Nick Koback facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nick Koback |
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Koback as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates
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| Catcher | |||
| Born: July 19, 1935 Hartford, Connecticut |
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| Died: January 23, 2015 (aged 79) Hartford, Connecticut |
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| debut | |||
| July 29, 1953, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 4, 1955, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .121 | ||
| Hits | 4 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Nicholas "Nick" Koback (born July 19, 1935 – died January 23, 2015) was an American baseball player. He played for eight seasons, including three years with the Major League Baseball (MLB) Pittsburgh Pirates.
Nick joined the Pirates when he was just 17 years old. He was a special kind of player called a "bonus baby". This meant he went straight to the big leagues without playing in the minor leagues first! He was the youngest player ever for the Pittsburgh Pirates at that time.
In his very first game as a starter, Nick was the catcher for a full game where the other team didn't score any runs. This is called a shutout. Most of Nick's time with the Pirates was spent as a bullpen catcher. Over his three years in the MLB, he had a .121 batting average. He got four hits and one triple in 16 games. After his time in the MLB, Nick played in the minor leagues for several teams. He batted and threw with his right hand. Nick was about 6 feet tall and weighed around 187 pounds. After baseball, he enjoyed playing golf.
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Early Life and High School Baseball
Nicholas Nicholie Koback was born on July 19, 1935, in Hartford, Connecticut. His father, Nickolai Koback, was from Russia and became an American citizen. He worked at the Hartford Machine Screw Company.
Nick went to Hartford Public High School, where he was a talented baseball player. In his second year of high school, his team won the Triangular League championship. In May 1952, Nick broke his finger, which meant he missed some games for his high school team. He also played guard on his school's basketball team. Nick graduated from Hartford Public High School in June 1953.
Baseball Career Highlights
Playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1953–1955)
On July 9, 1953, a scout named Ed McCarrick signed Nick Koback to play for the Major League Baseball (MLB) Pittsburgh Pirates. Nick had offers from other big teams like the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs. However, those teams wanted him to start in the minor leagues. The Pirates offered him the most money, so he chose them. Nick later said that "Money looks awful big to an 18-year-old".
Nick was signed under a special rule called the Bonus Rule. This rule meant he had to stay on the Pirates' main roster for two years. To make room for Nick, the Pirates had to let go of a pitcher named Bob Schultz. Nick's contract was worth about $20,000.
Nick made his MLB debut on July 29, 1953. He was a pinch hitter for another catcher against the St. Louis Cardinals. He was just 18 years and 10 days old, making him the youngest Pittsburgh Pirates player ever at that time.
Nick got his first start on July 31 against the Chicago Cubs. In that game, he caught the entire game, which was a complete game shutout thrown by Pirates pitcher Murry Dickson. Nick also got his first MLB hit in that game. The next day, he got his first sacrifice hit.
In August 1953, Nick hit his first and only MLB triple against the Milwaukee Braves. His last game of the 1953 season was on September 26.
After the 1953 season, Nick played amateur baseball. When he returned home, he was asked if he missed home while playing. He said, "Homesick? I was too busy and too excited to be homesick." He was also a special guest at a high school sports rally.
The 1954 season was the last year Nick was protected by the Bonus Rule. Some people thought the Bonus Rule was not good for young players because they didn't get to play much. Nick played in four games in 1954 and did not get any hits.
Nick signed with the Pirates again on January 15, 1955. He played his first game of the season on May 17 against the Cincinnati Reds. He came in as a pinch hitter and got a single against pitcher Joe Nuxhall.
Nick remembered talking to famous rookie player Roberto Clemente during the 1955 season. Clemente would sometimes say to him, "Hey you—strong guy!" On June 5, Nick played in both games of a doubleheader against Cincinnati. He got his last MLB hit in the second game. Nick's final MLB game was on July 4, 1955, against the New York Giants. He struck out in his last at-bat. During his time with the Pirates, Nick mostly worked as a bullpen catcher.
Minor League Baseball (1955–1960)
On July 12, 1955, the Pittsburgh Pirates sold Nick to a minor league team called the Lincoln Chiefs. He played with future MLB players on that team. In 38 games with the Chiefs, Nick batted .223.
In November 1955, Nick was sent to the Hollywood Stars. He played 10 games with them in 1956. He then played for the New Orleans Pelicans and the Williamsport Grays in the same year. With the Grays, he had a good season, batting .313 with 62 hits.
In October 1956, Nick played in the Mexican Pacific League. He started the 1957 season with the Hollywood Stars again. Later that year, he played for the New Orleans Pelicans once more.
Before the 1958 season, Nick broke his finger. He later played for the Lincoln Chiefs again, batting .240 in 68 games. After the 1958 season, Nick joined the Nebraska National Guard.
He spent the entire 1959 season with the minor league Pirates team, playing in Columbus, Georgia, and Gastonia, North Carolina. He batted .226 with 30 hits and three home runs. In 1960, Nick was traded to the Charleston Senators. He played five games with them, which turned out to be his last games in professional baseball.
Life After Baseball
After his baseball career, Nick Koback started playing golf. In 1965, he became a golf instructor in Hartford, Connecticut. He won a golf tournament in June 1969. In 1970, he became an assistant at the Pequot Golf Club.
In 2004, Nick was honored and inducted into the Hartford Public High School Athletic Hall of Fame for his great baseball skills in high school. By 2006, Nick was living in Weatogue, Connecticut.
Nick Koback passed away on January 23, 2015, at the age of 79.
Images for kids
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Koback as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates
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On August 30, 1953, Nick Koback hit his first and only MLB triple off pitcher Johnny Antonelli.
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Nick Koback as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
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Koback got his first hit of the 1955 season off of Cincinnati Reds pitcher Joe Nuxhall.
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Del Wilber served as Koback's manager during his final professional baseball season in 1960.
