Joe Szekely
From BR Bullpen
Joseph Szekely
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11", Weight 180 lb.
- School Baylor University
- Debut September 13, 1953
- Final Game September 27, 1953
- Born February 2, 1925 in Cleveland, OH USA
- Died October 16, 1995 in Paris, TX USA
Biographical Information
Joe Szekely served with the United State Army during World War II and then enrolled at Baylor University from 1946-49. Beginning in 1949 he played minor league ball as a free agent for the Texarkana Bears in the class B Big State League, posting a .353 batting average with six home runs in 28 games.
Joe would be with the Texarkana team again in 1950, hitting .326 with 18 homers in 142 games, helping his team to both the league and play-off titles. The hard-hitting outfielder would stay with them again in 1951, this time hitting for a .356 average with 20 home runs in 147 games.
The Shreveport Sports aquired Joe late in '51 in an unknown transaction and the AA Texas League watched him hit .301 with 11 homers in 161 games in 1952. The 1953 season would see Joe with Shreveport again, falling off in his average somewhat, hitting .273 with 20 home runs in 151 games, and he was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds on September 5, 1953, from the Shreveport club.
Szekely made his debut with the Reds on September 13. Joe appeared in only five games with the Reds in 1953, picking up just one base hit in 13 at-bats. But Szekely recalls his one big league hit coming against Warren Spahn, the winningest left-hander of all time.
The Cincinnati Redlegs club would send Joe to the Tulsa Oilers of the Texas League for the 1954 season and the 29 year old would make it his last year in pro ball, hitting just .261 with 16 home runs in 146 games. This ended his six season minor league run with a career .307 average and 91 homers in 775 games.
When he retired from baseball, he became manager of the first cable company in Paris, Ohio, Midwest Video, and served there for 12 years. He also was a sales representative with Share Corp. until retiring in 1987. In retirement, he worked at the pro shop at the Paris Golf and Country Club.
Joe was past president of the Paris Lions Club, had been involved in Boy's Baseball and Teen League as coach and commissioner. He had received the Distinguished Service Award and Optimist Man of the Year. He served on the Paris Junior College Board of Regents from 1963 through 1968.
Szekely's son Joe has had a long career as a minor league player and coach [1].
Joe Szekely passed away in Paris, TX, on October 16, 1995 at 70 years of age.
