Cass Michaels

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=Silver
bgcolor2=Black
textcolor1=black
textcolor2=white
name=Cass Michaels
position=Second baseman
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=August 19
debutyear=by|1943
debutteam=Chicago White Sox
finaldate=August 27
finalyear=by|1954
finalteam=Chicago White Sox
stat1label=AVG
stat1value=.262
stat2label=H
stat2value=1142
stat3label=RBI
stat3value=501
teams=
*Chicago White Sox (1943-1950), (1954)
*Washington Senators (1950-1952)
*St. Louis Browns (1952)
*Philadelphia Athletics (1952-1953)
highlights=
*All-Star: 1949, 1950

Casimir Eugene Michaels (March 4, 1926-November 12, 1982) was a Major League Baseball second baseman. He was born in Detroit, Michigan as Casimir Eugene Kwietniewski, and was primarily a second baseman throughout his career, though he was also a third baseman and shortstop for a time.cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/m/michaca01.shtml|title=Cass Michaels Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=2007-05-22]

Under his real name, Michaels was signed to a major league contract by the Chicago White Sox at the age of 17 before the 1943 season, but only played in 2 games that season. He was the second youngest player in the American League when he made his major league debut, being older than 16-year old Carl Scheib. He played in 27 games the following season, and during the 1945 season actually played a full season at shortstop due to Luke Appling serving in the US Navy. [cite web|url=http://www.garybed.co.uk/those_who_served.htm|title=Those Who Served|accessdate=2007-05-22] He saw a smaller amount of playing time during the 1946 season and the 1947 season due to Appling's return,cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/M/Michaels_Cass.stm|title=Cass Michaels - BaseballLibrary.com|accessdate=2007-05-25] playing both second and third base when the starters sat out. For the 1948 season, he was moved from third base and second base to shortstop and second, due to modest fielding percentages of .938 and .927 when he played at third. Appling played some games at third, and as a result Michaels played his first full season in 1948. After Don Kolloway was traded at the start of the 1949 season, Michaels became the starting second baseman, and played in all 154 games there which led to his first all-star appearance as the starting second baseman. He also notched a career high 9 triples that season, as well as a career high batting average of .308. After playing part of the 1950 season for the White Sox, Cass was traded to the Washington Senators on May 31 along with Bob Kuzava and Johnny Ostrowski for Eddie Robinson, Al Kozar, and Ray Scarborough.

Michaels continued to play well for Washington, and as a result earned his second trip to the all-star game. He played another full season for Washington, and began the 1952 season with them before being to the St. Louis Browns for Lou Sleater and Fred Marsh. Michaels then went to a third team for the 1952 season as he was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Athletics on August 5, where he was able to play second base, having played third for St. Louis. He played the 1953 season for Philadelphia, where he hit a career-high 12 home runs. On December 8, 1953, the Chicago White Sox purchased Michaels from the Athletics, effectively bringing Michaels back to his old team. His career ended on August 27, 1954, in a game between the White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics. In what became an 11-0 White Sox victory, Cass was hit in the head by a pitch from Marion Fricano. He had to be carried from the field, and was given last rites at the hospital, as he was in critical condition. [cite web |url=http://www.thebaseballpage.com/features/2003/beanball_history.htm |title=An Unofficial History of the Beanball |accessdate=2007-05-25] Michaels recovered, but the pitch impaired his vision and caused him to end his career. Michaels died in Grosse Pointe, Michigan on November 12, 1982. [cite web|url=http://thedeadballera.com/Obits/Michaels.Cass.Obit.html|title=Cass Michaels' obit|accessdate=2007-05-25]

ee also

* Chicago White Sox all-time roster

References

External links

* [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=michaca01 Cass Michaels at Baseball Almanac]