Alex Garbowski

From BR Bullpen

Alexander Garbowski

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 1", Weight 185 lb.

Debut April 16, 1952
Final Game May 9, 1952
Born June 25, 1922 in Yonkers, NY USA
Died June 27, 2008 in Putnam Valley, NY USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Before the 1946 season, Alex Garbowski signed with the Nyack Rocklands of the class D North Atlantic League. The 21-year-old shortstop made a fine debut as he led the league in runs with 124, RBI with 105, home runs with 12 and tied for the lead in base hits with 170. He also hit for a .390 average, busted 12 home runs and slugged at a .615 percentage. Alex would be with the class C Vandergrift Pioneers of the Middle Atlantic League in 1947 and lead this league in hitting with a .396 batting average and hit 11 home runs and slug at a .607 pace.

In 1948, Alex was with the Utica Blue Sox of the class A Eastern League; he hit for a .301 average and led the league in runs scored with an even 100. He would be with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League in 1949-50, hitting at a .266 clip in '49 and a .242 in '50.

Alex would be at the shortstop position with the pennant winning Seattle Rainiers that were managed by Rogers Hornsby in 1951, appearing in 122 games, but his batting average fell off to .222. On November 19, 1951 he was drafted from Seattle of the PCL by the Detroit Tigers in the rule V draft. Garbowski was with the 1952 Tigers just long enough to appear in two games as as a pinch-runner, his only major league action.

Alex would spend the balance of 1952 and all of 1953 in the PCL with the Seattle Rainiers as a back-up infielder, hitting only a combined .213 in 76 appearances. He wound up his pro baseball career in 1954 with the Charleston Senators of the American Association in 128 games with a .251 batting average.

Garbowski had spent nine years in pro baseball, was approaching 30 years of age and decided to look for other oppotunities. During his time in the game, he had appeared in 944 contests, went to bat 3,247 times, had 941 base hits with 45 home runs and finished with a .289 career minor league batting average.

After baseball Alex worked as a pipe fitter for a sugar refinery in his native Yonkers, NY. Garbowski's death occured on June 27, 2008 at his home in Putnam Valley, NY.