Whitey Kurowski

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1991 Tip-Top Bread reprint

George John Kurowski (April 19, 1918 - December 9, 1999) was a third baseman in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the St. Louis Cardinals (1941-49). Kurowski batted and threw right handed. He debuted on September 23, 1941, and played his final game on October 1, 1949.

In a nine-season career, Kurowski posted a .286 batting average with 106 home runs and 529 RBI in 916 games played.

A native of Reading, Pennsylvania, Kurowski overcame childhood osteomyelitis (which made his right arm shorter than his left) to become a standout third baseman in the 1940s for the St. Louis Cardinals. His most productive season came in 1947, when he posted career-highs in average (.310), home runs (27), RBI (104), runs (108), doubles (27), slugging % (.544) and on-base % (.420).

An All-Star during five consecutive seasons (1943-47), Kurowski exceeded the 20 home run mark three times to set a major league record for a third baseman (1944-45, 1947), and hit over .300 three times (1945-47). He also led the National League three times in putouts, twice in fielding %, and once in double plays.

Kurowski, Enos Slaughter and Johnny Beazley celebrate in Cardinals' dressing room after winning the 1942 World Series

In four World Series appearances, Kurowski hit .253 (21-for-83) with one home run and nine RBI in 23 games, as the Cardinals were World Champions in 1942, 1944 and 1946. His only home run in the Series, in 1942, off Red Ruffing, broke a 2-2 tie in the ninth inning of Game Five to clinch the title for St. Louis over the New York Yankees. He also appeared five times in the MVP ballot, in 1942 and from 1944 through 1947.

In 1949, Kurowski developed arm and elbow problems and his playing career ended suddenly. After that, he coached and managed in the minor leagues for 18 years until 1971. He gained induction into the National Polish-American Hall of Fame in 1988.

Kurowski died in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania, at age 81.