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.