Whitey Kurowski, baseball player, 106 home runs, 1941-1949

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

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

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

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Second Base 9
Third Base 867
Shortstop 10
Left Field 1

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