Cass Michaels
Encyclopedia
Casimir Eugene Michaels (March 4, 1926 - November 12, 1982) was a Major League Baseball
second baseman
. He was born in Detroit, Michigan
as Casimir Eugene Kwietniewski, and was primarily a second baseman throughout his career, though he was also a third baseman
and shortstop
for a time.
Under his real name, Michaels was signed to a major league contract by the Chicago White Sox
at the age of 17 before the 1943 season, appearing in two games that season. He was the second-youngest player in the American League
when he made his major league debut, being older than 16-year old Carl Scheib
. He played in 27 games the following season, and during the 1945 season actually played a full season at shortstop due to Luke Appling
serving in the U.S. Navy. He saw a smaller amount of playing time during the 1946 and 1947 seasons due to Appling's return, playing both second and third base when the starters sat out. For 1948, he was moved from third base and second base to shortstop and second. Appling played some games at third, and as a result Michaels played his first full season in 1948. After Don Kolloway
was traded at the start of the 1949 season, Michaels became the starting second baseman, and played in all 154 games there which led to his first all-star appearance as the starting second baseman. He also notched a career high nine triple
s that season, as well as a career high batting average
of .308. After playing part of the 1950 season for the White Sox, Cass was traded to the Washington Senators
on May 31 along with Bob Kuzava
and Johnny Ostrowski
for Eddie Robinson, Al Kozar, and Ray Scarborough
.
Michaels continued to play well for Washington, and as a result earned his second trip to the All-Star game. He played another full season for Washington, and began the 1952 season with them before being traded to the St. Louis Browns
for Lou Sleater
and Fred Marsh
. Michaels then played for a third team in 1952, as he was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Athletics
on August 5, where he was able to play second base, having played third for St. Louis. He played the 1953 season for Philadelphia, where he hit a career-high 12 home run
s. On December 8, 1953, the Chicago White Sox purchased Michaels from the Athletics. His career ended on August 27, 1954, in a game between the White Sox and Athletics. In what became an 11-0 White Sox victory, Cass was hit in the head by a pitch from Marion Fricano
. He had to be carried from the field, and was given last rites
at the hospital, as he was in critical condition. Michaels recovered, but the pitch impaired his vision and caused him to end his career. Michaels died in Grosse Pointe
, Michigan
on November 12, 1982.
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...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. He was born in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
as Casimir Eugene Kwietniewski, and was primarily a second baseman throughout his career, though he was also a third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
and shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for a time.
Under his real name, Michaels was signed to a major league contract by 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...
at the age of 17 before the 1943 season, appearing in two games that season. He was the second-youngest player in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
when he made his major league debut, being older than 16-year old Carl Scheib
Carl Scheib
Carl Alvin Scheib is a retired professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball....
. He played in 27 games the following season, and during the 1945 season actually played a full season at shortstop due to Luke Appling
Luke Appling
Lucius Benjamin Appling was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Chicago White Sox . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1964....
serving in the U.S. Navy. He saw a smaller amount of playing time during the 1946 and 1947 seasons due to Appling's return, playing both second and third base when the starters sat out. For 1948, he was moved from third base and second base to shortstop and second. Appling played some games at third, and as a result Michaels played his first full season in 1948. After Don Kolloway
Don Kolloway
Donald Martin Kolloway , was a Major League Baseball player who played 12 years as an infielder for the Chicago White Sox , Detroit Tigers , and Philadelphia Athletics .Raised on Chicago's south side, he debuted with the White Sox in 1940...
was traded at the start of the 1949 season, Michaels became the starting second baseman, and played in all 154 games there which led to his first all-star appearance as the starting second baseman. He also notched a career high nine triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s that season, as well as a career high batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of .308. After playing part of the 1950 season for the White Sox, Cass was traded to the 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...
on May 31 along with Bob Kuzava
Bob Kuzava
Robert Leroy Kuzava is a retired American professional baseball player, a left-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators , New York Yankees , Baltimore Orioles , Philadelphia Phillies , Pittsburgh Pirates and St...
and Johnny Ostrowski
Johnny Ostrowski
John Thaddeus "Johnny" Ostrowski was a backup left fielder/third baseman in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Washington Senators . Listed at 5' 10.5", 170 lb. Ostrowski batted and threw right-handed...
for Eddie Robinson, Al Kozar, and Ray Scarborough
Ray Scarborough
Rae Wilson Scarborough was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers . Scarborough batted and threw right-handed...
.
Michaels continued to play well for Washington, and as a result earned his second trip to the All-Star game. He played another full season for Washington, and began the 1952 season with them before being traded to the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
for Lou Sleater
Lou Sleater
Louis Mortimer Sleater is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1950 to 1952 and from 1955 to 1958 for the St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, Kansas City Athletics, Milwaukee Braves, Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles. He was 5’10” and he weighed 185 pounds...
and Fred Marsh
Fred Marsh
Fred Francis Marsh was an American infielder in Major League Baseball who played from to for the Cleveland Indians, St...
. Michaels then played for a third team in 1952, as he was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
on August 5, where he was able to play second base, having played third for St. Louis. He played the 1953 season for Philadelphia, where he hit a career-high 12 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s. On December 8, 1953, the Chicago White Sox purchased Michaels from the Athletics. His career ended on August 27, 1954, in a game between the White Sox and Athletics. In what became an 11-0 White Sox victory, Cass was hit in the head by a pitch from Marion Fricano
Marion Fricano
Marion John Fricano was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched all or part of four seasons in the majors, from until , for the Athletics .-External links:*...
. He had to be carried from the field, and was given last rites
Last Rites
The Last Rites are the very last prayers and ministrations given to many Christians before death. The last rites go by various names and include different practices in different Christian traditions...
at the hospital, as he was in critical condition. Michaels recovered, but the pitch impaired his vision and caused him to end his career. Michaels died in Grosse Pointe
Grosse Pointe
Grosse Pointe refers to a coastal area in Metro Detroit, Michigan, United States that comprises five adjacent individual communities. From southwest to northeast, they are:*Grosse Pointe Park, city*Grosse Pointe, city*Grosse Pointe Farms, city...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
on November 12, 1982.
External links
- Cass Michaels at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...
- Cass Michaels at Baseball Almanac