Johnny Dickshot
Encyclopedia
John Oscar Dickshot commonly known as "Ugly" Johnny Dickshot (born John Oscar Dicksus ,January 24, 1910–November 4, 1997) was a Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
from 1936–38, the New York Giants
in 1939, and the Chicago White Sox
from 1944-45. He won the nickname "Ugly" because of his self-proclaimed status as the "ugliest man in baseball". Born and raised in Waukegan, Illinois
, Dickshot began his professional career in the early 1930s playing for the Milwaukee Brewers
, which was then a minor league team. He entered the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates
in 1935. In a time before baseball salaries took off, Dickshot worked at a North Chicago steel mill in the off-season.
He moved to the Hollywood Stars
in the Pacific Coast League
in 1941. In 1943, he hit .352 for the Stars and had a 33-game hitting streak.
He joined the White Sox in 1944 and had his best major league season in 1945, his last year in the majors, when he had a .302 batting average (3rd best in the American League) with 58 RBIs, 10 triples and 18 stolen bases in 486 at-bats.
Soon after his retirement, Dickshot opened a tavern called the Dugout in Waukegan. In his obituary, his granddaughter said he would often call his wife at home from the bar demanding that she look in his encyclopedia to settle a dispute over baseball trivia. He threw out a first pitch in the new Comiskey Park in June 1994.
Johnny Dickshot died in 1997 in Waukegan. He had four daughters and one son, fourteen grandchildren (including the actor John Ducey
), and four great-grandchildren.
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for 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...
from 1936–38, the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in 1939, and 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...
from 1944-45. He won the nickname "Ugly" because of his self-proclaimed status as the "ugliest man in baseball". Born and raised in Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan is a city and county seat of Lake County, Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 87,901. The 2010 population was 89,078. It is the ninth-largest city in Illinois by population...
, Dickshot began his professional career in the early 1930s playing for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, which was then a minor league team. He entered the majors 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...
in 1935. In a time before baseball salaries took off, Dickshot worked at a North Chicago steel mill in the off-season.
He moved to the Hollywood Stars
Hollywood Stars
The Hollywood Stars were a minor league baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League during the early and mid 20th century. They were the arch-rivals of the other Los Angeles based PCL team, the Los Angeles Angels.-Hollywood Stars :...
in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
in 1941. In 1943, he hit .352 for the Stars and had a 33-game hitting streak.
He joined the White Sox in 1944 and had his best major league season in 1945, his last year in the majors, when he had a .302 batting average (3rd best in the American League) with 58 RBIs, 10 triples and 18 stolen bases in 486 at-bats.
Soon after his retirement, Dickshot opened a tavern called the Dugout in Waukegan. In his obituary, his granddaughter said he would often call his wife at home from the bar demanding that she look in his encyclopedia to settle a dispute over baseball trivia. He threw out a first pitch in the new Comiskey Park in June 1994.
Johnny Dickshot died in 1997 in Waukegan. He had four daughters and one son, fourteen grandchildren (including the actor John Ducey
John Ducey
John Joseph Ducey is an American actor who has appeared in over 20 television shows, mainly sitcoms.He was a series regular on Oh Grow Up , playing the role of Ford, and had recurring roles as Leonard on the WB's Sabrina, the Teenage Witch television show John Joseph Ducey (born January 21, 1969)...
), and four great-grandchildren.