Al Cuccinello

Alfred Edward Cuccinello

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 165 lb.
• Debut May 17, 1935
• Final Game September 29, 1935
• Born August 26, 1914 in Long Island City, NY USA
• Died March 29, 2004 in Malverne, NY USA

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Biographical Information

Al Cuccinello played one season in the majors, at age 20. He was one of three second basemen used by the 1935 New York Giants, who were managed by Bill Terry.

Cuccinello got into 48 games at second base, while Mark Koenig was in 64 games there and Hughie Critz had 59 games at the position. Critz had the best range but hit only .187 in his last major league season at age 34, while Koenig had the worst range of the three but hit .283 at age 30. Cuccinello had almost as good range as Critz but the lowest fielding percentage of the three and his .248 batting average was in the middle of the three.

His brother Tony was an All-Star second baseman. In July 1935, Tony and Al became the first brothers on opposing teams to hit home runs in a game. Al and Tony were also uncles of Sam Mele.

Al's son Bob Cuccinello was interviewed in 2008, and remembered that Al spent half a season with the St. Louis Cardinals, although he did not get into a game, and was a long-time scout for the Yankees. His son Bob was a police detective. Yankee Fan's Dream

Al also played for the semi-pro Brooklyn Bushwicks from 1939 to the end of the team in 1951, and worked in sanitation. In years where statistics are available (up to 1946), he hit .291 with 91 doubles, 14 triples, and 0 home runs in 438 games for the Bushwicks, with 268 runs scored.

He served in the Coast Guard during World War II.