Erv Dusak
Encyclopedia
Ervin Frank "Four Sack" Dusak (July 29, 1920 – November 6, 1994) was an American Major League Baseball
player. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals
in 1938 and got his nickname from a poem a fan wrote after he hit a home run in the minors. He was very briefly with the 1941 Houston Buffaloes
of the Class A1 Texas League
, who won 103 games. He earned cups of coffee
in the majors with the Cards in 1941 and 1942 and then returned to the club from 1946 to 1951. He mostly played outfield for them, with some games at second base and third base. On July 7, 1946, he hit a game-winning, three-run home run to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers and to move his club within a half game of the National League
lead. The Cardinals went on to win the World Series
, and Dusak played in 4 Series games, getting 4 at-bats and hitting a double in Game 2.
Dusak saw his most big league action in 1947, hitting .284 in 111 games. He drew walks well, with a lifetime .334 on-base percentage that was 91 points higher than his batting average. When his batting average dropped, he turned to pitching for a while (appearing in 23 games), but ended up his career primarily as a position player with the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
After retiring in 1952, Dusak was an insurance agent for 21 years and worked in a bowling alley for a decade. He died in Glendale Heights, Illinois
, aged 74.
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. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he was signed by 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...
in 1938 and got his nickname from a poem a fan wrote after he hit a home run in the minors. He was very briefly with the 1941 Houston Buffaloes
Houston Buffaloes
The Houston Buffaloes or Buffs were an American minor league baseball team that was founded in 1888, played in the Texas League in the years 1888-90, 1892, 1895-99, and 1907-1958 ; in the South Texas League in the years 1903-06; and in the American Association from 1959-61...
of the Class A1 Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, who won 103 games. He earned cups of coffee
Cup of coffee
A "cup of coffee" is North American sports terminology for a short time spent by a minor league player at the major league level. The idea behind the term is that the player was only in the big leagues long enough to have a cup of coffee before being returned to the minors, or simply to describe a...
in the majors with the Cards in 1941 and 1942 and then returned to the club from 1946 to 1951. He mostly played outfield for them, with some games at second base and third base. On July 7, 1946, he hit a game-winning, three-run home run to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers and to move his club within a half game of 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...
lead. The Cardinals went on to win the World Series
1946 World Series
-Game 1:Sunday, October 6, 1946 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, MissouriThe Red Sox won Game 1 when Rudy York hit a home run into the left field bleachers.-Game 2:Monday, October 7, 1946 at Sportsman's Park in St...
, and Dusak played in 4 Series games, getting 4 at-bats and hitting a double in Game 2.
Dusak saw his most big league action in 1947, hitting .284 in 111 games. He drew walks well, with a lifetime .334 on-base percentage that was 91 points higher than his batting average. When his batting average dropped, he turned to pitching for a while (appearing in 23 games), but ended up his career primarily as a position player with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
After retiring in 1952, Dusak was an insurance agent for 21 years and worked in a bowling alley for a decade. He died in Glendale Heights, Illinois
Glendale Heights, Illinois
Glendale Heights is a village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 31,765 at the 2000 census.-History:Glendale Heights was a small farming area served by the Glen Ellyn post office up until the 1950s, with a population of just 104 in 1959. Midland Enterprises ran by Charles...
, aged 74.