Eddie Stanky
Encyclopedia
Edward Raymond Stanky nicknamed "The Brat", was an American second baseman
and manager
in Major League Baseball
. He played for the Chicago Cubs
(1943–1944), Brooklyn Dodgers
(1944–1947), Boston Braves
(1948–1949), New York Giants
(1950–1951), and St. Louis Cardinals
(1952–1953). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, and his original nickname, "The Brat from Kensington
," is in reference to the neighborhood where he grew up.
; he drew 100 walks each in 6 different seasons, twice posting 140. In 1946, Stanky hit
just .273, but his 137 walks allowed him to lead the league in OBP
with a .436 figure, edging out Stan Musial—who led in 10+ batting departments. His best season was probably in 1950 with New York, when he hit an even .300 and led the league in walks (144) and OBP (.460). On August 30 of that year, he tied a Major League record when he drew a walk in seven consecutive plate appearances. He accomplished the feat over a two-game span.
His Giants manager Leo Durocher
once summed up Stanky's talents: "He can't hit, can't run, can't field. He's no nice guy... all the little SOB can do is win." Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto
still complained years later about a play during the 1951 World Series where Stanky kicked the ball loose from Rizzuto's glove. Whenever he was the runner on third base, Stanky developed the habit of standing several feet back of the bag, in left field. If a fly ball was hit, he would time its arc, then take off running so as to step on third base just as the catch was being made. In this way he would be running towards home at full speed from the beginning of the play, making it almost impossible to throw him out. This tactic was made illegal following the season. Stanky was also (in)famous for what came to be called "the Stanky maneuver", where he would take advantage of his position on second base to distract opposing batters by jumping up and down and waving his arms behind the pitcher.
, in which Stanky appeared in all six games for the Giants and batted only .136, he was traded to the Cardinals and named their playing manager. In 1952
, his Cardinals won seven more games than they had in 1951
and he was chosen as Major League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News
. Ironically, these seven extra wins did not move the Redbirds up in the standings: they finished in third place in 1952, as they had done in 1951. His period as Cardinal manager coincided with the slow decline of its strong 1940s teams, a fallow period for its farm system, and the ownership transition between Fred Saigh
and August "Gussie" Busch, and by 1955
, the team had fallen further in the NL standings. He was fired May 27, 1955, with the Redbirds having won 17 of 36 games.
Stanky briefly managed in minor league baseball
, then served as a coach
for the Cleveland Indians
(1957–58) and a front-office and player development executive for the Cardinals (1959–64) and New York Mets
(1965), before succeeding Al Lopez
as the manager of the Chicago White Sox
after the 1965 campaign. His 1967
White Sox team—built on speed and pitching, but hampered by an impotent offense—contended for the American League
pennant until the final week of the season in a thrilling, four-team race. But they lost their last five games of the regular season to the non-contending Kansas City Athletics
and Washington Senators
, and finished three games out of first place. Then, in 1968
, the White Sox got off to a terrible start and were 34-45 when Stanky was fired on July 11.
in 1969, where he compiled a 488-193 (.717) record, with five NCAA Baseball Tournament
appearances over 14 seasons. He returned to the professional arena briefly in when he was named manager of the Texas Rangers
, succeeding Frank Lucchesi
in the middle of the MLB season. He won his debut game on June 22, but, having second thoughts about leaving his adopted state of Alabama
, he immediately resigned and resumed his post as coach at South Alabama. His career MLB managerial mark was 467-435 (.518).
Stanky was inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame
in 1990. He died at age 83 in Fairhope, Alabama
, leaving four children: Beverly, Kay, Mariann, and Mike. His father-in-law, Milt Stock
, was a Major League infielder and coach during the first half of the 20th century.
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and 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...
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...
. He played for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1943–1944), Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(1944–1947), Boston 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....
(1948–1949), New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1950–1951), and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1952–1953). He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, and his original nickname, "The Brat from Kensington
Kensington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kensington is a neighborhood in the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is between the Lower Northeast section of Philadelphia and North Philadelphia. Not to be confused with the former Kensington District, now commonly referred to as Fishtown, the area modernly referred to as...
," is in reference to the neighborhood where he grew up.
'All he can do is win'
Stanky was famous for his ability to draw walksBase on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
; he drew 100 walks each in 6 different seasons, twice posting 140. In 1946, Stanky hit
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 :...
just .273, but his 137 walks allowed him to lead the league in OBP
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
with a .436 figure, edging out Stan Musial—who led in 10+ batting departments. His best season was probably in 1950 with New York, when he hit an even .300 and led the league in walks (144) and OBP (.460). On August 30 of that year, he tied a Major League record when he drew a walk in seven consecutive plate appearances. He accomplished the feat over a two-game span.
His Giants manager Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
once summed up Stanky's talents: "He can't hit, can't run, can't field. He's no nice guy... all the little SOB can do is win." Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto
Phil Rizzuto
Philip Francis Rizzuto , nicknamed "The Scooter", was an American Major League Baseball shortstop. He spent his entire 13-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
still complained years later about a play during the 1951 World Series where Stanky kicked the ball loose from Rizzuto's glove. Whenever he was the runner on third base, Stanky developed the habit of standing several feet back of the bag, in left field. If a fly ball was hit, he would time its arc, then take off running so as to step on third base just as the catch was being made. In this way he would be running towards home at full speed from the beginning of the play, making it almost impossible to throw him out. This tactic was made illegal following the season. Stanky was also (in)famous for what came to be called "the Stanky maneuver", where he would take advantage of his position on second base to distract opposing batters by jumping up and down and waving his arms behind the pitcher.
Manager of Cardinals and White Sox
Stanky appeared in three World Series in the five years between 1947 and 1951 — with three different National League champions, the Dodgers, Braves and Giants. Following the 1951 World Series1951 World Series
The 1951 World Series matched the two-time defending champion New York Yankees against the New York Giants, who had won the National League pennant in a thrilling three-game playoff with the Brooklyn Dodgers on the legendary home run by Bobby Thomson .In the Series, the Yankees showed some power of...
, in which Stanky appeared in all six games for the Giants and batted only .136, he was traded to the Cardinals and named their playing manager. In 1952
1952 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 71st season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 61st season in the National League. The Cardinals went 88-66 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League....
, his Cardinals won seven more games than they had in 1951
1951 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 70th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 60th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 81-73 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League.- Offseason :...
and he was chosen as Major League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
. Ironically, these seven extra wins did not move the Redbirds up in the standings: they finished in third place in 1952, as they had done in 1951. His period as Cardinal manager coincided with the slow decline of its strong 1940s teams, a fallow period for its farm system, and the ownership transition between Fred Saigh
Fred Saigh
Frederick Michael Saigh Jr. was the part-owner, then sole owner, of the St. Louis Cardinals of American Major League Baseball from 1948 through 1953.- Pre-Cardinals years :...
and August "Gussie" Busch, and by 1955
1955 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 74th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 64th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 68-86 during the season and finished seventh in the National League, 30½ games behind the Brooklyn Dodgers....
, the team had fallen further in the NL standings. He was fired May 27, 1955, with the Redbirds having won 17 of 36 games.
Stanky briefly managed in minor league baseball
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...
, then served as a coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1957–58) and a front-office and player development executive for the Cardinals (1959–64) and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
(1965), before succeeding Al Lopez
Al Lopez
Alfonso Ramon "Al" Lopez was an American catcher and manager in Major League Baseball, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977....
as the manager of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
after the 1965 campaign. His 1967
1967 Chicago White Sox season
The 1967 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 67th season in the major leagues, and its 68th season overall. They finished with a record 89-73, good enough for fourth place in the American League, 3 games behind the first-place Boston Red Sox.- Offseason :...
White Sox team—built on speed and pitching, but hampered by an impotent offense—contended for the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennant until the final week of the season in a thrilling, four-team race. But they lost their last five games of the regular season to the non-contending Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
and Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, and finished three games out of first place. Then, in 1968
1968 Chicago White Sox season
The 1968 Chicago White Sox season was the team's 68th season in the major leagues, and its 69th season overall. They finished with a record 67-95, good enough for eighth place in the American League, 36 games behind the first-place Detroit Tigers....
, the White Sox got off to a terrible start and were 34-45 when Stanky was fired on July 11.
Success as college baseball coach
After his firing in Chicago, Stanky became the head baseball coach of the University of South AlabamaUniversity of South Alabama
The University of South Alabama is a public, doctoral-level university in Mobile, Alabama, USA. It was created by the Alabama Legislature in 1963, and replaced existing extension programs operated in Mobile by the University of Alabama. No other areas of the state were willing to support such a...
in 1969, where he compiled a 488-193 (.717) record, with five NCAA Baseball Tournament
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
appearances over 14 seasons. He returned to the professional arena briefly in when he was named manager of the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, succeeding Frank Lucchesi
Frank Lucchesi
Frank Joseph Lucchesi is a former manager in Major League Baseball who ran the Philadelphia Phillies , Texas Rangers and Chicago Cubs...
in the middle of the MLB season. He won his debut game on June 22, but, having second thoughts about leaving his adopted state of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, he immediately resigned and resumed his post as coach at South Alabama. His career MLB managerial mark was 467-435 (.518).
Stanky was inducted into the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame
Mobile Sports Hall of Fame
The Mobile Sports Hall of Fame honors sports figures who have made a significant impact in the Mobile Area. The organization is a section 501 non-profit and is operated by a volunteer Board of Directors...
in 1990. He died at age 83 in Fairhope, Alabama
Fairhope, Alabama
Fairhope is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, on a sloping plateau, along the cliffs and shoreline of Mobile Bay. The 2010 census lists the population of the city as 16,176....
, leaving four children: Beverly, Kay, Mariann, and Mike. His father-in-law, Milt Stock
Milt Stock
Milton Joseph Stock , was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball from 1912 through 1926. He would play for the New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Brooklyn Robins, and St. Louis Cardinals. Stock is believed to be the only major league player to get 4 hits in each of 4 consecutive...
, was a Major League infielder and coach during the first half of the 20th century.
External links
- Baseball-Reference.com - career playing statistics and managing record
- The Deadball Era
- Eddie Stanky at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
Managerial jobs