| Ken Kravec | |
|---|---|
_-_Memphis_Chicks_-_1988.jpg) Kravec in 1988 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1951-07-29)July 29, 1951 (age 74) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 4, 1975, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 1982, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 43–56 |
| Earned run average | 4.47 |
| Strikeouts | 557 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Kenneth Peter Kravec (born July 29, 1951) is an American professionalbaseballscout and a formerMajor Leaguepitcher and front office official. The 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), 185 lb (84 kg)left-hander appeared in 160games pitched, 128 as astarter, exclusively for theWhite Sox (1975–80) andCubs (1981–82).
Kravec graduated fromMidpark High School,Middleburg Heights, Ohio, playedcollege baseball atAshland University,[1] and was selected by the White Sox in the third round (69th overall) of the1973 Major League Baseball draft. He was promoted to the White Sox in September 1975 after posting arecord of 14–7 and anearned run average of 2.41 and was named to theDouble-ASouthern League's all-star team. In his Major League debut on September 4, he started against theKansas City Royals but lasted only 21⁄3innings, giving up only onehit but allowing sevenbases on balls and threeearned runs, taking theloss in a 7–1 Kansas City win.[2]
Kravec led all White Sox pitchers instrikeouts from 1977–79, and topped the ChiSox inwins in1979 with 15. He led theAmerican League inhit batsmen in1978 (with ten) and tied for the lead in 1979 (14), and finished second in theNational League in that category (4) instrike-shortened1981.
Kravec was the last pitcher to faceThurman Munson, the night before the legendary catcher's tragic death. Kravec walked Munson in the first inning, then struck him out in the third, before Munson was removed early in a Yankees' blowout win atComiskey Park.[citation needed]
After the White Sox signedfree agentcatcherCarlton Fisk during the 1980–81 offseason, Fisk found that Kravec was sporting the No. 27 uniform the futureHall of Famer had previously worn with theBoston Red Sox. As a result, Fisk reversed the digits and would wear No. 72 during his 13-year career with Chicago. Both numbers have been retired by their respective teams. Ironically, Kravec was traded to the Cubs (thecrosstown rivals of the White Sox) for right-handerDennis Lamp on March 28, 1981, just a few weeks into Fisk's tenure with the club.
All told, Kravec allowed 814 hits and 404 bases on balls in 8582⁄3 Major Leagueinnings pitched, with 557 strikeouts, sixshutouts, 24complete games, and onesave. His one save came on May 9, 1979, when he recorded the final out of the game to nail down a 5-4 victory over the Tigers.[3]
After his active career ended, he remained involved in baseball as a scout for the Royals,Florida Marlins, Cubs andTampa Bay Rays.
· Baseball Almanac, orRetrosheet