Former MLB infielder, manager and scout Eddie Kasko, best known for managing the Boston Red Sox between 1970 and 1973, passed away yesterday three days shy of what would have been his 89th birthday.
Kasko, a native of New Jersey, signed with the St. Louis Browns right out of high school. It would take Kasko eight years to reach the majors toiling with the Browns (who later became the Baltimore Orioles), Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals as well as a tour of duty in the Korean War as part of the U.S. Army Combat Engineers which caused him to miss two seasons.
After returning from Korea, Kasko would spend three more seasons in the minor leagues before he made his MLB debut with the Cardinals in 1957. He proved adept at playing third base, second base and shortstop in equal measure. While Kasko did not have much power he was a good contact hitter and far from an automatic out. After two seasons in St. Louis, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds prior to the 1959 season in a six player deal which included another future big league manager Alex Grammas.
Kasko spent five seasons with the Reds. His most memorable season came in 1961 when primarily playing shortstop he was named to two NL All-Star Teams (this was during the brief period MLB held two All-Star Games per season) and was part of a Reds team that won the NL pennant. Although the Reds would be bested by the New York Yankees in five games, Kasko acquitted himself well hitting .318 (7 for 22) in World Series play.
The Reds traded Kasko to the Houston Colt 45's prior to the 1964 season. He would remain with the team when they were rechristened the Astros in 1965. Following the '65 season, the Astros traded Kasko to the Red Sox for a young Felix Mantilla where he would finish his playing career. In 10 seasons, Kasko collected 935 hits for a lifetime batting average of .264 with 22 HR and 261 RBI. In 3881 career plate appearances, Kasko only struck out 353 times and only struck more than 50 times a season twice.
Kasko only played one season in Boston but would remain with the organization for nearly three more decades. The Red Sox thought highly enough of the bespectacled Kasko to name him manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, their Triple-AAA affiliate. Kasko succeeded Dick Williams who would manage the Red Sox to an AL pennant in 1967. The Maple Leafs would relocate to Louisville and become known as the Colonels in 1968.
In 1970, the Red Sox brought up Kasko to manage the big league club. While the Bosox posted winning records in each of his four seasons, the Red Sox failed to reach the post season although they missed winning the AL East in 1972 by only a half game. Despite no post-season glory, Kasko was Carl Yastrzemski's favorite manager in his 22- year big league career in Boston. Kasko also moulded Bill "Spaceman" Lee into a viable starting pitcher although he would sour on Lee's less than stellar opinion of President Nixon. Kasko had no ideological differences with Luis Tiant and was critical in resurrecting his pitching career.
However, the Red Sox decided to make a change and named Darrell Johnson their new manager in 1974 and he would famously guide the Bosox to an AL pennant in 1975. However, Kasko remained with the Red Sox organization as a scout and would be promoted to being the team's scouting director during the 1977 season. His most notable signings were Roger Clemens, Jeff Bagwell and Mo Vaughn. Kasko remained as scouting director until 1992 when he was promoted to Vice-President of Baseball Development. Kasko retired after the 1994 season. In 2010, the Red Sox inducted Kasko into the team's Hall of Fame. R.I.P.
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