Major League baseball player. For six seasons (1955 to 1960), he was a pitcher with the New York Yankees and Kansas City Athletics. Born John Charles Kucks, he attended William L. Dickinson High School in New Jersey. He was scouted while playing baseball on the sandlots of New Jersey and signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1952. After service with the United States Army during the Korean War, he marked his Major League debut with the Yankees on April 17, 1955; he pitched in 29 games that year and recorded 8 wins. He appeared in 2 games during the 1955 World Series. The following season (1956), Kucks reached the pinnacle of his career as he produced 18 wins and achieved All-Star status. He appeared in 3 games during the 1956 World Series and tossed a 9-0 shutout against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 7 to clinch the series for the Yankees. His feat is often overshadowed by Don Larsen's perfect game during that same series. He went on to experience two more American League pennant-winning teams (1957 and 1958 Yankees), including a second world championship with the 1958 Yankees. He was traded to the Kansas City Athletics in exchange for Ralph Terry during the 1959 season. In 207 regular season games, he compiled a 54-win 56-loss record with a 4.10 lifetime ERA in 938 innings pitched. He pitched in 8 total World Series games and yielded 1 win with a 1.89 ERA in 19 innings pitched. He died of cancer.
Major League baseball player. For six seasons (1955 to 1960), he was a pitcher with the New York Yankees and Kansas City Athletics. Born John Charles Kucks, he attended William L. Dickinson High School in New Jersey. He was scouted while playing baseball on the sandlots of New Jersey and signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1952. After service with the United States Army during the Korean War, he marked his Major League debut with the Yankees on April 17, 1955; he pitched in 29 games that year and recorded 8 wins. He appeared in 2 games during the 1955 World Series. The following season (1956), Kucks reached the pinnacle of his career as he produced 18 wins and achieved All-Star status. He appeared in 3 games during the 1956 World Series and tossed a 9-0 shutout against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 7 to clinch the series for the Yankees. His feat is often overshadowed by Don Larsen's perfect game during that same series. He went on to experience two more American League pennant-winning teams (1957 and 1958 Yankees), including a second world championship with the 1958 Yankees. He was traded to the Kansas City Athletics in exchange for Ralph Terry during the 1959 season. In 207 regular season games, he compiled a 54-win 56-loss record with a 4.10 lifetime ERA in 938 innings pitched. He pitched in 8 total World Series games and yielded 1 win with a 1.89 ERA in 19 innings pitched. He died of cancer.
Bio by: C.S.
Advertisement
