Eddie Kasko
Born: 6/27/1931 in Elizabeth, NJ, USA
Died: 6/24/2020 in Richmond, VA, USA
MLB Debut: 1957-04-18 | Final Game: 1966-09-10
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 180 lbs
Full name: Edward Michael Kasko
Biography
Eddie Kasko was a notable figure in Major League Baseball during the late 1950s and 1960s, playing primarily as a position player. Born in 1931, Kasko made his debut in the league on April 18, 1957, and enjoyed a career that spanned nearly a decade until his final game on September 10, 1966. Over the course of 1,077 games, he recorded 935 hits, 22 home runs, and 261 RBIs, achieving a respectable batting average of .264. Kasko was known for his versatility on the field, contributing to his teams not only with his bat but also with his defensive skills, which led to his selection as an All-Star twice during his career.
Kasko played in an era marked by significant changes in the game, transitioning from the post-war years into a period of increased offensive production. He was particularly effective on the base paths, stealing 31 bases throughout his career. His contributions were especially valuable to the teams he played for, including the Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals, where his steady presence and leadership on the field made a lasting impact. Kasko's legacy is remembered not only for his statistics but also for his role in the evolution of player versatility in a rapidly changing game.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1077 | 3546 | 411 | 935 | 146 | 13 | 22 | 261 | 31 | 265 | 353 | 0.264 | 0.317 | 0.331 | 0.648 | -5520.9 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | STL | NL | 134 | 479 | 59 | 131 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 35 | 6 | 33 | 53 | 0.273 | -806.8 |
| 1958 | STL | NL | 104 | 259 | 20 | 57 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 1 | 21 | 25 | 0.220 | -1099.6 |
| 1959 | CIN | NL | 118 | 329 | 39 | 93 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 31 | 2 | 14 | 38 | 0.283 | -557.3 |
| 1960 | CIN | NL | 126 | 479 | 56 | 140 | 21 | 1 | 6 | 51 | 9 | 46 | 37 | 0.292 | 469.5 |
| 1961 | CIN | NL | 126 | 469 | 64 | 127 | 22 | 1 | 2 | 27 | 4 | 32 | 36 | 0.271 | -898.7 |
| 1962 | CIN | NL | 134 | 533 | 74 | 148 | 26 | 2 | 4 | 41 | 3 | 35 | 44 | 0.278 | -520.4 |
| 1963 | CIN | NL | 76 | 199 | 25 | 48 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 21 | 29 | 0.241 | -164.6 |
| 1964 | HOU | NL | 133 | 448 | 45 | 109 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 22 | 4 | 37 | 52 | 0.243 | -1189.8 |
| 1965 | HOU | NL | 68 | 215 | 18 | 53 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 20 | 0.247 | -427.5 |
| 1966 | BOS | AL | 58 | 136 | 11 | 29 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 19 | 0.213 | -325.7 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 22 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.318 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | WS | CIN | 5 | 22 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.318 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 63 | 47 | 125 | 142 | 7 | 35 |
| 3B | 426 | 361 | 370 | 746 | 50 | 71 |
| SS | 544 | 483 | 918 | 1461 | 72 | 303 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | SLN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1957 | SLN | 3B | 120 | 117 | 100 | 224 | 13 | 21 |
| 1957 | SLN | SS | 13 | 9 | 18 | 24 | 2 | 5 |
| 1958 | SLN | 2B | 12 | 8 | 25 | 31 | 1 | 7 |
| 1958 | SLN | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1958 | SLN | SS | 77 | 64 | 111 | 186 | 12 | 47 |
| 1959 | CIN | 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | CIN | 3B | 31 | 8 | 10 | 23 | 2 | 2 |
| 1959 | CIN | SS | 84 | 82 | 182 | 271 | 11 | 61 |
| 1960 | CIN | 2B | 33 | 30 | 77 | 82 | 4 | 23 |
| 1960 | CIN | 3B | 86 | 77 | 98 | 186 | 10 | 20 |
| 1960 | CIN | SS | 15 | 10 | 19 | 19 | 1 | 4 |
| 1961 | CIN | 2B | 6 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 1961 | CIN | 3B | 12 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1961 | CIN | SS | 112 | 108 | 201 | 286 | 18 | 59 |
| 1962 | CIN | 3B | 114 | 107 | 101 | 204 | 19 | 18 |
| 1962 | CIN | SS | 21 | 15 | 19 | 49 | 4 | 13 |
| 1963 | CIN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1963 | CIN | 3B | 48 | 39 | 41 | 75 | 5 | 5 |
| 1963 | CIN | SS | 15 | 10 | 15 | 33 | 2 | 8 |
| 1964 | HOU | 3B | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | HOU | SS | 128 | 119 | 228 | 388 | 14 | 72 |
| 1965 | HOU | 3B | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1965 | HOU | SS | 59 | 53 | 96 | 152 | 6 | 27 |
| 1966 | BOS | 2B | 8 | 7 | 15 | 20 | 2 | 4 |
| 1966 | BOS | 3B | 10 | 9 | 11 | 23 | 0 | 5 |
| 1966 | BOS | SS | 20 | 13 | 29 | 53 | 2 | 7 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 64 |
| Third Base | 429 |
| Shortstop | 540 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 29th | 1.0 | 280 | 0 |