Lou Bekeza

Lewis Bekeza (Zeke)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 195 lb.

• Born August 14, 1917
• Died August 20, 2004

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Lou Bekeza played minor league ball from 1938 to 1954, missing the 1942-1945 seasons. After the war, he was a player/manager for many years and also served as general manager of the Centralia Zeroes and Centralia Sterlings in 1950-1951.

Over the course of his 12-year minor league playing career, Bekeza played in at least 1,238 minor league games, collecting at least 1,367 hits.

Bekeza was involved in a situation on July 4, 1947, while managing the Elizabethton Betsy Cubs. During that game, Bekeza started an argument with umpire Jeff Puckett, who ended up being knocked unconscious and getting a broken nose from an angry Elizabethton fan. Bekeza was fined $20 and suspended three games for starting the initial argument, and the team was fined $75 for allowing money to be collected in the stands to pay the fine levied on Puckett's attacker.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record

Year	Team	League	Record	Finish	Organization	Playoffs
1946	Elizabethton Betsy Cubs	Appalachian League	68-57	3rd	Chicago Cubs	Lost League Finals
1947	Elizabethton Betsy Cubs	Appalachian League	62-64	5th	Chicago Cubs
1948	Marion Cubs	Ohio-Indiana League		--	Chicago Cubs	--	replaced by Frank Kristie June 30
	Janesville Cubs	Wisconsin State League		8th	Chicago Cubs	none	replaced Robert O'Connell July 1
1949	Centralia Cubs	Mississippi-Ohio Valley League	74-44	1st	none	Lost in 1st round
1950	Centralia Sterlings	Mississippi-Ohio Valley League	83-40	1st	none	Finals cancelled
1951	Centralia Zeros	Mississippi-Ohio Valley League	69-51	2nd	none	Lost in 1st round
1952	Yuma Panthers	Southwest International League	62-68	4th	none	none
1954	Mount Vernon Kings	Mississippi-Ohio Valley League	57-69	8th	none