Al Hrabosky
Encyclopedia
Alan Thomas "Al" Hrabosky (icon; born July 21, 1949) is a former Major League Baseball
player from - for the St. Louis Cardinals
, Kansas City Royals
and Atlanta Braves
and is currently the color commentator
on Cardinals regular season broadcasts on FSN Midwest
. He also owns Al Hrabosky's Ballpark Saloon, which is located right across the steet from Busch Stadium
.
Hrabosky's nickname is The Mad Hungarian because of his unusual last name and colorful character.
in Anaheim, California
and was originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins
in the 11th round of the 1967 amateur draft
, but did not sign with the club. Two years later the Cardinals made him their first round choice. Within a year, at the age of 20, he made his major league
debut, pitching a scoreless inning against the San Diego Padres
.
During his time with the Cardinals, Hrabosky became a fan favorite for his antics on the mound. Between each pitch he would turn his back to the batter, walk towards second base, vigorously rub the ball between his palms several times, take a deep breath, and pound the ball into his mitt. He would then storm back to the mound, staring down the batter. Although the crowd would roar in delight, most batters were not fond of the pitcher's routine.
Arguably, Hrabosky's best year was when he led the National League
in saves with 22 (a career best) en route to winning the Sporting News "NL Fireman of the Year" award. After eight seasons in St. Louis
, the Cardinals traded Hrabosky to the Kansas City Royals. Following just two years with the Royals, he was released and signed with the Atlanta Braves. During his time with the Braves he saw diminished playing time and recorded just seven saves over three seasons. Hrabosky signed with the Chicago White Sox
during Spring Training
in but retired before the season began. In 13 seasons he recorded 64 wins, 35 losses, and 97 saves with an ERA
of 3.10.
Early in his career with the Cardinals, Hrabosky enhanced his menacing appearance with long hair, and a Fu Manchu moustache
. However, when Vern Rapp
became the Cardinals manager in 1977, Hrabosky had to cut his hair and shave the moustache.
for Cardinals games since and has been with Fox Sports Midwest since . Hrabosky also hosted his own radio show on KFNS 590AM in St. Louis. With a reshuffling of duties for 2011, he will lose about 20 games, in working 100 games out of the 150 broadcast by FSM.
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 from - for the 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...
, Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
and Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and is currently the color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
on Cardinals regular season broadcasts on FSN Midwest
FSN Midwest
Fox Sports Midwest is a regional sports network that operates in eastern and central Missouri , central & southern Illinois, Southern Indiana, Nebraska, and Iowa.-History:...
. He also owns Al Hrabosky's Ballpark Saloon, which is located right across the steet from Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium
Busch Stadium is the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, of MLB...
.
Hrabosky's nickname is The Mad Hungarian because of his unusual last name and colorful character.
Playing career
Hrabosky played at Savanna High SchoolSavanna High School
Savanna High School is a high school in the Anaheim Union High School District , located in the city of Anaheim in Orange County, California, of the United States. Savanna was established in 1961 and is one of eight comprehensive high schools within the district...
in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
and was originally drafted by the Minnesota Twins
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...
in the 11th round of the 1967 amateur draft
1967 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1967 Major League Baseball draft.- Background :The June draft was filled with talented prospects who would go on to pro careers...
, but did not sign with the club. Two years later the Cardinals made him their first round choice. Within a year, at the age of 20, he made his major league
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...
debut, pitching a scoreless inning against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
.
During his time with the Cardinals, Hrabosky became a fan favorite for his antics on the mound. Between each pitch he would turn his back to the batter, walk towards second base, vigorously rub the ball between his palms several times, take a deep breath, and pound the ball into his mitt. He would then storm back to the mound, staring down the batter. Although the crowd would roar in delight, most batters were not fond of the pitcher's routine.
Arguably, Hrabosky's best year was when he led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in saves with 22 (a career best) en route to winning the Sporting News "NL Fireman of the Year" award. After eight seasons in St. Louis
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...
, the Cardinals traded Hrabosky to the Kansas City Royals. Following just two years with the Royals, he was released and signed with the Atlanta Braves. During his time with the Braves he saw diminished playing time and recorded just seven saves over three seasons. Hrabosky signed with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
during Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in but retired before the season began. In 13 seasons he recorded 64 wins, 35 losses, and 97 saves with an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 3.10.
Early in his career with the Cardinals, Hrabosky enhanced his menacing appearance with long hair, and a Fu Manchu moustache
Fu Manchu moustache
A Fu Manchu moustache is a full, straight moustache that grows downward past the lips and on either side of the chin; and often, the tapered, pointed ends of the moustache hang past the jawline...
. However, when Vern Rapp
Vern Rapp
Vernon Fred Rapp is a retired Major League Baseball manager and coach. A career minor league catcher and a successful skipper in the minors, Rapp had two brief tours of duty as a big league manager.-Minor League playing career:...
became the Cardinals manager in 1977, Hrabosky had to cut his hair and shave the moustache.
Broadcasting career
Following his playing career, he has provided color commentaryColor commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for Cardinals games since and has been with Fox Sports Midwest since . Hrabosky also hosted his own radio show on KFNS 590AM in St. Louis. With a reshuffling of duties for 2011, he will lose about 20 games, in working 100 games out of the 150 broadcast by FSM.