Joe Soskovic

Joseph Peter Soskovic

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 168 lbs.

• Born 1925

BR minors page

Joe Soskovic, a 17-year-old catcher from Springfield, Massachusetts, was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers after taking part in a tryout camp in the nearby town of Holyoke. The towheaded youngster was with the Dodgers during part of August and September 1943 but did not get into a major-league game

In early September, a wire service photo showed Soskovic along with Rex Barney, Howie Schultz, Hal Gregg, and Luis Olmo. The caption noted that Branch Rickey had brought in new blood after a "pre-fall housecleaning." Soskovic and Johnny Cooney, then 42 years old, did not join the club for the western swing that concluded the season. Joe -- who was still too young to have a draft rating -- returned to high school in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Soskovic later played for four years (1946-48; 1950) in the Dodgers' minor-league system. While playing for Nashua in 1948, he caught a seven-inning no-hitter thrown by Dan Bankhead.