- Catfish Metkovich
George Michael "Catfish" Metkovich (
October 8 ,1920 —May 17 ,1995 ) was an Americanoutfielder andfirst baseman inMajor League Baseball for theBoston Red Sox (1943-46),Cleveland Indians (1947),Chicago White Sox (1949),Pittsburgh Pirates (1951-53),Chicago Cubs (1953) andMilwaukee Braves (1954). Born inAngels Camp, California , toCroatia n parents, Metkovich earned his nickname when he stepped on a catfish during a fishing trip and cut his foot; the injury and ensuing infection caused him to miss several games. [The Sporting News, 1954 Baseball Register, page 105]Metkovich stood 6'1" (185 cm) tall, weighed 185 pounds (84 kg), and batted and threw left-handed. He helped the Red Sox win the 1946
American League pennant as the team's semi-regularright fielder .Metkovich's early career was spent in the "Junior Circuit," but his salad days were in the
National League of the early 1950s. He finished 38th in voting for the 1952 National LeagueMost Valuable Player , playing in 125 games and having 373 at bats, 41 runs scored, 101 hits, 18 doubles, 3 triples, 7home runs , 41runs batted in , 5 stolen bases, 32 walks, .271 [batting Average, .335 on-base percentage, .391 slugging percentage, 146 total bases and 5 sacrifice hits. In his 10 MLB seasons he played in 1,055 games, batting .261 with 934 hits, 47 homers and 373 RBI. He managed in thePacific Coast League of the late 1950s with the San Diego Padres.He died in
Costa Mesa, California , at the age of 74.ee also
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Chicago White Sox all-time roster ources
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References
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