Eddie Stanky
When second baseman Eddie Stanky returned to the Giants lineup on August 12, 1951, he helped sparked the team to their amazing drive for the pennant. The Giants went 37-9 after Stanky's return, catching the Dodgers to force a three-gane playoff for the penannt, which they eventually won on Bobby Thomson's famous "Shot Heard 'Round the World." Stanky came to the Giants in a trade from the Braves along with double play partner Alvin Dark. Like Dark, Stanky was a gutsy, hard-nosed ballplayer who despised losing. Though he wasn't a great hitter, Stanky was a solid second baseman and an excellent leadoff man. His keen eye led to more than 100 walks in six of his 11 seasons, including three league-leading totals of 135 or more. Later, he was a player/manager and manager for the Cardinals, White Sox, and Rangers.
Quotes About Stanky
"Eddie came up in baseball by his own bootstraps. There was no red plush carpet laid out for him. He observed and learned." — Milt Stock
"He can't hit, can't run, can't field. He's no nice guy, but all the little SOB can do is win." — manager Leo Durocher
Played For
Chicago Cubs (1943-1944)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1944-1947)
Boston Braves (1948-1949)
New York Giants (1950-1951)
St. Louis Cardinals (1952-1953)
Managed
St. Louis Cardinals (1952-1955)
Chicago White Sox (1966-1968)
Texas Rangers (1977)
All-Time Rankings
Eddie Stanky ranks #39 among the Top 50 all-time at 2B. Rankings ⇒
Best Season: 1945
He led the NL in runs scored (128) and walks (148). Stanky led the NL in on-base percentage twice.
Description
"Pitchers 'lose' Stanky more than they 'lose' any other player in the game. They go to the mound with the burning desire to get the ball over to the pesiferous little purloiner of first base, who walked 148 times last year. They may get two strikes and no balls on him. But almost invariably they 'lose' him. And when they do, a saturating annoyance sets in. They are not the pitchers they were before Stanky upset them." — J.G. Taylor Spink, The Sporting News, June 5, 1946
Born
Edward Raymond Stanky was born on September 3, 1916, in Philadelphia, PA.
Died
June 16, 1999, Fairhope, AL
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Primary Position: 2B
Primary Team: BRO
Major League Debut
April 21, 1943
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1943
Gil Hodges
George Kell
Andy Pafko
Gene Woodling
Andy Seminick
Cass Michaels
Eddie Stanky
Snuffy Stirnweiss
Mickey Haefner
Nicknames
The Brat, Muggsy
Similar Players
Both Alvin dark and Leo Durocher were as driven as Stanky was to win. Stanky was probably the least talented of the trio.
Related Players
Stanky married the daughter of former major leaguer Milt Stock... Alvin Dark and Leo Durocher
| Hall of Fame Voting |
| Year |
Election |
Votes |
Pct |
| 1960 |
BBWAA |
3 |
1.1% |
|
Post-Season Appearances
1947 World Series
1948 World Series
1951 World Series
Feats
Stanky's 148 walks in 1945 were a new National League record.
All-Star Selections
1947 NL
1948 NL
1950 NL
Learn More about Eddie Stanky
Search Amazon.com for Books about Eddie Stanky ⇒
Search for Eddie Stanky at Google ⇒
View a map of his hometown at Mapquest ⇒
