Eddie Kazak

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Edward Terrance Kazak
born Edward Terrance Tkaczuk

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.
• High School Steubenville High School
• Debut September 29, 1948
• Final Game July 1, 1952
• Born July 18, 1920 in Steubenville, OH USA
• Died December 15, 1999 in Austin, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Eddie Kazak worked his way back from serious injuries suffered during World War II to become one of the more unlikely All-Stars in major league history, although his career was curtailed shortly after that by injury.

Kazak was severely wounded twice while serving in Europe during World War II. He was bayoneted in the arm and later, his right elbow was crushed by shrapnel and falling mortar. He spent 18 months in the hospital recovering from surgery and was told he would never play baseball again.

Remarkably, he fought his way to the majors and as a 28-year-old rookie for the 1949 St. Louis Cardinals, was the starting third baseman for the 1949 NL All-Star team and went 2 for 2 at the plate. Shortly after the All-Star Game, he chipped bones in his ankle while sliding, and lost his third base job to Tommy Glaviano.

Kazak was never a major league regular again, but he led the NL with 42 pinch hit at-bats in 1950.

On May 13, 1952, Kazak was traded with Wally Westlake to the Cincinnati Reds for Dick Sisler and Virgil Stallcup. He also played on the AAA Buffalo Bisons in 1952, and had an appendectomy during the season performed by the club doctor.

Lifetime, he had 605 at-bats over 5 seasons with a .273 batting average. In his peak season, 1949, he hit .304.

Source: Snyder, John (2006). Cardinals Journal: Year by Year & Day by Day with the St. Louis Cardinals since 1882. Emmis Books. ISBN: 1-57860-254-8.

Trivia

• Kazak is one of the few major leaguers whose name is a palindrome.
• After Kazak, it was over 50 years before another Cardinals rookie would play in the All-Star Game. The next one was Albert Pujols in 2001.

Notable Achievements

• NL All-Star (1949)