Al Cicotte
Encyclopedia
Alva Warren Cicotte (originally pronounced sigh-COT-ee but changed to SEE-cot), nicknamed "Bozo," was a Major League Baseball
player.
He played in five seasons in the big leagues with six teams: New York Yankees
(1957); Washington Senators
(1958); Detroit Tigers
(1958); Cleveland Indians
(1959); St. Louis Cardinals
(1961); and Houston Colt .45's
(1962). Born in Melvindale, Michigan
, Al Cicotte pitched in 102 big league games, 16 as a starter, and compiled a record of 10-13. In 260 innings pitched, Cicotte had an earned run average of 4.36.
In the minor leagues, he pitched an 11-inning no-hitter for the International League
Toronto Maple Leafs against the Montreal Royals
on Saturday, September 3, 1960. He walked four batters, three of them in the first inning, and retired 29 men in a row until infielder Sparky Anderson
bobbled a ball in the 11th.
Al Cicotte died in 1982 at age 52 in Westland, Michigan
. He was survived by his father, Warren John Cicotte (1913–2004), a nephew of Eddie Cicotte
, who was one of the "Black Sox" banned from baseball for their alleged involvement in fixing the 1919 World Series
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player.
He played in five seasons in the big leagues with six teams: New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(1957); Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1958); Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1958); Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1959); St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1961); and Houston Colt .45's
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(1962). Born in Melvindale, Michigan
Melvindale, Michigan
Melvindale is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan and a downriver suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,715. Melvindale's slogan is "The Little City with a Big Heart."-History:...
, Al Cicotte pitched in 102 big league games, 16 as a starter, and compiled a record of 10-13. In 260 innings pitched, Cicotte had an earned run average of 4.36.
In the minor leagues, he pitched an 11-inning no-hitter for the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
Toronto Maple Leafs against the Montreal Royals
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec, that existed from 1897–1917 and from 1928–60 as a member of the International League and its progenitor, the original Eastern League...
on Saturday, September 3, 1960. He walked four batters, three of them in the first inning, and retired 29 men in a row until infielder Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson was an American Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both...
bobbled a ball in the 11th.
Al Cicotte died in 1982 at age 52 in Westland, Michigan
Westland, Michigan
Westland is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located about west of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,094.-Politics:...
. He was survived by his father, Warren John Cicotte (1913–2004), a nephew of Eddie Cicotte
Eddie Cicotte
Edward Victor Cicotte , nicknamed "Knuckles", was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball best known for his time with the Chicago White Sox...
, who was one of the "Black Sox" banned from baseball for their alleged involvement in fixing the 1919 World Series
1919 World Series
The 1919 World Series matched the American League champion Chicago White Sox against the National League champion Cincinnati Reds. Although most World Series have been of the best-of-seven format, the 1919 World Series was a best-of-nine series...
.
