Sig Jakucki

Sigmund Jakucki
(Jack)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2½", Weight 198 lb.

• Debut August 30, 1936
• Final Game August 29, 1945
• Born August 20, 1909 in Camden, NJ USA
• Died May 28, 1979 in Galveston, TX USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Sig Jakucki pitched three years for the St. Louis Browns (1936, and 1944-1945) and another seven years in the minor leagues. He went 13-9 in 1944 for the pennant-winning Browns and 12-10 in 1945. He defeated the New York Yankees, 5 to 2, in the final game of the 1944 season to win the pennant for the Browns.

The book As Good As it Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns has quite a lot of text about Jakucki, who had a reputation as a drinker and brawler. Jakucki joined the army in 1927 and served more than one term before he was discovered playing service ball and released by the army so he could play for the minor league Honolulu team. He played infield, outfield and pitcher. He also played part of one season for the Oakland Oaks before becoming a full-time pitcher in 1934 for the Galveston Buccaneers where he went 10-7 and in the following year 15-14.

The Browns bought him from Galveston in 1936, and while he made their team in 1937, he didn't appear in a game and was sent back to Texas. He also pitched for the New Orleans Pelicans in 1937. After 1937 he quit the minors, traveling around the world and sometimes playing semi-pro ball. When he was in the military a second time in World War II, he was again spotted playing service ball and the Browns re-signed him.

He pitched a seven-inning 10 to 0 no-hit game against the Oklahoma City Indians of the Texas League, on July 16, 1936.

One source says that Sig continued to drink after he left baseball and was a homeless beggar in Galveston, TX. He would sometimes prevail on the friendship of former teammate and Texas politician Frank Mancuso. broken link He died at age 69 of natural causes and is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Galveston. Jakucki's obituary read, "Owned a $100,000 arm and a million-dollar thirst."

Sig's name appears as "Sigmund Jakucki" among the lyrics for the song "Van Lingle Mungo" by David Frishberg.

Further Reading

• Gregory H. Wolf: "Sig Jakucki", in Bill Nowlin, ed.: Van Lingle Mungo: The Man, The Song, The Players, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2014, pp. 93-98. ISBN 978-1-933599-76-2

Related Sites

• Sig Jakucki at the SABR Bio Project