| Mike Ryba | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher /Catcher | |
| Born:(1903-06-09)June 9, 1903 De Lancey, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| Died: December 13, 1971(1971-12-13) (aged 68) Brookline Station, Missouri, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 22, 1935, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 29, 1946, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 52–34 |
| Earned run average | 3.66 |
| Strikeouts | 307 |
| Batting average | .235 |
| Runs batted in | 24 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Dominic Joseph "Mike"Ryba (June 9, 1903 – December 13, 1971) was an AmericanMajor League Baseballpitcher. A native ofDe Lancey, Pennsylvania, he attendedSaint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania.[citation needed] He was a right-hander and played for theSt. Louis Cardinals (1935–38) andBoston Red Sox (1941–46). In 1946, at the age of 43, he was the second-oldest player to appear in anAmerican League game that season.
Ryba was usually used in relief during his ten-yearmajor league career. Ryba appeared in 10 career games as acatcher. While in the minor leagues, he played all nine positions at various points. He made hismajor league debut on September 22, 1935, against theCincinnati Reds in game 1 of adoubleheader atSportsman's Park. He pitched seveninnings of two-hit relief and was the winning pitcher in the 14–4 game. He also had twohits and threeruns batted in to help his cause.[1]
In four seasons with St. Louis Ryba won 16 games, lost 9, and had anERA of 4.39. On September 5, 1940, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox for pitcherAl Brazle. Ryba was 37 years old and had not pitched in the big leagues for two years, but his best seasons were ahead of him.
In six years with the Red Sox, Ryba won 36 games, lost 25, saved 16, and had an ERA of 3.42. Boston won the pennant in his last season, and he appeared in Game # 4 of the1946 World Series, giving up anearned run and allowing twoinherited runners to score in2⁄3 of an inning. Ryba caught both games of a home doubleheader against theCleveland Indians on July 19, 1942.
Ryba finished in his league's top ten forgames finished 5 times,games pitched 3 times,saves twice, andwinning percentage once.
Career totals for 250 games (240 as a pitcher) include a record of 52–34 (.605), 36games started, 16complete games, 2shutouts, 132games finished, and 16 saves. Ryba allowed 319earned runs in 7832⁄3innings pitched for anERA of 3.66. He wielded a strong bat for a pitcher, hitting .235 (58-for-247) with 24 RBI. He was strong defensively as well, making just sevenerrors as a pitcher and none as a catcher.
Ryba managed in the Red Sox, Cardinals andCincinnati Redsfarm systems after his pitching career, coached for St. Louis from 1951 to 1955, and scouted for the Cardinals and Reds until his death, at the age of 68 inBrookline Station, Missouri, when he fell from a ladder in his yard while trimming branches of a tree.[2]