Stan Pitula
Encyclopedia
Stanley Pitula, Jr. was an American professional baseball
player. A right-handed pitcher
, he appeared in 23 Major League Baseball
games
for the Cleveland Indians
during the 1957 season
. Pitula stood 5 in 10 in (1.78 m) tall, weighed 170 pounds (77.1 kg), and batted right-handed.
Born in Hackensack, New Jersey
, he signed his first pro contract with Cleveland after a standout career at Hackensack High School
, which would later induct him into its Sports Hall of Fame. Pitula also was highly successful during the first five years of his professional career, going 81–43 (.653) in minor league baseball
in leagues ranging from Class D to Class AAA. In he made the Indians' Major League roster, and pitched in 23 games, starting
five. However, he injured his arm in an early-season game while pitching to Yogi Berra
, and after pitching through pain for two months, he sustained a severe elbow
injury while facing Roy Sievers
of the Washington Senators
on July 24, 1957. He never again pitched in the Major Leagues, making his last official appearance in MLB as a pinch runner
late in 1957.
Pitula returned to the minor leagues from 1958–1961 to try to regain his effectiveness, but he was unable to return to the Majors. After enduring personal difficulties, he committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning
, at the age of 34 in Hackensack.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. A 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...
, he appeared in 23 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...
games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
for the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
during the 1957 season
1957 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished sixth in the American League with a record of 76-77, 21½ games behind the New York Yankees- Regular season :The Indians season was marked by change...
. Pitula stood 5 in 10 in (1.78 m) tall, weighed 170 pounds (77.1 kg), and batted right-handed.
Born in Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, he signed his first pro contract with Cleveland after a standout career at Hackensack High School
Hackensack High School
Hackensack High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Hackensack Public Schools...
, which would later induct him into its Sports Hall of Fame. Pitula also was highly successful during the first five years of his professional career, going 81–43 (.653) in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
in leagues ranging from Class D to Class AAA. In he made the Indians' Major League roster, and pitched in 23 games, starting
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....
five. However, he injured his arm in an early-season game while pitching to Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
, and after pitching through pain for two months, he sustained a severe elbow
Elbow
The human elbow is the region surrounding the elbow-joint—the ginglymus or hinge joint in the middle of the arm. Three bones form the elbow joint: the humerus of the upper arm, and the paired radius and ulna of the forearm....
injury while facing Roy Sievers
Roy Sievers
Roy Edward Sievers is a former first baseman/left fielder in Major League Baseball. From through , Sievers played for the St. Louis Browns , the original Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Phillies , and finally the new Senators...
of the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
on July 24, 1957. He never again pitched in the Major Leagues, making his last official appearance in MLB as a pinch runner
Pinch runner
A pinch runner is a baseball player substituted for the specific purpose of replacing a player on base. In the typical case, the pinch runner is faster or otherwise more skilled at base-running than the player for whom the pinch runner has been substituted...
late in 1957.
Pitula returned to the minor leagues from 1958–1961 to try to regain his effectiveness, but he was unable to return to the Majors. After enduring personal difficulties, he committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs after enough inhalation of carbon monoxide . Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and initially non-irritating, it is very difficult for people to detect...
, at the age of 34 in Hackensack.
External links
- http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=452&pid=11302Smith, Steve, "Stan Pitula," The Baseball Biography Project, Society for American Baseball ResearchSociety for American Baseball ResearchThe Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
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