Whitey Kurowski
Born: 4/19/1918 in Reading, PA, USA
Died: 12/9/1999 in Sinking Spring, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1941-09-23 | Final Game: 1949-10-01
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 193 lbs
Full name: George John Kurowski
Biography
Whitey Kurowski was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball, known for his impactful presence during the years spanning from 1941 to 1949. Born in 1918, Kurowski played primarily for the St. Louis Cardinals, where he developed a reputation as a reliable hitter and a skilled fielder. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 916 games, accumulating 925 hits and achieving a commendable batting average of .286. His offensive contributions were highlighted by 106 home runs and 529 RBIs, making him a key player in the lineup during a competitive era in baseball.
Kurowski's prowess on the field earned him five All-Star selections, showcasing his status among the elite players of his time. He was known for his solid fundamentals and a keen sense of the game, which allowed him to contribute not only with his bat but also with his strategic base running, as evidenced by his 19 stolen bases. His career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball history, which included World War II, when many players served in the military, leading to a unique landscape of talent in the league. Kurowski's contributions to the Cardinals and the game as a whole have solidified his legacy as a respected figure in baseball history.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12.0 | 10.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.200 | 0.333 | 0.200 | 0.533 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | 12.0 | 10.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0.200 | 0.333 | 0.200 | 0.533 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 916 | 3229 | 518 | 925 | 162 | 32 | 106 | 529 | 19 | 369 | 332 | 0.286 | 0.366 | 0.455 | 0.821 | 12288.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | STL | NL | 5 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.333 | 0.0 |
| 1942 | STL | NL | 115 | 366 | 51 | 93 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 42 | 7 | 33 | 60 | 0.254 | 401.9 |
| 1943 | STL | NL | 139 | 522 | 69 | 150 | 24 | 8 | 13 | 70 | 3 | 31 | 54 | 0.287 | 1247.2 |
| 1944 | STL | NL | 149 | 555 | 95 | 150 | 25 | 7 | 20 | 87 | 2 | 58 | 40 | 0.270 | 1607.5 |
| 1945 | STL | NL | 133 | 511 | 84 | 165 | 27 | 3 | 21 | 102 | 1 | 45 | 45 | 0.323 | 2918.8 |
| 1946 | STL | NL | 142 | 519 | 76 | 156 | 32 | 5 | 14 | 89 | 2 | 72 | 47 | 0.301 | 2566.9 |
| 1947 | STL | NL | 146 | 513 | 108 | 159 | 27 | 6 | 27 | 104 | 4 | 87 | 56 | 0.310 | 3905.6 |
| 1948 | STL | NL | 77 | 220 | 34 | 47 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 0 | 42 | 28 | 0.214 | -359.6 |
| 1949 | STL | NL | 10 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.143 | 0.0 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 83 | 12 | 21 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 13 | 0.253 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | WS | SLN | 7 | 27 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0.296 |
| 1944 | WS | SLN | 6 | 23 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0.217 |
| 1943 | WS | SLN | 5 | 18 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0.222 |
| 1942 | WS | SLN | 5 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0.267 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 9 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 3B | 868 | 0 | 1025 | 1569 | 116 | 137 |
| OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SS | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | SLN | 3B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1942 | SLN | 3B | 104 | 0 | 124 | 194 | 19 | 19 |
| 1942 | SLN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1942 | SLN | OF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1943 | SLN | 3B | 137 | 0 | 166 | 255 | 21 | 29 |
| 1943 | SLN | SS | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1944 | SLN | 2B | 9 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 1944 | SLN | 3B | 146 | 0 | 188 | 281 | 17 | 20 |
| 1944 | SLN | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1945 | SLN | 3B | 131 | 0 | 172 | 235 | 15 | 28 |
| 1945 | SLN | SS | 6 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1946 | SLN | 3B | 138 | 0 | 175 | 249 | 15 | 17 |
| 1947 | SLN | 3B | 141 | 0 | 140 | 250 | 19 | 17 |
| 1948 | SLN | 3B | 65 | 0 | 55 | 100 | 10 | 7 |
| 1949 | SLN | 3B | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Second Base | 9 |
| Third Base | 867 |
| Shortstop | 10 |
| Left Field | 1 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1946 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1945 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1945 | Baseball Magazine All-Star | 3B |
| 1945 | TSN All-Star | 3B |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 9th | 45.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1946 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 30th | 3.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1945 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 5th | 90.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1944 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 29th | 1.0 | 336 | 0 |
| 1942 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 25th | 6.0 | 336 | 0 |