Steve Souchock
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Steve Souchock | ||
|---|---|---|
| Outfielder, First baseman | ||
| Born: March 3, 1919 | ||
| Died: July 28, 2002 (aged 83) | ||
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | ||
| May 25, 1946 for the New York Yankees |
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| Final game | ||
| April 15, 1955 for the Detroit Tigers |
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| Career statistics | ||
| Hits | 313 | |
| Batting average | .255 | |
| Home runs | 50 | |
| Teams | ||
| Career highlights and awards | ||
|
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Stephen Souchock (March 3, 1919 – July 28, 2002) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and first basemen and a former veteran who served for the military during World War II.[1] His Major League Baseball career lasted a total of eight years, having served in the military for three years. Born in Yatesboro, Pennsylvania, Souchock worked on the assembly line at the Ford factory during his early life. He also played semi-pro football for the Dearborn Club in 1938. During his baseball career, he batted and threw right-handed.
Contents |
[edit] Career
[edit] Minor League Baseball
New York Yankees’ scout Bill Skiff had scouted Steve Souchock, and eventually signed with the New York Yankees in June of 1939, before the 1939 baseball season.[2] From 1939–1942, Souchock played baseball in the New York Yankees organization. In 1942, Souchock was the Eastern League Most Valuable Player and won the league batting title with a batting average of .315.
[edit] Military service
In 1943, The New York Yankees were possibly going call-up and use Souchock as a replacement for Buddy Hassett as first baseman in Major League Baseball, but he instead entered military service in January of that year.[3] In the military, served in the 691st Tank Destroyer Battalion of the 87th Infantry Division, US Army.[3] He served in the European Theater of Operations. Serving the military for three years, he eventually earned the rank of First Sergeant.[3] He fought in the Battle of the Bulge.[1][4] His unit was attached to Patton's 3rd Army.[1] Toward the end of his military service, Souchock earned a Bronze Star in Europe as commander of a five-man gun crew.[3] He returned home with five battle stars in late 1945, Souchock said, "The war cost me three important years, as it did many ballplayers."[3] On December 6, 1945, at Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Souchock had been discharged from military service.[3]
[edit] Major League Baseball
The following year on May 25, 1946, Souchock made his major league debut with the New York Yankees. That year, he played 47 games and batted .302 with two home runs. He had been listed at 6-02½ in height, and 203 lb. in weight. He played two baseball seasons with the New York Yankees, until being traded on December 14, 1948 by the New York Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for outfielder Jim Delsing.[2] He played in 84 games with the Chicago White Sox, hitting seven home runs. On November 16, 1950, Souchock was drafted by the Detroit Tigers from the Chicago White Sox in the 1950 rule 5 draft. For the last five years of his Major League Baseball career, Souchock played with the Detroit Tigers. He broke his wrist in 1954, which ended his effectiveness.[3][4] His last game was played on April 15, 1955.
Souchock died on July 28, 2002 in Dearborn, Michigan.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Was a player and a veteran of World War II". historicbaseball.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-30.
- ^ a b "Transactions". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-30.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Steve Souchock's baseball career and military service". baseballinwartime.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-09-30.
- ^ a b "The Ballplayers: Steve SouChock". baseballlibrary.com. Retrieved on 2008-09-30.