Marty Kutyna
Encyclopedia
Marion John "Marty" Kutyna (born November 14, 1932, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
) is an American
former right-handed pitcher
in professional baseball
. Kutyna spent three full seasons in Major League Baseball
, pitching almost exclusively in relief
. He stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, weighed 190 pounds (86 kg), and batted right-handed.
After graduating from North Catholic High School
, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals
. Kutyna never attained the Major League level with the Redbirds, but he played an important role in their history nonetheless. He was part of a package of players that St. Louis swapped to the Cincinnati Redlegs
on December 5, 1957, for young center fielder
Curt Flood
, who would go on to star on three pennant-winning Cardinal teams in the 1960s.
Kutyna toiled in the minors for nearly seven years before he finally reached the Majors on September 19, 1959 as a member of the Kansas City Athletics
. He pitched the entire 1960 season for the Athletics, before being traded to the Washington Senators
(for catcher
and future Athletics manager
Haywood Sullivan
) in December 1960. Kutyna would spend two full seasons (1961–1962) with the Senators, appearing in 104 games. His season with Washington was notable for its durability. He made just six starts
among his 50 games, but he threw a total of 143 innings.
One of the batters who he handled with ease throughout his career was slugger Rocky Colavito
, who went 1 for 18 against Kutyna during his career, with four strikeouts. Overall, Kutyna was 14–16, with a 3.88 earned run average
in 159 career games.
Although his playing career ended before his 30th birthday, Kutyna retained many memories from his playing career. He has told the story about one of the most unusual home runs ever: "When I was in the Pacific Coast League
and with Portland
, we had an infielder
named Jack Bloomfield
. Jack got up to bat, singled
and rounded first base. The pitcher then threw over to first base to try and pick him off, but he threw it low into the dirt and Jack slid back head first. The first baseman could not find the ball so Jack got up and ran around the bases, second, third, and then home. When he got to the dugout he opened his shirt and the ball fell out because the ball went up his sleeve when he dove back to first base."
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. Kutyna spent three full seasons in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, pitching almost exclusively in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. He stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, weighed 190 pounds (86 kg), and batted right-handed.
After graduating from North Catholic High School
North Catholic High School
North Catholic High School is a private Catholic high school located on Troy Hill on the Northside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The school's mascot is the Trojan and its official colors are scarlet and gold....
, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Kutyna never attained the Major League level with the Redbirds, but he played an important role in their history nonetheless. He was part of a package of players that St. Louis swapped to the Cincinnati Redlegs
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on December 5, 1957, for young center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
Curt Flood
Curt Flood
Curtis Charles Flood was a Major League Baseball player who spent most of his career as a center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. A defensive standout, he led the National League in putouts four times and in fielding percentage twice, winning Gold Glove Awards in his last seven full seasons...
, who would go on to star on three pennant-winning Cardinal teams in the 1960s.
Kutyna toiled in the minors for nearly seven years before he finally reached the Majors on September 19, 1959 as a member of the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. He pitched the entire 1960 season for the Athletics, before being traded to the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
(for catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
and future Athletics manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Haywood Sullivan
Haywood Sullivan
Haywood Cooper Sullivan was an American college and professional baseball player who was a catcher, manager, general manager and club owner in Major League Baseball...
) in December 1960. Kutyna would spend two full seasons (1961–1962) with the Senators, appearing in 104 games. His season with Washington was notable for its durability. He made just six starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
among his 50 games, but he threw a total of 143 innings.
One of the batters who he handled with ease throughout his career was slugger Rocky Colavito
Rocky Colavito
Rocco Domenico "Rocky" Colavito, Jr. is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the Cleveland Indians. He wore a #6, #7 or #21 jersey during his MLB career...
, who went 1 for 18 against Kutyna during his career, with four strikeouts. Overall, Kutyna was 14–16, with a 3.88 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 159 career games.
Although his playing career ended before his 30th birthday, Kutyna retained many memories from his playing career. He has told the story about one of the most unusual home runs ever: "When I was in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
and with Portland
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
, we had an infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
named Jack Bloomfield
Jack Bloomfield (baseball)
Gordon Leigh "Jack" Bloomfield is an American former infielder, scout and coach in professional baseball...
. Jack got up to bat, singled
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
and rounded first base. The pitcher then threw over to first base to try and pick him off, but he threw it low into the dirt and Jack slid back head first. The first baseman could not find the ball so Jack got up and ran around the bases, second, third, and then home. When he got to the dugout he opened his shirt and the ball fell out because the ball went up his sleeve when he dove back to first base."