Steve Kuczek

Stanislaw Leo Kuczek

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 160 lb.
• School Colgate University
• High School Wilbur H. Lynch High School
• Debut September 29, 1949
• Final Game September 29, 1949
• Born December 28, 1924 in Amsterdam, NY USA
• Died November 21, 2010 in Scotia, NY USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Steve Kuczek played six seasons 1946 to 1950, four in college, one game in the Major Leagues (but he batted 1.000) and one in the minors. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II (BP).

Kuczek was one of seven children born to Joseph Kuczek, a machine repairman for the Mohawk Carpet Mill and Agnes Witek. He served as a weapons specialist in the 3rd army infantry, under General George S. Patton, in Central Europe during World War II, then went to college thanks to the G.I. Bill after his discharge from the military. He married Clara Pikul in 1947 and graduated from Colgate University in 1949. He had a cup of coffee with the Boston Braves in 1949 but he refused a minor league assignment to AA ball and became "voluntarily retired". In his only major league at-bat, he singled off Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He sired five children, three daughters (Pamela, Kathy, and Beth Lea) and two sons (Douglas and Stephen).

After retiring from baseball, he worked in the radiation protection field for the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Milton, NY, retiring in 1985. He died at home in Scotia, NY in 2010.

Related Sites

• Steve Kuczek at the SABR Bio Project