Block, Cy

Seymour Block

A spirited, determined player, Block was considered one of the most promising rookies of the 1942 season; but unfortunately, he lost most of his career to fighting in World War Two. He played in only 17 games for the Cubs between 1942-45, though he appeared in the 1945 World Series. Block was a lifetime .302 hitter for Chicago.

After retiring, he capitalized on his baseball career by renting a billboard on Broadway in New York City featuring himself in a Cub uniform and the slogan: "Life insurance is the home run investment, with it you can't strike out." He became a millionaire, and wrote a book about his time with the Chicago Cubs.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. May 4, 1919 - d. September 22, 2004

Career Highlights:
Born in Brooklyn, Block grew up only blocks from Ebbets Field. As a child, he used to try and sneak into the famed ballpark to see his beloved Dodgers play. When he was older, Block was barred from his high school team because his coach said he couldn't catch a cold, much less a fly ball. Block responded by organizing his own neighborhood team, nicknamed the Falcons.

In 1937, Block tried out for the Dodgers, and made the final cut. He was assigned to a minor league team in Elmira, New York, but when he arrived, he was sent home. Block continued his baseball career with a number of minor league teams over the next few years. He played with the Memphis Chicks in the American Association, Greenville (South Carolina) in the Cotton States League, Macon (Georgia) in the Sally League, and Tulsa in the Texas League -- he was the MVP of the Sally League in 1941.

At the end of the 1942 season, Block was promoted from Tulsa to the Chicago Cubs. On September 9, he made his major league debut and got two hits in a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. Block batted .364 in his rookie year (12-33 in nine games), but then joined the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. He spent three years in the service and then rejoined the Cubs during the final week of the 1945 season.

The Cubs won the National League pennant that year, and Block received special permission to play in the World Series. He appeared ine one game as a pinch-runner as the Cubs lost to Hank Greenberg and the Detroit Tigers, 4-3. It was the last time the Cubs appeared in the World Series. Block then played six games with the Cubs in 1946, but spent the majority of the season in the minors.

In the late 1940s, Block played for a number of minor league teams and then played in the Puerto Rican Winter League following the 1949 season. When he arrived, Cy discovered that the manager had been fired. Block was given the manager job while he continued to play. He sent for three players from the U.S. to help him that winter, two of which were Jewish -- Lou Limmer and Mickey Rutner. Block remained in the minors until 1951 and then went into the insuance business.

Career Dates:
Block played with the Chicago Cubs, 1942 and 1945-1946.

Position:
Third base, with two games at second base.

Physical description:
6'0", 180 pounds
Right-handed

Career Statistics:
Games: 17
Batting Avg.: .302
Slugging Avg.: .358

At-bats: 53
Hits: 16
Doubles: 1
Triples: 1

Home Runs: 0
Home Run %: 0.0
Runs: 9
RBI: 5

BB: 7
Strike Outs: 3
Stolen Bases: 2

Pinch Hitting
At-bats: 1
Hits: 0

Fielding Statistics
Put-outs: 19
Assists: 29
Errors: 2
Double-plays: 5

Total Chances per Game: 3.3
Fielding Avg: .960

< Previous |  Next >