Eddie Kazak

Infobox MLB retired
name = Eddie Kazak
position = Third baseman
birthdate = 18 July 1920
deathdate = death date and age|1999|12|15|1920|7|18
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = September 29
debutyear = 1948
debutteam = St. Louis Cardinals
finaldate = July 1
finalyear = 1952
finalteam = Cincinnati Reds
stat1label= Batting average
stat1value= .273
stat2label= Hits
stat2value= 165
stat3label= Home runs
stat3value= 11
teams =
* St. Louis Cardinals (1948-1952)
* Cincinnati Reds (1952)
highlights=
* All-Star: 1949

Edward Terrance Kazak (July 18, 1920 in Steubenville, Ohio - December 15, 1999 in Austin, Texas), is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds from 1948-1952. Born Edward Terrance Tkaczuk, he graduated from Cecil Township High School in 1938, where he played both baseball and soccer.cite web|url=http://www.garybed.co.uk/player_biographies/kazak_eddie.htm|title=Baseball in Wartime - Eddie Kazak|publisher=Baseball in Wartime|first=Gary|last=Bedingfield|accessdate=2008-05-31] He played sandlot baseball and played in the Georgia-Florida League for a few years, boasting a batting average of .378 in 1941 when with Albany, the team that won the Georgia-Florida pennant.

After the end of the 1942 season on October 1, Kazak entered the military and enlisted with the United States Army. He was originally stationed in Brooks Field, Texas, then joined the paratroopers in 1943. In 1944, Kazak left the United States for Europe. After the Invasion of Normandy, Kazak sustained a bayonet wound to his left arm and had his right elbow shattered by shrapnel. As a result, he spent 18 months in hospitals recovering and enduring numerous operations, including one where a plastic patch was put in place of the missing bone in his elbow. By the time he was released in December 1945, his doctors has told him to forget about baseball.

In 1946, Kazak spent the season in the South Atlantic League, playing for Columbus, and would later go on to play for the Rochester Red Wings. Though he has been a second baseman throughout his career, he moved to third base while playing for Rochester in 1948. By the end of the season, Kazak was promoted to the Major Leagues.

Kazak made his major league debut on September 29, 1948, and played in six games with 22 at-bats during the 1948 St. Louis Cardinals season.cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kazaked01.shtml|title=Eddie Kazak Statistics|publisher=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=2008-06-04] The 1949 St. Louis Cardinals season was Kazak's best statistical season. In 92 games, he had a career-high batting average of .304, 6 home runs, 3 triples, and made his only All-Star appearance. In the 1949 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Kazak was the starting third baseman, and had two hits in two at-bats. However, Kazak was later injured and lost his starting job to Tommy Glaviano, becoming a pinch hitter during the 1950 season.cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Eddie_Kazak_1920|title=The Ballplayers - Eddie Kazak|publisher=Baseball Library|accessdate=2008-06-04] He had 207 at-bats in 93 games during the 1950 St. Louis Cardinals season, and led the National League with 42 pinch hit at-bats. Kazak only played 11 games the following season, and after playing three games in 1952, the Cardinals traded him with Wally Westlake to the Cincinnati Reds for Dick Sisler and Virgil Stallcup. However, Kazak only had one hit in 13 games as a member of the Reds, which marked the end of his Major League career.

Kazak continued to play baseball after his Major League career was over. He played his last professional game at the age of 40 in 1960 while playing for Austin in the Texas League. He died in Austin, Texas on December 15, 1999.

References

External links

*baseball-reference|id=k/kazaked01
* [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=kazaked01 Eddie Kazak at Baseball Almanac]