Mike Krsnich Explained

Mike Krsnich
Position:Left fielder
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:24 September 1931
Birth Place:West Allis, Wisconsin
Death Place:Mesquite, Nevada
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:April 23
Debutyear:1960
Debutteam:Milwaukee Braves
Debut2league:NPB
Debut2date:July 16
Debut2year:1963
Debut2team:Kintetsu Buffaloes
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:May 19
Finalyear:1962
Finalteam:Milwaukee Braves
Final2league:NPB
Final2year:1967
Final2team:Hanshin Tigers
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.190
Stat2label:Runs batted in
Stat2value:2
Stat3label:Games played
Stat3value:15
Teams:

Michael Krsnich ( Krznić; September 24, 1931 – April 30, 2011) was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Milwaukee Braves during the 1960 and 1962 seasons. Listed at, 190 lb., he batted and threw right-handed. His older brother, Rocky Krsnich, also played in the majors from 1949 to 1953.[1]

Born in West Allis, Wisconsin, to a Montenegrin Serb father, Mike Krsnich was one of many baseball players whose career was interrupted during Korean War conflict.[2] He was the brother of Rocky Krsnich (1927–2019) and Nick Krsnich (b. 1928).

Krsnich played briefly for the Braves in part of two seasons. He had previously signed by the Philadelphia Phillies before landing in Milwaukee, playing mostly at outfield and as pinch-hitter in just 21 games.[1]

Following his major league stint, Krsnich joined the Taiyo Whales of the Japanese Central League from 1963 to 1965. He slugged a .500 average in his first two years in Japan, belting 36 home runs in 1964 to finish second to the legendary Sadaharu Oh, who hit 55 homers.[3]

Krsnich opened 1966 with the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes and joined the Hanshin Tigers for the last half of the 1967 season. In his five years in Japan, he hit a .265 average with a .326 on-base percentage and a slugging of .475. He also played 13 Minor league seasons between 1950 and 1969, batting .288 with 127 home runs in 1237 games.[3]

Krsnich died in Mesquite, Nevada, at the age of 79.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Baseball Reference – Major league profile and statistics.
  2. http://www.baseballinwartime.com/those_who_served/those_who_served_atoz.htm Baseball in Wartime – Those Who Served
  3. Web site: Baseball Reference – Minor league career.
  4. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/jsonline/obituary.aspx?n=michael-krsnich&pid=150839407 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – Obituary