Al Stanek

Al Stanek
Pitcher
Born: (1943-12-24)December 24, 1943
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died: May 8, 2018(2018-05-08) (aged 74)
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 26, 1963, for the San Francisco Giants
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 1963, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average4.73
Innings pitched13+1⁄3
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Albert Wilfred Stanek (December 24, 1943 – May 8, 2018), nicknamed "Lefty", was an American professional baseball player. He pitched in the major leagues during 1963 with the San Francisco Giants. He batted and threw left-handed, stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86 kg).

Biography

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Born in 1943 in Springfield, Massachusetts, Stanek was signed by the San Francisco Giants in 1962 after graduating from Chicopee High School. Signed in late June, his signing bonus was reported to be at least $40,000 ($415,798 in 2024).[1]

Stanek began his professional career that year with the local Springfield Giants, a Class A Giants farm team in the Eastern League.[2] In 12 games (11 starts) with the minor-league Giants, he recorded a 4.71 earned run average (ERA) while striking out 63 batters in 65 innings pitched and compiled a 3–3 win–loss record.[2]

Stanek spent the 1963 season, at age 19, with the major-league Giants under the terms of the bonus rule.[3] At this time, a team could send one "bonus rookie" to the minor leagues without exposing that player to being signed by another team.[4][5] The Giants demoted fellow rookie pitcher Bob Garibaldi while keeping Stanek with the big league team.[6] Stanek posted a 0–0 record, with a 4.73 ERA, in 11 appearances (all in relief) during what proved to be his only major-league season.[7]

Stanek's professional career lasted through the 1967, as he remained in the Giants' farm system. Overall during five seasons in Minor League Baseball, he compiled a 29–37 record with a 3.51 ERA in 557 innings pitched while striking out 436 batters.[2]

Chicopee High School honored Stanek by retiring his jersey, number 21,[8] and inducting him to the school's athletic hall of fame.[9] He was inducted to the Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.[10] Stanek died on May 8, 2018.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Bonus to Prep". Des Moines Tribune. AP. June 29, 1962. p. 18. Retrieved April 6, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c "Al Stanek Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  3. ^ Kane, Tom (March 3, 1963). "Al Stanek, Giants Bonus Hurler, Knows About Control". The Sacramento Bee. p. E2. Retrieved April 6, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Honeywell, Ed (February 23, 1963). "The Baseball Beat". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. 8. Retrieved April 6, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "How Bonus Rule Works". Daily Breeze. Torrance, California. April 8, 1963. p. 27. Retrieved April 6, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Robinson Sent Down By Giants". Oakland Tribune. April 12, 1963. p. 41. Retrieved April 6, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Al Stanek Stats". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 6, 2025.
  8. ^ "Honor Two Former High School Athletes". The Republican. Springfield, Massachusetts. February 18, 1963. p. 13. Retrieved April 6, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Hall of Fame Inductees 2009". pacerathletics.org. Archived from the original on September 29, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  10. ^ a b Brown, Garry (May 10, 2018). "Remembering Al Stanek, ace pitcher, great family man and caring tutor". masslive.com.
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