John Henry Van Cuyk (July 7, 1921 – July 10, 2010) was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1947 through 1949 for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Listed at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), 190 lb., he batted and threw left-handed. His younger brother, Chris Van Cuyk, also pitched in the majors.[1]

Johnny Van Cuyk
Relief pitcher
Born: (1921-07-07)July 7, 1921
Little Chute, Wisconsin
Died: July 10, 2010(2010-07-10) (aged 89)
Rochester, Minnesota
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 18, 1947, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Last MLB appearance
May 9, 1949, for the Brooklyn Dodgers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0-0
Earned run average5.23
Strikeouts3
Teams

A native of Little Chute, Wisconsin, to Henry and Anna Van Cuyk, he grew up in the close village of Kimberly, where he attended school. He started his professional career in 1940 with Class-D Appleton Papermakers, playing for them in part of two seasons before serving stateside in the United States Army during World War II from 1941 to 1945.[2][3]

Van Cuyk entered the majors in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, pitching in seven games for them in part of three seasons. He posted a 5.53 earned run average and did not have a decision or save, allowing seven runs (six earned) on four hits while walking three and striking out three in 10.1 innings of work. He also saw time at the minor league level with the Montreal Royals (1946), St. Paul Saints (1947-'49) and Oakland Oaks (1950-'51), combining to go 77–68 with a 4.00 ERA in 330 pitching appearances (114 starts) during a 10-year career.[1][2]

Following his baseball career, Van Cuyk went into real estate and car sales. He was a longtime resident of Rochester, Minnesota, where he died three days after his 89th birthday.[4][5]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b "Baseball Reference – major league statistics".
  2. ^ a b "Baseball Reference – minor league statistics".
  3. ^ "Obituary". Archived from the original on September 11, 2012.
  4. ^ "Johnny van Cuyk, 89; Pitched for Brooklyn Dodgers".
  5. ^ "John Henry van cuyk in Social Security Death Index".

References

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