Mike Kreevich Explained

Mike Kreevich
Position:Center fielder
Birth Date:10 June 1908
Birth Place:Mount Olive, Illinois, U.S.
Death Place:Pana, Illinois, U.S.
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 7
Debutyear:1931
Debutteam:Chicago Cubs
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 23
Finalyear:1945
Finalteam:Washington Senators
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.283
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:45
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:514
Teams:
Highlights:

Michael Andreas Kreevich (June 10, 1908 – April 25, 1994) was an American professional baseball player.[1] He played as a center fielder in Major League Baseball from to .[1] He batted and threw right-handed.

Early life

Kreevich was born in Mount Olive, Illinois.[1] He started working in coal mines in late 1924 at the age of 16. Although short of stature (five feet and seven and a half inches tall), he developed a muscular physique while coal mining for almost five years. With the Great Depression, the coal mines closed in 1930. It was about this time that he was invited to play for a team in McCook, Nebraska. Kreevich soon went from that small town team to the National League's Chicago Cubs, thanks to a scout who recognized the talent in him.

Career

Kreevich began his career in with the Chicago Cubs, but only played five games for them.[1] In, he joined the cross-town Chicago White Sox, but did not become a regular until .[1] In he led the American League in triples and sacrifice flies while batting .302, and finishing 10th in the American League MVP Award voting.[1] In, he again finished 10th in the American League MVP Award voting, while batting .323.[1] He was also named to the American League All-Star team in .[1]

After the season, Kreevich was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics. He was released after only one season, and signed with the St. Louis Browns before the campaign. While with the Browns he played in the all-St. Louis 1944 World Series against the Cardinals. In the middle of the season, he was purchased by the Washington Senators; he finished his career after that season in the nation's capital.

In 1,241 games played over 12 seasons, Kreevich compiled a .283 batting average (1321-4676) with 676 runs, 221 doubles, 75 triples, 45 home runs, 514 RBIs, 115 stolen bases, 446 bases on balls, .346 on-base percentage and a .391 slugging percentage.[1] His career fielding percentage was .981.[1]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Mike Kreevich statistics . Baseball-Reference.com . November 16, 2019.