, and Joe Torre
in Atlanta. In 1963 he appeared in a career-high 80 games
and collected four home run
s with 24 runs
and 15 RBI
, also career-numbers.
In a five-season career, Sadowski was a .202 hitter
with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 217 games. He was the last Red Sox player to wear uniform #8 before it was issued in 1961
to eventual Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder
Carl Yastrzemski
.
Following his playing career, Sadowski served as a minor league
manager
and pitching instructor for the Montreal Expos
. He retired from baseball in 1970, becoming a physical education teacher in California
. He died in Garden Grove
at age 62, after suffering amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS), sometimes called Lou Gehrig
's disease.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played from through for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1960), Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
(1961–1963) and Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
(1966). Sadowski batted and threw right-handed. He debuted on April 20, 1960 and played his final game on October, 1966. He is the brother of Bob Sadowski and Ted Sadowski
Ted Sadowski
Theodore Sadowski was a middle-relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins . Sadowski batted and threw right-handed...
, and uncle of Jim Sadowski
Jim Sadowski
James Michael Sadowski is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the season. Sadowski batted and threw right-handed...
.
Coming from a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
baseball family, Sadowski was a valuable backup catcher for Russ Nixon
Russ Nixon
Russell Eugene Nixon is a former catcher, coach and manager in American Major League Baseball. A veteran of 55 years in professional baseball, Nixon has managed at virtually every level of the sport, from the lowest minor league to MLB assignments with the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves...
in Boston, Earl Averill
Earl Averill, Jr.
Earl Douglas Averill, Jr. , is a former professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from 1956-1963. He played for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cleveland Indians.-External links:...
and Buck Rodgers
Buck Rodgers
Robert LeRoy "Buck" Rodgers is a former catcher, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he helmed three major league teams: the Milwaukee Brewers , Montreal Expos and California Angels , compiling a career won-lost mark of 784–773 .-Playing career:Rodgers attended Ohio Wesleyan...
with the original Angels, and Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
in Atlanta. In 1963 he appeared in a career-high 80 games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
and collected four home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s with 24 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and 15 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, also career-numbers.
In a five-season career, Sadowski was a .202 hitter
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
with 12 home runs and 39 RBI in 217 games. He was the last Red Sox player to wear uniform #8 before it was issued in 1961
1961 Boston Red Sox season
The Boston Red Sox season involved the Red Sox finishing sixth in the American League with a record of 76 wins and 86 losses.- Regular season :Future Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski made his major league debut on Opening Day, April 11...
to eventual Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Yastrzemski
Carl Michael Yastrzemski is a former American Major League Baseball left fielder and first baseman. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989. Yastrzemski played his entire 23-year baseball career with the Boston Red Sox . He was primarily a left fielder, with part of his later career...
.
Following his playing career, Sadowski served as a minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and pitching instructor for the Montreal Expos
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. He retired from baseball in 1970, becoming a physical education teacher in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He died in Garden Grove
Garden Grove, California
Garden Grove is a city located in northern Orange County, California. The population was 170,883 at the 2010 census. State Route 22, also known as the Garden Grove Freeway, passes through the city running east-west. The city is known outside the Southern California area for being the home of Robert H...
at age 62, after suffering amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
(ALS), sometimes called Lou Gehrig
Lou Gehrig
Henry Louis "Lou" Gehrig , nicknamed "The Iron Horse" for his durability, was an American Major League Baseball first baseman. He played his entire 17-year baseball career for the New York Yankees . Gehrig set several major league records. He holds the record for most career grand slams...
's disease.