Xavier Rescigno

Xavier Frederick Rescigno
(Mr. X)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10½", Weight 175 lb.
• School Manhattan College
• High School Archbishop Molloy High School
• Debut April 22, 1943
• Final Game September 30, 1945
• Born October 13, 1913 in New York, NY USA
• Died December 24, 2005 in Sun City West, AZ USA

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Biographical information

Xavier Rescigno, "Mr. X", played three seasons in the major leagues during the war years of 1943-1945, but his greatest fame was as a minor leaguer who excelled during many of his 14 minor league seasons. He had a record of 154-120 in the minors and 19-22 in the majors.

In the Minors

In 1935 and 1936, he played in the New York-Pennsylvania League and the Middle Atlantic League.

He played in the Piedmont League, the Three I League, and the Canadian-American League in 1937. For the Can-Am's Smiths Falls Beavers he went 16-7 and led the league with a 1.56 ERA. He appeared in 7 games with the legendary 1938 Newark Bears and also played in the Eastern League. In 1939 he led the Eastern League in ERA. In 1939 he also played for the Montreal Royals, and continued there in 1940, although he played mostly in the Eastern League again.

In 1942 he led the Eastern League with 23 wins, playing alongside teammate Ralph Kiner on the Albany Senators team.

Major League Career

Picked up by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1943, he had a strong ERA of 2.98 in his first season with them as he started 14 games and relieved in 23 others.

He then became a relief workhorse in 1944 and 1945, as he was 2nd in the National League in appearances by a pitcher in 1944 and sixth in 1945. He was in the top 3 in the league both years in Games Finished, and although saves were not an official statistic, was in the top 3 in the league both years in that category also.

The catcher at the time was Al Lopez, and the star of the starting rotation was Rip Sewell. Xavier's ERA worsened each year, though, and by 1946 he was pitching elsewhere.

Return to the Minors

Rescigno spent the next five years in the Pacific Coast League. In 1946 and 1947, he was with the Hollywood Stars, where he posted records of 11-9 each year. He played on the 1948 San Diego Padres, going 18-14, and in 1949 with them went 10-15.

In 1950 he started poorly with the San Francisco Seals and moved over to the Eastern League once again, where he finished out his career in 1950 and 1951.

Miscellany

"Mr. X" was remembered in 2000 when Xavier Nady broke in, as there have been few major leaguers with the first name Xavier. Xavier Hernandez was another player who had the first name as well and there still have not been any players with a last name starting with the letter X.

Related Sites

• Xavier Rescigno at the SABR Bio Project