Max Surkont

Max Surkont
Surkont in about 1952.
Pitcher
Born: June 16, 1922(1922-06-16) Central Falls, Rhode Island
Died: October 8, 1986(1986-10-08) (aged 64) Largo, Florida
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 19, 1949 for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
May 1, 1957 for the New York Giants
Career statistics
Win-Loss record	61–76
Earned run average	4.38
Innings pitched	1,194⅓
Teams
Chicago White Sox (1949) Boston/Milwaukee Braves (1950–1953) Pittsburgh Pirates (1954–1956) St. Louis Cardinals (1956) New York Giants (1956–1957)

Matthew Constantine "Max" Surkont (June 16, 1922 — October 8, 1986) was an American professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1949-1957. He would play for the Chicago White Sox, Boston Braves, Milwaukee Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Giants. The nickname Max was given to him by his childhood friends.^[1]

Minor league pitcher

A native of Central Falls, Rhode Island, Surkont was in the St. Louis Cardinals organization as a major league prospect. He was highly touted in 1942, prior to injuring his arm during spring training. This impeded his advancement throughout the season, as the injury was of a lingering kind.^[2] Surkont was sold to the Braves before being returned to the Cardinals after manager Billy Southworth passed on him. He was again shipped to the Rochester Red Wings, where he remained until 1949. Then the Chicago White Sox risked the draft price on Surkont. The team was struggling at the time to emerge from the second division of the American League standings.^[3]

Career highlight

Surkont pitched for the Milwaukee Braves in 1953. Against the Cincinnati Reds on May 25, 1953, he recorded eight consecutive strikeouts. Following his seventh straight strikeout, Surkont was forced to endure a thirty-five minute rain delay. Afterward he struck out Andy Seminick to lead off the fifth inning. Surkont struck out thirteen batters in the game, a 10 - 3 Braves victory. He was 11 - 5 for the season and recorded a 61 - 76 career record. ^[4] The record stood until Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, Tom Seaver, struck out ten in a row in 1970.^[5]

He was projected to be a top starter for Pittsburgh, where he was traded prior to the 1954 season..^[6] It was reported that Surkont ate his way off the Braves' team, having an especial fondness for polish sausage.^[7]

References

1. ^ Baseball Register, 1956, C.C Spink & Son, pg. 232.
2. ^ High-flying birds: the 1942 St. Louis Cardinals, Jerome M. Mileur, University of Missouri Press, 2009, pg. 134.
3. ^ Baseball Digest, August 1951, pg. 69.
4. ^ Baseball Digest, September 2004, pg. 9.
5. ^ The Braves Encyclopedia, Gary Caruso, Temple University Press, 1995, pg. 381.
6. ^ The Pittsburgh Pirates Encyclopedia, David Finoli and Bill Rainer, Sports Publishing, LLC, 2003, pg 117.
7. ^ Baseball Digest, October 1987, pg. 28.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference

Persondata
Name	Surkont, Max
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	June 16, 1922
Place of birth	Central Falls, Rhode Island
Date of death	October 8, 1986
Place of death	Largo, Florida