Gene Stack
Encyclopedia
Eugene Stack was a pitcher
in minor league baseball
who played for the Chicago White Sox
organization. He became the first player from a major league
roster to be drafted during World War II
and also the first to die in service.
A native of Saginaw, Michigan
, Stack signed a professional contract with the Lubbock Hubbers of the West Texas-New Mexico League
in 1940. He enjoyed a solid rookie
season, winning 19 games and striking out
238 batters in 146.0 innings
. Late in the year, Chicago White Sox manager
Jimmy Dykes
announced that the promising youngster had been invited to join the White Sox team in 1941
at their Pasadena, California
spring training
camp. But at the end of December 1940, Stack received his draft notice from the U.S. Army
and was ordered to report to Fort Custer at Battle Creek, Michigan
on January 7, 1941. He servered as a corporal in the United States
area.
While serving, Stack became a mainstay of the Fort Custer Reception Center baseball team, with a line-up that included future Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg
and minor leaguers Bob Ogle, Truman Connell and Jack Egan. The team was coached by Captain George Zegolis, a former Wayne State University
player. The Fort Custer team won the national amateur championship of the American Baseball Congress on September 29, 1941 with a 3–2 victory over the Charlotte, North Carolina
team. It was the last time the amateur World Series was held until after the war.
Stack continued to pitching for Camp Custer in 1942, and on June 26, the team traveled to Michigan City, Indiana
for an evening game against the Michigan City Cubs. Stack allowed eight hits that night and was beaten 5–2. Returning to the camp, the team stopped at the Gingham Inn on the outskirts of Michigan City. Stack got up, put a coin in the juke box and returned to his table. Suddenly, he slumped to the floor, after appearing to suffer a heart attack. An autopsy later revealed that Stack had actually died from pneumonia.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
who played for 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...
organization. He became the first player from a 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...
roster to be drafted during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and also the first to die in service.
A native of Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, Stack signed a professional contract with the Lubbock Hubbers of the West Texas-New Mexico League
West Texas-New Mexico League
The West Texas-New Mexico League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1937 through 1955. The league was not active in 1943-1945 because of World War II...
in 1940. He enjoyed a solid rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
season, winning 19 games and striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
238 batters in 146.0 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. Late in the year, Chicago White Sox manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Jimmy Dykes
Jimmy Dykes
James Joseph Dykes was an American third and second baseman, manager and coach in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and Chicago White Sox from 1918 to 1939...
announced that the promising youngster had been invited to join the White Sox team in 1941
1941 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*Joe Dimaggio hits in 56 consecutive games. After being hitless in the 57th game, he hit safely in 16 more consecutive games for a streak of 72 of 73 games.*Ted Williams ended the season with a .406 batting average...
at their Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
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...
camp. But at the end of December 1940, Stack received his draft notice from the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and was ordered to report to Fort Custer at Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
on January 7, 1941. He servered as a corporal in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
area.
While serving, Stack became a mainstay of the Fort Custer Reception Center baseball team, with a line-up that included future Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
and minor leaguers Bob Ogle, Truman Connell and Jack Egan. The team was coached by Captain George Zegolis, a former Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
player. The Fort Custer team won the national amateur championship of the American Baseball Congress on September 29, 1941 with a 3–2 victory over the Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
team. It was the last time the amateur World Series was held until after the war.
Stack continued to pitching for Camp Custer in 1942, and on June 26, the team traveled to Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston. Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, located at 317 Detroit St., is named after the founder....
for an evening game against the Michigan City Cubs. Stack allowed eight hits that night and was beaten 5–2. Returning to the camp, the team stopped at the Gingham Inn on the outskirts of Michigan City. Stack got up, put a coin in the juke box and returned to his table. Suddenly, he slumped to the floor, after appearing to suffer a heart attack. An autopsy later revealed that Stack had actually died from pneumonia.