Johnny Kucks

American baseball player (1932-2013)

Baseball player

Johnny Kucks

Kucks in 1956.

Pitcher
Born: (1932-07-27)July 27, 1932
Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.
Died: October 31, 2013(2013-10-31) (aged 81)
Saddle River, New Jersey, U.S.

Batted: Right

Threw: Right

MLB debut
April 17, 1955, for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
September 25, 1960, for the Kansas City Athletics
MLB statistics
Win–loss record| 54–56
Earned run average| 4.10
Strikeouts| 338
Teams

* New York Yankees (1955–1959)
* Kansas City Athletics (1959–1960)

Career highlights and awards

* All-Star (1956)
* 2× World Series champion (1956, 1958)

John Charles Kucks (July 27, 1932 – October 31, 2013)[1] was an American pitcher for the New York Yankees and Kansas City Athletics in Major League Baseball. In 1952, he was signed as an amateur free agent. Johnny Kucks won the final game of the 1956 World Series between the Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers, shutting out the Dodgers, 9–0 at Ebbets Field—the last World Series game ever played in that ballpark.[2]

Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, Kucks grew up in Jersey City and played baseball at William L. Dickinson High School.[3]

## Baseball career

[edit]

On May 26, 1959 he was traded to the Kansas City Athletics, together with Jerry Lumpe and Tom Sturdivant, for Ralph Terry and Héctor López. On October 11, 1961 he was purchased by the Baltimore Orioles from the Athletics, but on December 1, 1961 the Orioles traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals for minor leaguer Ron Kabbes; however, he never played again in the majors.

## Personal

[edit]

A longtime resident of Hillsdale, New Jersey since his days with the Yankees, Kucks worked as a stockbroker after his baseball career ended. He died of cancer on October 31, 2013, at the Villa Marie Claire hospice in Saddle River, New Jersey.[3][4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Johnny Kucks, World Series hero for the Yankees in 1956, dead at 80
2. ^ AP staff writer (November 12, 2013) "Johnny Kucks – Baseball Pitcher" The Washington Post, page 6. Retrieved November 12, 2013 [1]
3. ^ a b Weber, Bruce. "Johnny Kucks, Who Pitched Yanks to Title, Dies at 81", The New York Times, November 1, 2013. Accessed November 3, 2013. "John Charles Kucks Jr. was born in Hoboken, N.J., on July 27, 1932. His father was a butcher. He graduated from Dickinson High School in Jersey City and played one year of minor league ball in the Yankees’ organization before serving in the Army.... He had lived for many years in Hillsdale, N.J."
4. ^ Levin, Jay. "Johnny Jucks, '56 Yankees ace and Hillsdale family man, at 81", The Record (Bergen County), November 3, 2013.

## External links

[edit]

*   * Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)

* v
* t
* e

New York Yankees 1956 World Series champions

1 Billy Martin
6 Andy Carey
7 Mickey Mantle (AL MVP)
8 Yogi Berra
9 Hank Bauer
12 Gil McDougald
14 Bill Skowron
15 Joe Collins
16 Whitey Ford
17 Enos Slaughter
18 Don Larsen (World Series MVP)
19 Bob Turley
22 Mickey McDermott
23 Tommy Byrne
28 Tom Morgan
29 Charlie Silvera
30 Rip Coleman
32 Elston Howard
36 Norm Siebern
39 George Wilson
41 Bob Cerv
42 Jerry Coleman
47 Tom Sturdivant
53 Johnny Kucks
55 Bob Grim

Manager
37 Casey Stengel

Coaches
2 Frankie Crosetti
31 Jim Turner
33 Bill Dickey

Regular season
Dodgers–Yankees rivalry
Subway Series

* v
* t
* e

New York Yankees 1958 World Series champions

1 Bobby Richardson
6 Andy Carey
7 Mickey Mantle
8 Yogi Berra
9 Hank Bauer
10 Tony Kubek
11 Jerry Lumpe
12 Gil McDougald
14 Bill Skowron
16 Whitey Ford
17 Enos Slaughter
18 Don Larsen
19 Bob Turley (CYA & World Series MVP)
20 Marv Throneberry
22 Darrell Johnson
23 Murry Dickson
24 Duke Maas
25 Norm Siebern
26 Ryne Duren
28 Art Ditmar
30 Bobby Shantz
32 Elston Howard
47 Tom Sturdivant
53 Johnny Kucks
55 Zach Monroe

Manager
37 Casey Stengel

Coaches
2 Frankie Crosetti
31 Jim Turner
33 Charlie Keller
35 Ralph Houk

Regular season
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*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template