Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview
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Damn Yankees
Page 364
the 1947 and 1948 seasons in the minor leagues before his breakout season with the White Sox in 1949.
Kuzava, whose nickname was "Sarge" or "The White Rat," finished fourth in voting for the 1949 American League Rookie of the Year for having a 10–6 record for the Chicago White Sox, with nine complete games. He had served as a military policeman in India and Burma during World War II.
He joined the Yankees on June 15, 1951, with the Washington Senators trading him to New York. The previous season he had suffered a torn Achilles tendon and, following surgery, was on crutches when the Senators traded him to the Yankees for three pitchers and $100,000. A starter his entire career, Kuzava was moved to the bullpen by the Yankees because they were in
desperate need of a left handed reliever.
Kuzava helped the Yankees win three consecutive World Series from 1951–53. He gained saves in the final games of both the 1951 World Series against the New York Giants - Game 6 and 1952 against the Brooklyn Dodgers - Game 7. In ’51 he retired the Giants with the bases loaded for the win and in ’52 he set down the last eight Dodgers to secure the championship. He pitched in the ninth inning of a 1953 World Series Game 5 victory for the Yankees as well.