| Bob Kuzava | |
|---|---|
 Kuzava with the New York Yankees in 1953 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1923-05-28)May 28, 1923 Wyandotte, Michigan, U.S. | |
| Died: May 15, 2017(2017-05-15) (aged 93) Wyandotte, Michigan, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 21, 1946, for the Cleveland Indians | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 29, 1957, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 49–44 |
| Earned run average | 4.05 |
| Strikeouts | 446 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Robert Leroy "Sarge" Kuzava (May 28, 1923 – May 15, 2017) was an American professionalbaseball player, a left-handedpitcher for theCleveland Indians (1946–1947),Chicago White Sox (1949–1950),Washington Senators (1950–1951),New York Yankees (1951–1954),Baltimore Orioles (1954–1955),Philadelphia Phillies (1955),Pittsburgh Pirates (1957) andSt. Louis Cardinals (1957). He was born inWyandotte, Michigan and attended St. Patrick High School. In 2003, Kuzava was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame.[1]
Born and raised in theDetroit area, Kuzava made his Major League debut against theDetroit Tigers. He was the Indians' starting pitcher for a late-season 1946 game in Cleveland, and over eight innings he gave up just four hits and one earned run. He got no decision, the game lasting 11 innings, with Detroit'sDizzy Trout pitching all 11 for the victory. He spent most of the 1947 and 1948 seasons in the minor leagues before his breakout season with the White Sox in 1949.
Kuzava, whose nickname was "Sarge" or "The White Rat,"[2] finished fourth in voting for the 1949American League Rookie of the Year for having a 10–6 record for theChicago White Sox, with nine complete games. He had served as amilitary policeman inIndia and Burma duringWorld War II.[3]
Kuzava helped the Yankees win three consecutive World Series from 1951–53. He gainedsaves in the final games of both the1951 World Series against theNew York Giants (Game 6) and1952 against theBrooklyn Dodgers (Game 7). He pitched in the ninth inning of a1953 World Series Game 5 victory for the Yankees as well.
Although his success in the World Series came in relief, Kuzava was a starting pitcher for the Yankees for three seasons, throwing 12 complete games. He joined them on June 15, 1951, with the Washington Senators trading him to New York for three players, and proceeded to earn three championship rings as a Yankee.
In a ten-season career, Kuzava had a 49–44 win–loss record, 13 saves, 446 strikeouts and a 4.05earned run average (ERA).
Kuzava died on May 15, 2017, 13 days short of his 94th birthday.[4]
· Baseball Almanac