Tony Criscola
From BR Bullpen
Anthony Paul Criscola
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 5' 11½", Weight 180 lb.
- School Whitman College
- Debut April 15, 1942
- Final Game September 30, 1944
- Born July 9, 1915 in Walla Walla, WA USA
- Died July 10, 2001 in La Jolla, CA USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Tony Criscola was an outfielder in the major leagues during World War II, getting 367 at-bats in three years.
He is the most prominent of the three major league players to come from Walla Walla, WA. He attended Whitman College in 1934-35, and is the only major leaguer to come from Whitman. He was with the Toledo Mud Hens in 1940, 1941, and 1943.
His debut in the major leagues was in 1942 with the St. Louis Browns, when he played in 91 games at the age of 26 and hit .297. The team hit .259. He was the fifth outfielder. In 1943, he hit only .154 in 29 games with the Browns. With the Cincinnati Reds in 1944, he hit .229 in 64 games as the fifth outfielder.
He roomed in the Pacific Coast League with Lou Novikoff, the "Mad Russian". Criscola told Dick Dobbins for his book "The Grand Minor League": "I roomed with Lou's clothing. I don't know what he did or where he went. I know he was often coming in when I was getting up."
