Johnny Gorsica
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Perry "Johnny" Gorsica, born John Joseph Perry Gorczyca (March 29, 1915 - December 16, 1998) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played seven seasons for the Detroit Tigers
from 1940-1947. Born in Bayonne, New Jersey
, Gorsica went to West Virginia University
before making his debut with the Tigers on April 22, 1940 at age 25. Gorsica started out playing first base, but made the Tigers in 1940 after just two seasons as a pitcher. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Johnny_Gorsica_1915 Relying on an overhand sinkerball, he both started and relieved. Gorsica played in 204 games for the Tigers, 22 as a starter and the rest as a reliever. He compiled a record of 31-39 with an ERA of 4.18. He was among the league leaders in saves three straight years from 1942-1944. Gorsica excelled in the 1940 World Series for Detroit, allowing only 1 run for a 0.79 ERA in 11-1/3 innings, and striking out 4. He pitched 4-1/3 innings in Game 2 and 6-1/3 innings in Game 6, both times coming in to relieve starter Schoolboy Rowe
. Gorsica's final big league game was on September 17, 1947. Gorsica died 51 years later at age 83 in Charlottesville, Virginia
.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
from 1940-1947. Born in Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne, New Jersey
Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Located in the Gateway Region, Bayonne is a peninsula that is situated between Newark Bay to the west, the Kill van Kull to the south, and New York Bay to the east...
, Gorsica went to West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
before making his debut with the Tigers on April 22, 1940 at age 25. Gorsica started out playing first base, but made the Tigers in 1940 after just two seasons as a pitcher. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Johnny_Gorsica_1915 Relying on an overhand sinkerball, he both started and relieved. Gorsica played in 204 games for the Tigers, 22 as a starter and the rest as a reliever. He compiled a record of 31-39 with an ERA of 4.18. He was among the league leaders in saves three straight years from 1942-1944. Gorsica excelled in the 1940 World Series for Detroit, allowing only 1 run for a 0.79 ERA in 11-1/3 innings, and striking out 4. He pitched 4-1/3 innings in Game 2 and 6-1/3 innings in Game 6, both times coming in to relieve starter Schoolboy Rowe
Schoolboy Rowe
Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
. Gorsica's final big league game was on September 17, 1947. Gorsica died 51 years later at age 83 in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
.
External links
- Baseball-Reference.com
- Baseball Almanac
- Baseball Library
- Johnny Gorsica 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:...