| Steve Sundra | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1910-03-27)March 27, 1910 Luxor, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| Died: March 23, 1952(1952-03-23) (aged 41) Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 17, 1936, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 28, 1946, for the St. Louis Browns | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 56–41 |
| Earned run average | 4.17 |
| Strikeouts | 214 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stephen Richard Sundra (March 27, 1910 – March 23, 1952) was apitcher inMajor League Baseball who played during eight seasons for theNew York Yankees (1936; 1938–1940),Washington Senators (1941–1942) andSt. Louis Browns (1942–1944; 1946). He batted and threw right-handed.
A native ofLuxor, Pennsylvania, Steve Sundra was the son of a Czech coal miner. The family moved toCleveland,Ohio, when he was 16 and Sundra starred insandlot ball there. He was signed by theCleveland Indians and made his pro debut in 1932, moving up to Toledo in 1934. Cleveland optioned Sundra to Minneapolis and Newark in 1935, and the Yankees obtained him in a three-pitcher deal in December, along withMonte Pearson, in exchange forJohnny Allen. His career in theAmerican League ran from 1936 to early in 1946, with time out for 1944–1945United States Army service during World War II.
In 1936, Sundra posted a 12–9 record for theNewark Bears, leading theInternational League with a 2.84earned run average. After onerelief appearance for the Yankees in April 1936, he was optioned back to Newark. The Bears won the IL championship with a 109–43 mark, and Sundra went 15–4, ranking eighth in the league in ERA (3.09), and was selected for the All-Star Game.
Sundra was a member of theWorld Champion Yankees in1938. He won his last fourstarts during the regular season, then ran off 11 straight victories (three in relief) for the 1939 AL pennant-winners before losing his last start of the season. He appeared in Game Four of the1939 World Series, pitching 2.2 innings of relief, allowing 4 hits, 3 runs, allunearned, 1 walk and striking out 2.
In 1940 Sundra faded, going 4–6, and the next year was sold to theWashington Senators, who in turn sent him to the St. Louis Browns in the 1942 midseason. He won 15 games in 1943, then in1944, began the year with twocomplete game victories for the pennant-bound Browns. But after his third start on May 2 he entered the Army, thus missing the1944 World Series, the only fall classic in which the Browns would ever appear during their 52-year history in theAmerican League. Sundra rejoined the Browns forspring training in 1946 after his discharge, but was released on May 29, marking the end of his baseball career.
Sundra was good with the bat for a pitcher, posting a .209batting average (63-for-302) with 33runs, 2home runs, 22RBI and 20bases on balls in 168 games.
Later, Sundra sued the Browns under theG.I. Bill, claiming that he should have been kept on the roster for one year. He asked for $5,413, the difference between what he had been paid and his 1946 salary, but lost infederal court in a decision rendered in 1949. He worked in construction until he fell ill in late 1950.
Sundra died in Cleveland, four days before his 42nd birthday, a victim of cancer.[1] He is buried in Cleveland's Calvary Cemetery.