Jack Cusick
Encyclopedia
John Peter Cusick was a right-handed shortstop
in Major League Baseball
for the Chicago Cubs
and Boston Braves
.
Signed as an amateur free agent
out of high school by the Philadelphia Phillies
in 1946, Cusick was assigned to the Americus Phillies, a class D ballclub. From 1946 through 1948, he toiled in the lower levels of Philadelphia's farm system before being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals
in the 1948 minor league draft. Cusick was assigned to the AA level in both 1949 and 1950, but the Cardinals released him mid-1950 and he was signed by the New York Yankees
. After he spent just a portion of one season in the Yankees' organization, the Cubs drafted Cusick from the Yankees in the 1950 Rule 5 draft
, and he opened the 1951 season on a major league roster for the first time, as the Cubs' backup shortstop.
Cusick made his major league debut in the Cubs' sixth game, April 24, going 0-for-1 against Bill Werle
of the Pittsburgh Pirates
, but got his first major league hit in his next game, an RBI double off Kurt Krieger
of St. Louis. From that point until early July, Cusick served as the team's everyday shortstop. His first major league home run
came in the second game of a May 13 doubleheader against Piitsburgh, off Pirates starter Murry Dickson
. The second came just five days later, a grand slam
off Phillies reliever Ken Johnson. It would be his last. Cusick struggled to maintain a decent batting average and lost his starting job, though he remained with the team all season. He appeared in only 8 games after July 18, starting just once. After the season, the Cubs shipped Cusick to the Boston Braves in exchange for Bob Addis
.
Boston gave Cusick a new opportunity to be a starting shortstop, as he started most of their first 26 games. Batting just .161 after their May 17 game, Cusick lost his job to Johnny Logan
. Still, he stayed with the big league club, appearing in 25 more games that season, but made just seven appearances in the field, finding himself largely relegated to a pinch-hitter/pinch-runner role. Cusick's final major league hit came August 30, a single off Andy Hansen
.
Cusick found himself jobless in baseball after the 1952 season and subsequently retired. He died November 17, 1989 in Englewood, New Jersey
and is buried in George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey
.
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
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...
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...
and Boston Braves
Boston Braves
Boston Braves may refer to any of the following American professional sports teams:*Boston Braves , the Major League Baseball team now known as the Atlanta Braves...
.
Signed as an amateur free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
out of high school by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in 1946, Cusick was assigned to the Americus Phillies, a class D ballclub. From 1946 through 1948, he toiled in the lower levels of Philadelphia's farm system before being drafted by the 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...
in the 1948 minor league draft. Cusick was assigned to the AA level in both 1949 and 1950, but the Cardinals released him mid-1950 and he was signed by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. After he spent just a portion of one season in the Yankees' organization, the Cubs drafted Cusick from the Yankees in the 1950 Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
, and he opened the 1951 season on a major league roster for the first time, as the Cubs' backup shortstop.
Cusick made his major league debut in the Cubs' sixth game, April 24, going 0-for-1 against Bill Werle
Bill Werle
William George "Bill" Werle was a left-handed major league baseball pitcher fromOakland, California. He pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox from 1949–1954. His nickname was Bugs. He threw and batted left-handed...
of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, but got his first major league hit in his next game, an RBI double off Kurt Krieger
Kurt Krieger
Kurt Ferdinand Krieger , was a Major League Baseball player who played pitcher from to . Kurt is the first person born in Austria to play Major League Baseball. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals.-External links:...
of St. Louis. From that point until early July, Cusick served as the team's everyday shortstop. His first major league 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...
came in the second game of a May 13 doubleheader against Piitsburgh, off Pirates starter Murry Dickson
Murry Dickson
Murry Monroe Dickson was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the 1940s and 1950s...
. The second came just five days later, a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
off Phillies reliever Ken Johnson. It would be his last. Cusick struggled to maintain a decent batting average and lost his starting job, though he remained with the team all season. He appeared in only 8 games after July 18, starting just once. After the season, the Cubs shipped Cusick to the Boston Braves in exchange for Bob Addis
Bob Addis
Robert Gordon Addis, , more commonly known as Bob Addis, was a Major League outfielder.-Career:...
.
Boston gave Cusick a new opportunity to be a starting shortstop, as he started most of their first 26 games. Batting just .161 after their May 17 game, Cusick lost his job to Johnny Logan
Johnny Logan
Johnny Logan may refre to:*Johnny Logan , American baseball player*Johnny Logan , American basketball player*Johnny Logan , Australian-born Irish singer...
. Still, he stayed with the big league club, appearing in 25 more games that season, but made just seven appearances in the field, finding himself largely relegated to a pinch-hitter/pinch-runner role. Cusick's final major league hit came August 30, a single off Andy Hansen
Andy Hansen
Andrew Viggo "Andy" Hansen , nicknamed Swede, was a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. In a nine-season career, he played for the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Phillies...
.
Cusick found himself jobless in baseball after the 1952 season and subsequently retired. He died November 17, 1989 in Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
and is buried in George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey
Paramus, New Jersey
Paramus is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 26,342. A suburb of New York City, Paramus is located between 15–20 miles northwest of Midtown Manhattan and approximately west of Upper Manhattan.Paramus is one of...
.