Mike Ulicny

Michael Edward Ulicny (September 28, 1917 – September 22, 2005), nicknamed "Slugs",[1] was an American professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Braves in 1945. Listed at 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) and 165 pounds (75 kg), he was a native of Greenwald, Pennsylvania.[2]

Mike Ulicny
Ulicny with the New Orleans Pelicans, c. 1944
Catcher
Born: (1917-09-28)September 28, 1917
Greenwald, Pennsylvania
Died: September 22, 2005(2005-09-22) (aged 87)
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 5, 1945, for the Boston Braves
Last MLB appearance
June 22, 1945, for the Boston Braves
MLB statistics
Batting average.389
Home runs1
Runs batted in4
Teams

Biography

Ulicny's professional baseball career spanned 1938 to 1950; he appeared in a total of 886 minor league games.[3] He is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II. He hit well in the 11 games he played for the Boston Braves, going 7-for-18, a .389 batting average. He had one home run, four runs batted in (RBIs), four runs scored, and a .611 slugging percentage. He was mainly used as a pinch-hitter, appearing in only four games as a catcher.[4] His uncommon last name sometimes appeared in newspaper box scores of the era as "Ulisney".[5][6] In 1950, he served as player-manager of the minor league Niagara Falls Citizens.[3][7]

Ulicny served in the United States Army during World War II,[8] including in 1943 when he was stationed at Fort Dix (New Jersey) and Camp Gordon Johnston (Florida) and did not play baseball professionally.[9][3] He died at the age of 87 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.[2] He is buried at Deltona Memorial Gardens in Orange City, Florida.[8]

References
  1. "Mike Ulicny Trades and Transactions". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  2. "Mike Ulicny". SABR. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  3. "Mike Ulicny Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  4. "Mike Ulicny Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  5. "Giants Trample Baves, 15-5, 6-4". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. AP. May 6, 1945. p. 10. Retrieved July 18, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  6. "Hitter Have Field Day as Reds, Braves Divide". Detroit Free Press. AP. May 21, 1945. p. 13. Retrieved July 18, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  7. "Mike Ulicny Signs Manager's Pact". Fort Lauderdale News. February 27, 1950. p. 15. Retrieved July 18, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  8. "Index Record for Ulicny, Michael Edward, U.S. Veterans' Gravesites, ca.1775-2019". fold3.com. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  9. "Pfc. Mike Ulicny". Indiana Gazette. Indiana, Pennsylvania. April 16, 1943. p. 6. Retrieved July 18, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
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