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Baseball

Harry Coveleski After the fall of communism, baseball experienced a renaissance in Central Europe. Many countries have established little league teams as well as teams for the Olympics.

Did you know that Poland may have invented baseball? Recent historical discoveries point to the fact that baseball resembles a game brought to America by the early Polish settlers of Jamestown, Virginia (1609) known as “piłka palantowa”.

Zbigniew Stefanski in his “Pamiętnik Handlowca” (”An Industrialist’s Memoirs”) of 1625, gives the facts of the Polish game and even names some of its players. They are: Stanislaw Sadowski, Zbigniew Stefanski, Jan Mata, Tomasz Migtus, Gwidon Stojka and Karol Zrenica.

Polonia has contributed many players to the major league sport of Baseball in the United States (including 5 Hall of Fame players and numerous All-Stars).

Among them are (listed by date of first major league game debut):

Name Birth Year and City State Debut Team and Date Year
Oscar Bielaski
First major league player of Polish ancestry. U.S. Union soldier. Buried in
Arlington National Cemetery		 1847 in Washington DC Washington Nationals April 24 1872
Harry Frank ‘The Giant Killer’ Coveleski (Kowalewski) 1886 in Shamokin PA Philadelphia Phillies September 10 1907
John Picus Quinn
(John Quinn Picus)		 1883 in Janesville PA New York Highlanders April 15 1909
Cyril Charles Slapnicka 1886 in Cedar Rapids IA Chicago Cubs September 26 1911
Stanley Anthony Coveleski (Stanislaus Kowalewski)
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame		 1889 in Shamokin PA Philadelphia A’s September 10 1912
Joseph Aloysius ‘Pepper’ Peploski 1891 in Brooklyn NY Detroit Tigers June 24 1913
John Patrick ‘Nig’ Grabowski 1900 in Ware MA Chicago White Sox July 11 1924
Joseph Anthony Ogrodowski 1906 in Hoytville PA Boston Braves April 27 1925
Edward Harold Strelecki 1905 in Newark NJ St. Louis Browns April 16 1928
Frederick Alfred Moncewicz 1903 in Brockton MA Boston Red Sox June 19 1928
Alfons Francis Grabowski 1901 in Syracuse NY St. Louis Cardinals September 11 1929
William Edward ‘Cap’ Narleski 1899 in Perth Amboy NJ Boston Red Sox April 18 1929
Henry Stephen ‘Pep’ Peploski 1905 in Poland Boston Braves September 19 1929
William Michael Urbanski 1903 in Linoleumville NY Boston Braves July 4 1931
John Clarence ‘Nap’ Kloza 1903 in Poland St. Louis Browns August 16 1931
Reginald John Grabowski 1907 in Syracuse NY Philadelphia Phillies April 15 1932
John Anthony Reder 1909 in Poland Boston Red Sox April 16 1932
Frank Anthony Pytlak 1908 in Buffalo NY Cleveland Indians April 22 1932
Edward William Madjeski (Majewski) 1908 in Far Rockaway NY Philadelphia A’s May 2 1932
Fabian Lorenz Kowalik 1908 in Falls City TX Chicago White Sox September 4 1932
John Leon Pomorski 1905 in Brooklyn NY Chicago White Sox April 17 1934
Ambrose Francis ‘Brusie’ Ogrodowski 1912 in Hoytville PA St. Louis Cardinals April 14 1936
Sigmund ‘Jack’ Jakucki 1909 in Camden NJ St. Louis Browns August 30 1936
Joseph Anthony Rogalski 1915 in Ashland WI Detroit Tigers September 14 1938
Sigmund Stanley Gryska 1914 in Chicago IL St. Louis Browns September 28 1938
Henry ‘Heeney’ Majeski 1916 in Staten Island NY Boston Bees May 17 1939
Nicholas Joseph Witek 1915 in Luzerne PA New York Giants April 16 1940
Henry Frank ‘Hank’ Gornicki 1911 in Niagara Falls NY St. Louis Cardinals April 17 1941
John ‘Grod’ Grodzicki 1917 in Nanticoke PA St. Louis Cardinals April 18 1941
Stephen Joseph Gromek 1920 in Hamtramck MI Cleveland Indians August 18 1941
Chester Hajduk 1918 in Chicago IL Chicago White Sox April 16 1941
Felix Thaddeus Mackiewicz 1917 in Chicago IL Philadephia A’s September 7 1941
Stanley Frank ‘Stan the Man’ Musial
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.		 1920 in Donora PA St. Louis Cardinals September 17 1941
Ervin Frank ‘Four Sack’ Dusak 1920 in Chicago IL St. Louis Cardinals September 18 1941
George John ‘Whitey’ Kurowski 1918 in Reading PA St. Louis Cardinals September 23 1941
Edward Michael Hanyzewski 1920 in Union Mills IN Chicago Cubs May 12 1942
George Edward Yankowski 1922 in Cambridge MA Philadelphia A’s August 17 1942
Theodore Walter Sepkowski (Sczepkowski) 1923 in Baltimore MD Cleveland Indians September 9 1942
John Barney Wyrostek 1919 in Fairmont City IL Pittsburgh Pirates September 10 1942
Stanley Andrew Rojek 1919 in North Tonawanda NY Brooklyn Dodgers September 22 1942
Donald Thomas Hanski (Hanyzewski) 1916 in LaPorte IN Chicago White Sox May 6 1943
Bernard Carl Kuczynski 1920 in Philadelphia PA Philadelphia A’s June 2 1943
Eugene Victor Hermanski 1920 in Pittsfield MA Brooklyn Dodgers August 15 1943
John Thaddeus Ostrowski 1917 in Chicago IL Chicago Cubs September 24 1943
Thaddeus Walter Cieslak 1916 in Milwaukee WI Philadelphia Blue Jays April 18 1944
Edwin Frank ‘Bazooka or Fiddler’ Basinski 1922 in Buffalo NY Brooklyn Dodgers May 20 1944
Casimir James Konstanty 1917 in Strykersville NY Cincinnati Reds June 18 1944
Henry Alexander Ruszkowski 1925 in Cleveland OH Cleveland Indians September 26 1944
Albert Joseph Cihocki 1924 in Nanticoke PA Cleveland Indians April 17 1945
Edward Frank ‘Butch or Mouse’ Mierkowicz 1924 in Wyandotte MI Detroit Tigers August 31 1945
Edwin Joseph ‘Husky’ Walczak 1918 in Arctic RI Philadelphia Phillies September 3 1945
Arthur Joseph Lopatka 1919 in Chicago IL St. Louis Cardinals September 12 1945
Richard Edward Lajeskie 1926 in Passaic NJ New York Giants September 10 1946
Joseph Paul Smaza 1923 in Detroit MI Chicago White Sox September 18 1946
Theodore Bernard ‘Big Klu’ Kluszewski 1924 in Argo IL Cincinnati Reds April 18 1947
Harry Walter Perkowski 1922 in Dante VA Cincinnati Reds September 13 1947
Alexander James ‘Whitey’ Konikowski 1928 in Throop PA New York Giants June 16 1948
Richard Jerome Kokos (Kokoszka) 1928 in Chicago IL St. Louis Browns July 8 1948
Joseph Paul ‘Professor or Specs’ Ostrowski 1916 in West Wyoming PA St. Louis Browns July 18 1948
Stanley Edward ‘Stash’ Lopata 1925 in Delray MI Philadelphia Phillies September 19 1948
Carl Ernest ‘Swats, Swisher or Swish’ Sawatski 1927 in Shickshinny PA Chicago Cubs September 29 1948
Richard David Kryhoski 1925 in Leonia NJ New York Yankees April 19 1949
Edward Robert ‘Butch’ Sanicki 1923 in Wallington NJ Philadelphia Phillies September 14 1949
Stanislaw Leo Kuczek 1924 in Amsterdam NY Boston Braves September 29 1949
Robert Vilarian Borkowski 1926 in Dayton OH Chicago Cubs April 22 1950
Richard Louis Rozek 1927 in Cedar Rapids IA Cleveland Indians April 29 1950
James Joseph Suchecki 1926 in Chicago IL Boston Red Sox May 20 1950
Stephen George Ridzik 1929 in Yonkers NY Philadelphia Phillies September 4 1950
Daniel William Lewandowski 1928 in Buffalo NY St. Louis Cardinals September 22 1951
Alexander Garbowski 1925 in Yonkers NY Detroit Tigers April 16 1952
Richard Stanley Brodowski 1932 in Bayonne NJ Boston Red Sox June 15 1952
Eldon John ‘Rip’ Repulski 1927 in Sauk Rapids MN St. Louis Cardinals April 14 1953
Raymond Leo ‘Jabbo’ Jablonski 1926 in Chicago IL St. Louis Cardinals April 14 1953
Michael John Blyzka (Bliska) 1928 in Hamtramck MI St. Louis Browns April 21 1953
Frederic John ‘Lefty’ Baczewski 1926 in St. Paul MN Chicago Cubs April 26 1953
Victor Felix Janowicz 1930 in Elyria OH Pittsburgh Pirates May 31 1953
Theodore Stanley Kazanski 1934 in Hamtramck MI Philadelphia Phillies June 25 1953
Fred Daniel ‘Fritz’ Marolewski 1928 in Chicago IL St. Louis Cardinals September 19 1953
William Joseph ‘Moose’ Skowron Jr. 1930 in Chicago IL New York Yankees April 13 1954
Raymond Edmond Narleski 1928 in Camden NJ Cleveland Indians April 17 1954
Ronald Frank Mrozinski 1930 in White Haven PA Philadelphia Phillies June 20 1954
Donald Joseph Plarski 1929 in Chicago IL Kansas City A’s July 20 1955
Gerald Albert Schypinski 1931 in Detroit MI Kansas City A’s August 31 1955
Stanley Walter Pawloski 1931 in Wanamie PA Cleveland Indians September 24 1955
Edward Joseph Winceniak 1929 in Chicago IL Chicago Cubs April 25 1956
William Stanley ‘Maz’ Mazeroski
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame		 1936 in Wheeling WV Pittsburgh Pirates July 7 1956
Alfred James Pilarcik 1930 in Whiting IN Kansas City A’s July 13 1956
Myron Walter Drabowsky 1935 in Poland Chicago Cubs August 7 1956
Anthony Christopher Kubek 1936 in Milwaukee WI New York Yankees April 20 1957
Marion John Kutyna 1932 in Philadelphia PA Kansas City A’s September 19 1959
Edward Roman Sadowski 1931 in Pittsburgh PA Boston Red Sox April 20 1960
Raymond Michael Sadecki 1940 in Kansas City KS St. Louis Cardinals May 19 1960
Theodore Sadowski 1936 in Pittsburgh PA Washington Senators September 2 1960
Robert Frank ‘Bo’ Sadowski 1937 in St. Louis MO St. Louis Cardinals September 16 1960
Carl Michael ‘Yaz’ Yastrzemski
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame		 1939 in Southampton NY Boston Red Sox April 11 1961
Ronald Peter Perranoski (Perzanowski) 1936 in Paterson NJ Los Angeles Dodgers April 14 1961
John Henry Kubiszyn 1936 in Buffalo NY Cleveland Indians April 23 1961
Joseph Charles Grzenda 1937 in Scranton PA Detroit Tigers April 26 1961
Joseph Peter Bonikowski 1941 in Philadelphia PA Minnesota Twins April 12 1962
Richard Joseph Tracewski 1935 in Eynon PA Los Angeles Dodgers April 12 1962
John Joseph Wojcik 1942 in Olean NY Kansas City A’s September 9 1962
Robert Peter Lipski 1938 in Scranton PA Cleveland Indians April 28 1963
Robert Sadowski 1938 in Pittsburgh PA Milwaukee Braves June 19 1963
John Francis Paciorek 1945 in Detroit MI Houston Colt .45’s September 29 1963
Philip Henry Niekro
Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame		 1939 in Blaine OH Milwaukee Braves April 15 1964
Ronald Alan ‘Rocky’ Swoboda 1944 in Baltimore MD New York Mets April 12 1965
Michael Allen Jurewicz 1945 in Buffalo NY New York Yankees September 7 1965
Edward Anthony Barnowski 1943 in Scranton PA Baltimore Orioles September 8 1965
George Felix ‘Sonny’ Kopacz 1941 in Chicago IL Atlanta Braves September 18 1966
Theodore Rodger Kubiak 1942 in New Brunswick NJ Kansas City A’s April 14 1967
Joseph Franklin Niekro 1944 in Martins Ferry OH Chicago Cubs April 16 1967
Gary Lee Waslewski 1941 in Meriden CT Boston Red Sox June 11 1967
Thomas Arthur Tischinski 1944 in Kansas City MO Minnesota Twins April 11 1969
Billy Cordell Grabarkewitz 1946 in Lockhart TX Los Angeles Dodgers April 22 1969
Ronald Bernard Klimkowski 1944 in Jersey City NJ New York Yankees September 15 1969
Kenneth John Szotkiewicz 1947 in Wilmington DE Detroit Tigers April 7 1970
Gerad Joseph Janeski 1946 in Pasadena CA Chicago White Sox April 10 1970
William Joseph Gogolewski 1947 in Oshkosh WI Washington Senators September 3 1970
Gregory Michael Luzinski 1950 in Chicago IL Philadelphia Phillies September 9 1970
Thomas Marian Paciorek 1946 in Detroit MI Los Angeles Dodgers September 12 1970
Stanley Perzanowski 1950 in East Chicago IN Chicago White Sox June 20 1971
Richard Francis Stelmaszek 1948 in Chicago IL Washington Senators June 25 1971
Robert Joseph Terlecki 1945 in Trenton NJ Philadelphia Phillies August 16 1972
David Lawrence Lemanczyk 1950 in Syracuse NY Detroit Tigers April 15 1973
Michael George Rogodzinski 1948 in Evanston IL Philadelphia Phillies May 4 1973
Douglas James Konieczny 1951 in Detroit MI Houston Astros September 11 1973
Gary Raymond Ignasiak 1949 in Anchorville MI Detroit Tigers September 20 1973
James Michael Sadowski 1951 in Pittsburgh PA Pittsburgh Pirates April 27 1974
Edward Louis Halicki 1950 in Newark NJ San Francisco Giants July 8 1974
Thomas Anthony Makowski 1950 in Buffalo NY Detroit Tigers May 1 1975
Philip Anthony Mankowski 1953 in Buffalo NY Detroit Tigers August 30 1976
Robert John Gorinski 1952 in Latrobe PA Minnesota Twins April 10 1977
Mark David Budaska 1952 in Sharon PA Oakland A’s June 6 1978
Wayne Richard Krenchicki 1954 in Trenton NJ Baltimore Orioles June 15 1979
Jerome Matthew Dybzinski 1955 in Cleveland OH Cleveland Indians April 11 1980
Gilbert Thomas Kubski 1954 in Longview TX California Angels September 2 1980
Doug Wayne ‘Eyechart’ Gwosdz 1960 in Houston TX San Diego Padres August 17 1981
Leonard James Matuszek 1954 in Toledo OH Philadelphia Phillies September 3 1981
Joseph Michael Orsulak 1962 in Glen Ridge NJ Pittsburgh Pirates September 1 1983
Allen Robert Lachowicz 1960 in Pittsburgh PA Texas Rangers September 13 1983
Mark Steven Gubicza 1962 in Philadelphia PA Kansas City Royals April 6 1984
Raymond Allen Krawczyk 1959 in Pittsburgh PA Pittsburgh Pirates June 29 1984
Michael Joseph Bielecki 1959 in Baltimore MD Pittsburgh Pirates September 14 1984
Edward David Wojna 1960 in Bridgeport CT San Diego Padres June 16 1985
Douglas Dean Drabek 1962 in Victoria TX New York Yankees May 30 1986
Timothy Matthew Pyznarski 1960 in Chicago IL San Diego Padres September 14 1986
James Joseph Paciorek 1960 in Detroit MI Milwaukee Brewers April 9 1987
Peter Louis Stanicek 1963 in Harvey IL Baltimore Orioles September 1 1987
Stephen Blair Stanicek 1961 in Lake Forest IL Milwaukee Brewers September 16 1987
John Pawlowski 1963 in Johnson City NY Chicago White Sox September 19 1987
Robert Milacki 1964 in Trenton NJ Baltimore Orioles September 18 1988
Joseph Douglas Skalski 1964 in Burnham IL Cleveland Indians April 10 1989
Joseph Andrew Slusarski 1966 in Indianapolis IN Oakland A’s April 11 1991
Scott Andrew Kamieniecki 1964 in Mount Clemens MI New York Yankees June 18 1991
Michael James Ignasiak 1966 in Mount Clemens MI Milwaukee Brewers August 22 1991
Robert Zupcic 1966 in Pittsburgh PA Boston Red Sox September 7 1991
Andrew Neal Stankiewicz 1964 in Inglewood CA New York Yankees April 11 1992
Kevin Craig Koslofski 1966 in Decatur IL Kansas City Royals June 28 1992
Michael Raczka 1962 in New Britain CT Oakland A’s August 15 1992
David John Mlicki 1968 in Cleveland OH Cleveland Indians September 12 1992
James Mark Czajkowski 1963 in Parma OH Colorado Rockies July 29 1994
Mark James Grudzielanek 1970 in Milwaukee WI Montreal Expos April 28 1995
Christopher John Nitkowski 1973 in Suffern NY Cincinnati Reds June 3 1995
Steven Joseph Wojciechowski 1970 in Blue Island IL Oakland A’s July 18 1995
Dennis John Konuszewski 1971 in Bridgeport MI Pittsburgh Pirates August 4 1995
Richard John Gorecki 1973 in Evergreen Park IL Los Angeles Dodgers September 10 1997
Doug Mientkiewicz 1974 in Toledo OH Minnesota Twins 1998
Mike Jerzembeck 1972 in Queens NY New York Yankees 1998
A.J. Pierzynski 1976 in Bridgehampton NY Minnesota Twins 1998
Chris Clapinski 1971 in Buffalo NY Florida Marlins 1999
Dave Borkowski 1977 in Detroit MI Detroit Tigers 1999
Brian Sikorski 1974 in Detroit MI Texas Rangers 2000
Mark Lukasiewicz 1973 in Jersey City NJ Anaheim Angels 2001
Scott Podsednik 1976 in West TX Seattle Mariners 2001
Rob Mackowiak 1976 in Oak Lawn IL Pittsburgh Pirates 2001
Scott Sobkowiak 1977 in Woodstock IL Atlanta Braves 2001
Jason William Grabowski 1976 in New Haven CT Oakland A’s September 22 2002
Kevin John Gryboski 1973 in Wilkes-Barre PA Atlanta Braves April 13 2002
Benjamin Anthony Kozlowski 1980 in St. Petersburg FL Texas Rangers September 19 2002
Mark Joseph Budzinski 1973 in Baltimore MD Cincinnati Reds August 3 2003
Lance Joseph Niekro 1979 in Winter Haven FL San Francisco Giants September 5 2003
Gary Wayne Majewski 1980 in Houston TX Montreal Expo’s August 26 2004
Walter V. Majewski 1981 in New Brunswick NJ Baltimore Orioles August 20 2004
Jason Ernest Szuminski 1978 in San Diego CA San Diego Padres April 11 2004
Troy Trever Tulowitzki 1984 in Santa Clara CA Colorado Rockies August 30 2006

NOTE: This list is not all inclusive. If you know of anyone that should be added please add a comment and I’ll be sure to include the relevant information.

NOTE 2: This page was researched, designed, and is © by James Konicki and originally appeared as part of the Polonia Global Fund website.

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