Stanislaw Leo "Steve" Kuczek (December 28, 1924 Amsterdam, Montgomery, New York, USA – 21 November 2010 Scotia, Schenectady, New York, USA)[1] was a former major league baseball player for the Boston Braves, and was one of only 84 players in the history of major league baseball to sport a career 1.000 batting average. He was born in Amsterdam, New York, and played baseball in high school, as well as at Colgate University and in the army.
On September 29, 1949, in a game against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Kuczek made his first, and only appearance in the major leagues. In the second game of a doubleheader, rain had soaked the field and darkness was beginning to set in. In the bottom of the fifth inning with the Dodgers leading 8–0, Tommy Holmes stepped into the batter's box, and Connie Ryan entered the on deck circle wearing a raincoat. Unamused by Ryan's protest of the game continuing under such conditions (and the bonfire started on the dugout steps by other members of the Braves), umpire George Barr promptly ejected Ryan. Kuczek was selected to pinch-hit for Ryan, and was likely going to assume Ryan's position at shortstop were the game to continue. Holmes doubled off Dodger pitcher Don Newcombe, and Kuczek followed by doubling down the right field line.[2] Newcombe then went on to strike out the next three Braves, and umpire Barr called the now official game in favor of the Dodgers.
Kuczek never appeared in another game, and retired after the completion of the 1950 season. Died in Scotia, Schenectady, New York 21 Nov 2010.