Steve Korcheck

From BR Bullpen

Stephen Joseph Korcheck (Hoss)

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 1", Weight 205 lb.
School George Washington University
Debut September 6, 1954
Final Game September 27, 1959
Born August 11, 1932 in McClellandtown, PA USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Steve Korchek was a 1954 graduate of George Washington University where he starred at center on the football team. Steve was a third round draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers, but passed on the chance at snapping the ball to professional quarterbacks by signing to play baseball with the Washington Senators, as an amateur free agent in 1954.

A strapping 6' 1", 205 lb. catcher he hit .287 in just fifty games in his first season with the Charlotte Hornets of the South Atlantic League in 1954. This performance got him a late season look by the Senators in September where he appeared in just two games. In 1955 Steve would play for the Charlotte club again and also spend the biggest part of this year with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the AA Southern Association, coming up with a .270 average in 103 games for both teams. He would be back to Washington again for the late major league season in 1955 and he improved his game to the point of a .278 batting average in 13 games.

Korchek was out of baseball in 1956 and 1957 for reasons unknown but would return to get into 21 games with the Senators in 1958, not hitting well at all, getting only four base hits in 52 plate appearances. He was back with the Senators in 1959 and again did not play well and after 22 games and hitting .157 his major league time was up and he finished with a career .159 in 58 games. Korcheck was sent to the minor league Miami Marlins where he finished out 1959 playing in 52 games and hitting .191.

Not one to quit Steve was back in the minors with the AAA Charleston Senators in 1960, appeared in 52 games, hit .230 and this ended his pro baseball run and he finished out with a minor league career average of .254 in 257 games. Steve would return to George Wasington, earning a masters degree and PhD, and also served as the Colonials baseball coach. From 1980 until his retirement in 1997 Steve was the president of Manatee Community College in Bradenton, FL.