Johnny Kucks

John Charles Kucks (July 27, 1932 – October 31, 2013)[1] was a pitcher for the New York Yankees and Kansas City Athletics in Major League Baseball. In 1952, he was signed as an amateur free agent. Johnny Kucks won the final game of the 1956 World Series between the Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers, shutting out the Dodgers, 9–0 at Ebbets Field—the last World Series game ever played in that ballpark.[2]

Johnny Kucks
Kucks in 1956.
Pitcher
Born: (1932-07-27)July 27, 1932
Hoboken, New Jersey
Died: October 31, 2013(2013-10-31) (aged 81)
Saddle River, New Jersey
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 17, 1955, for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
September 25, 1960, for the Kansas City Athletics
MLB statistics
Win–loss record54–56
Earned run average4.10
Strikeouts338
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Born July 27, 1933, in Hoboken, New Jersey, Kucks grew up in Jersey City and played baseball at William L. Dickinson High School.[3]

Baseball career

On May 26, 1959 he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics, together with Jerry Lumpe and Tom Sturdivant, for Ralph Terry and Héctor López. On October 11, 1961 he was purchased by the Baltimore Orioles from the Athletics, but on December 1, 1961 the Orioles traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals for minor leaguer Ron Kabbes; however, he never played again in the majors.

Kucks was also the last pitcher to face Jackie Robinson, striking him out for the final out of the 1956 World Series.

Personal

A longtime resident of Hillsdale, New Jersey since his days with the Yankees, Kucks worked as a stockbroker after his baseball career ended. He died of cancer on October 31, 2013, at the Villa Marie Claire hospice in Saddle River, New Jersey.[3][4]

References
  1. Johnny Kucks, World Series hero for the Yankees in 1956, dead at 80
  2. AP staff writer (November 12, 2013) "Johnny Kucks – Baseball Pitcher" The Washington Post, page 6. Retrieved November 12, 2013
  3. Weber, Bruce. "Johnny Kucks, Who Pitched Yanks to Title, Dies at 81", The New York Times, November 1, 2013. Accessed November 3, 2013. "John Charles Kucks Jr. was born in Hoboken, N.J., on July 27, 1932. His father was a butcher. He graduated from Dickinson High School in Jersey City and played one year of minor league ball in the Yankees’ organization before serving in the Army.... He had lived for many years in Hillsdale, N.J."
  4. Levin, Jay. "Johnny Jucks, '56 Yankees ace and Hillsdale family man, at 81", The Record (Bergen County), November 3, 2013.
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