Books and articles about Eddie Stanky

Hustling, hard-boiled Eddie Stanky debuted in 1943 as the Cubs' second baseman and scored 92 runs. Traded to Brooklyn, Stanky prompted manager Leo Durocher to make his famous (and imprecisely remembered) "nice guys finish last" remark: "Look at Mel Ott over there [in the Giant's dugout]. He's a nice guy, and he finishes second. Now look at The Brat (Stanky). He can't hit, can't run, can't field. He's no nice guy, but all the little SOB can do is win." The Dodgers played Jackie Robinson at first base as a rookie to keep Stanky at second base.

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RELATED LINKS » 1967: The Fury at Fenway Book Excerpts » "Stanky had been Leo's second baseman in Brooklyn, dealt off after 1947 to let Jackie Robinson move back to second from first": Leonard Koppett » Nolan Ryan's Pitcher's Bible Around the Web » Eddie Stanky from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

Stanky led the NL in runs scored with 128 in 1945, when he drew a then-record 148 walks. He led the NL in walks three times. Swapped to the Braves for 1948, Stanky hit .320 in a year shortened by injuries. The Giants gave up Sid Gordon, Willard Marshall, and two others to get Stanky and double plays partner Alvin Dark for 1950. Stanky hit .300 that year, then contributed 115 runs and a career-high 14 HR to the Giants' miracle pennant in 1951. He started the ninth-inning rally that culminated in Bobby Thomson's pennant-winning home run.

Sent to the Cardinals that winter, Stanky was named player-manager and eased himself out of the lineup. He lasted until May 1955, as the Cardinals skidded from contention. He managed the White Sox to fourth-place finishes in 1966 and 1967 before being fired midway through 1968. When he later became a college coach, Stanky surprised observers with his patience toward young players, adopting a "no-cut, everyone plays" philosophy. He returned to manage the Rangers in 1977 but quit after one game, disgusted by the attitudes of modern-day players. (MC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » October 1, 1911: The Giants complete a western trip that ices the pennant by beating the Cubs, 5–0, behind Rube Marquard. Chicago's Jimmy Sheckard sets a NL record by drawing his 147th walk, a mark not broken until Dodger Eddie Stanky's 148 in 1945. » June 8, 1944: The Cubs trade reserve infielder Eddie Stanky to the Dodgers for P Bob Chipman. » September 28, 1945: Four bases on balls give Eddie Stanky of the Dodgers 147 walks for the season, tying the mark held by Jimmy Sheckard of the Cubs in 1911. » September 30, 1945: Eddie Stanky draws a walk his first time at bat, his 148th walk of the year, from Hugh Mulcahy to break Jimmy Sheckard's mark. The Dodgers beat the Phils 4-1. » May 8, 1946: The Reds blow a 5–2 in the 9th when 1B Bert Haas trips over the bullpen mound and misses an easy pop fly by Eddie Stanky that would’ve ended the game. Stanky then walks to load the bases and Billy Herman follows with a 3-run double to tie the game. The Dodgers win it, 8-5, in the 10th on a 3-run pinch homer by Don Padgett. 2B Lonny Frey of the Reds throws out 6 straight runners as part of an 11-assist game and adds a triple and 2 singles. » May 22, 1946: With the score tied 1–1 in the 10th inning at Ebbets Field, Cubs SS Len Merullo and Dodger 2B Eddie Stanky start punching each other, precipitating a brawl between the two teams. Claude Passeau rips off Leo Durocher's jersey before calm is restored. The Dodgers win 2–1 in 13 innings, collecting 11 hits off Johnny Schmidt, who goes the distance. Joe Hatten gives up four hits in 12 innings, with Kirby Higbe pitching the last round. » April 27, 1947: The Dodgers top the Giants, 9–8, for their 5th straight win. Trailing 8–4 in the 7th, the Brooks score two runs on Carl Furillo's homer, add two more in the 8th on Cookie Lavagetto's pinch homer and Reiser's double, and win it in the 9th on Eddie Stanky's squeeze bunt. Johnny Mize hits his 6th homer for the Giants. » June 22, 1947: Ewell Blackwell just misses pitching back-to-back no-hitters when Eddie Stanky of the Brooklyn Dodgers singles with one out in the ninth inning. Blackwell then gets Al Gionfriddo before Jackie Robinson bangs out a second single. Blackwell wins 4-0, his ninth straight win to improve to 11-2. Stanky's hit ends Blackwell's hitless-inning skein at 19. » March 6, 1948: The Braves get veteran 2B Eddie Stanky from the Dodgers for Bama Rowell, minor leaguer Ray Sanders and a reported $60,000. The Dodgers' second base spot is now open for Jackie Robinson. The Dodgers will return Sanders for cash next month. » December 14, 1949: In a major trade, the Giants get Alvin Dark and Eddie Stanky from the Braves in a swap for Willard Marshall, Sid Gordon, Buddy Kerr, and Sam Webb. » August 12, 1950: The Giants Eddie Stanky is banished by umpire Lon Warneke for refusing to stop waving his arms in an attempt to distract Phillies batter Andy Seminick. In the fourth, Stanky moves over behind 2B and goes into a windup the same time as the pitcher. Giants manager Leo Durocher had agreed to await a league ruling on the tactic, but after Seminick knocks Hank Thompson unconscious in a collision at 3B, Durocher turns Stanky loose. In the fourth, Seminick reaches base on an error, then on a force at 2B he puts a linebacker block on Bill Rigney, Stanky’s replacement, and both dugouts empty for a brawl. The Phils go on to win 5–4 in 11 innings, on Stan Lopata's triple and a sac fly by Waitkus. The Giants protest Stanky’s ouster to no avail. » August 14, 1950: NL President Ford Frick reproaches Giant Eddie Stanky and bans his tactics, disallowing the Giants’ protest. He also fines Andy Seminick and Bill Rigney for the incident. » August 30, 1950: Eddie Stanky of the Giants walks twice in the sixth inning against the Pirates for a total of seven straight times over two games, tying the major-league record set by Billy Rogell and Mel Ott. The Giants win 4–0 behind Sal Maglie. » June 26, 1951: Fresh from a doubleheader loss on the 24th at Forbes Field, the Dodgers get further bad news at the Polo Grounds. Sal Maglie shuts out Brooklyn on three hits, and Preacher Roe takes his first loss after ten wins. Eddie Stanky and Whitey Lockman hit homers. » July 10, 1951: The Giants bring up 2B Davey Williams, hitting .280 at Minneapolis, and pitcher Al Corwin up. Williams is expected to shore up 2B with Eddie Stanky. » August 12, 1951: The Giants (59-51) start the day 13 games behind first place Brooklyn (70-36). On Wes Westrum Day at the Polo Grounds, Sal Maglie wins the first game against the Phillies 3–2, and rookie Al Corwin takes the 2nd game 2–1. Eddie Stanky returns to the lineup after a week's absence and has five walks in the two games while leading off. The sweep launches a 16-game win streak and a spurt of 39 wins in 47 games. » August 21, 1951: The Giants manage just one runs in seven innings off Reds knuckleballer Willard Ramsdell, but the wheels come off in "The Knuck" in the 8th: Eddie Stanky belts a leadoff homer, Lockman adds a 2-run shot, and Westrum finishes with a 3-run roundtripper off reliever Frank Smith. Spencer (9-4) wins in relief, 7–4. With their 10th straight win, the Giants move to seven 1/2 behind the rained-out Brooks. » September 1, 1951: OF Don Mueller hits three home runs in an 8–1 Giants' win over the Dodgers. His first homer comes against Ralph Branca, coming off two consecutive shutouts, and Mueller hits his 3rd home run, a two-run shot off Phil Haugstad. Sal Maglie is the winner, giving up seven singles and hits Robinson on the wrist in the 3rd to force home the only Dodger run. Whitey Lockman gets plunked twice for New York. Al Dark and Eddie Stanky combine in the 5th on a triple play off a liner by Reese. The Dodgers' lead over the Giants is now down to six games. » October 6, 1951: Back at the Polo Grounds, the Giants win 6–2, as Whitey Lockman homers with two on in the 5th. The Giants score five in the inning after Eddie Stanky kicks the ball out of Phil Rizzuto's glove on a tag play at 2B. » December 10, 1951: The Cards trade lefty Max Lanier and OF Chuck Diering to the Giants for 2B Eddie Stanky, who becomes the team's player-manager. The Reds trade C Smoky Burgess, 2B Connie Ryan and P Howie Fox to the Phillies for C Andy Seminick, infielder Eddie Pellegrini, OF Dick Sisler and P Niles Jordan. The Reds will regret letting the burly catcher go and will reacquire him, again exchanging Seminick, in three years. » April 23, 1952: The NL fines and reprimands league umpire Scotty Robb for pushing Cardinal manger Eddie Stanky. Stanky and player Solly Hemus also receive fines. » May 28, 1955: Harry "the Hat" Walker replaces Eddie Stanky as manager of the Cardinals with the team in 5th place with a record of 17-19. » December 14, 1965: Eddie Stanky is signed to manage the White Sox. » June 8, 1967: Gary Bell wins his Red Sox debut, 7–3 to give Boston a doubleheader split with the White Sox. Carl Yastrzemski had six hits for the day. Yaz, of whom Chicago manager Eddie Stanky said two days earlier, "he made be an All-Star, I suppose, but only from the neck down," hit his 12th home run. As he rounded the bases, Yaz tipped his cap to Stanky. » July 12, 1968: Eddie Stanky is fired as manager of the White Sox and replaced by Al Lopez. » June 22, 1977: It's not a good year for Texas manager Frank Lucchesi, as Eddie Stanky takes over, leading the club to a 10–8 triumph over the Twins. The next day, the "homesick" Stanky will resign. » June 28, 1977: Billy Hunter becomes the Rangers' 4th manager in six days. Connie Ryan had filled in after Eddie Stanky's departure.