Johnny Kucab
Encyclopedia
John Albert Kucab was a standout pitcher
in major and minor league
baseball who is best known for pitching the Philadelphia Athletics to victory in Connie Mack
's last game as a major league manager.
. In 1940, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds
organization's Lenior, North Carolina
, farm team, where he pitched a winning game but missed the bulk of the season due to an injury. The next year, he moved to Harrisonburg
, in the Class C Virginia
League, and "seemed headed to stardom".
World War II
intervened, however, and Kucab would spend 47 months in the armed service, where he saw active duty in the European and Pacific theaters. His obituary states that this development may have "kept him from attaining a longer stay in the major leagues".
, in 1946. As a pitcher for the Youngstown Gremlins
, Kucab posted a 13-1 record, followed up by 12-4. After four minor league seasons, he was "called up" by Connie Mack.
Kucab made his major league debut on September 14, 1950. A couple of weeks later, Kucab pitched the Philadelphia Athletics to a 5-3 victory over the Washington Senators
, a game that turned out to be an "historic achievement". The ball used in the October 1, 1950, match between Philadelphia and Washington is currently housed in the Baseball Hall of Fame, at Cooperstown, New York
, "marking the last game the legendary Connie Mack ever managed". Kucab played for two seasons with Philadelphia.
farm team in Kansas City".
As his career wound down, Kucab settled in Youngstown, where he had met his wife, Mary, in 1946. During the last decade of his life, he was associated with Youngstown's Hovanec Distributing Company. In 1977, John Kucab died of a heart attack at his home in neighboring Campbell, Ohio
.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in major and minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
baseball who is best known for pitching the Philadelphia Athletics to victory in Connie Mack
Connie Mack (baseball)
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. , better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball player, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds records for wins , losses , and games managed , with his victory total being almost 1,000 more...
's last game as a major league manager.
Early years
Kucab was born in Olyphant, PennsylvaniaOlyphant, Pennsylvania
Olyphant is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, approximately five miles northeast of Scranton on the Lackawanna River in the heart of the anthracite region of the State. Once engaged in the shipping of coal as its main source of employment, Olyphant experienced a severe downturn in the...
. In 1940, he signed with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
organization's Lenior, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, farm team, where he pitched a winning game but missed the bulk of the season due to an injury. The next year, he moved to Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
, in the Class C Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
League, and "seemed headed to stardom".
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
intervened, however, and Kucab would spend 47 months in the armed service, where he saw active duty in the European and Pacific theaters. His obituary states that this development may have "kept him from attaining a longer stay in the major leagues".
Major league career
Following the war, Kucab signed with the Philadelphia Athletics, which brought him to Youngstown, OhioYoungstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, in 1946. As a pitcher for the Youngstown Gremlins
Youngstown Gremlins
The Youngstown Gremlins were a minor league club affiliated with the Mid-Atlantic League. The club made its debut in 1946, the sixth consecutive season in which the National Amateur Baseball Federation tournament was hosted by Youngstown, Ohio.- Record :...
, Kucab posted a 13-1 record, followed up by 12-4. After four minor league seasons, he was "called up" by Connie Mack.
Kucab made his major league debut on September 14, 1950. A couple of weeks later, Kucab pitched the Philadelphia Athletics to a 5-3 victory over the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, a game that turned out to be an "historic achievement". The ball used in the October 1, 1950, match between Philadelphia and Washington is currently housed in the Baseball Hall of Fame, at Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
, "marking the last game the legendary Connie Mack ever managed". Kucab played for two seasons with Philadelphia.
Later years
Following his retirement from the major leagues in 1952, he went on to pitch for an additional 13 seasons with various minor league teams. His obituary stated: "Among his top performances in baseball is a string of 19-straight wins while pitching for Ralph Houk at a New York YankeesNew 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...
farm team in Kansas City".
As his career wound down, Kucab settled in Youngstown, where he had met his wife, Mary, in 1946. During the last decade of his life, he was associated with Youngstown's Hovanec Distributing Company. In 1977, John Kucab died of a heart attack at his home in neighboring Campbell, Ohio
Campbell, Ohio
Campbell is a city in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. The population was 8,235 at the 2010 census. Residents generally pronounce the city's name as "camel" , with a silent "PB". Campbell is served by a branch of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County...
.