Hank Ruszkowski, baseball player, 1944-1947

Hank Ruszkowski

Born: 11/10/1925 in Cleveland, OH, USA

Died: 5/31/2000 in Cleveland, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1944-09-26 | Final Game: 1947-09-20

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: Henry Alexander Ruszkowski

📊 Compare This Player 📈 View Career Timeline

Biography

Hank Ruszkowski was a professional baseball player born in 1925, who made his mark in the Major Leagues during a brief but notable career from 1944 to 1947. Primarily a position player, Ruszkowski participated in 40 games, where he showcased his abilities at the plate with a batting average of .238. Over his career, he recorded 20 hits, including three home runs and ten RBIs, demonstrating his potential as a contributor to his team's offense during a time when the game was still deeply influenced by the aftermath of World War II. Ruszkowski's playing years coincided with a transitional period in baseball, as the sport was gradually moving away from the constraints of the deadball era towards a more offensive-focused game. Although his career was relatively short, his contributions on the field reflected the spirit of resilience and determination characteristic of players from that era. While he may not have reached the heights of stardom, his dedication to the game and participation during a pivotal time in baseball history remain part of the rich tapestry of the sport's past.

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
40 84 8 20 2 0 3 10 0 6 16 0.238 0.289 0.369 0.658 -232.6

Career AVG .238 vs. league average .262 across their career seasons — 9.0% below league average.

Career OBP .289 vs. league average .330 across their career seasons — 12.6% below league average.

Career SLG .369 vs. league average .363 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.658 vs. league average 0.693 across their career seasons — 5.1% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1944 CLE AL 3 8 1 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0.375 — — — — 0.0
1945 CLE AL 14 49 2 10 0 0 0 5 0 4 9 0.204 — — — — -232.6
1947 CLE AL 23 27 5 7 2 0 3 4 0 2 6 0.259 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
C 32 0 82 22 2 2

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1944 CLE C 2 0 5 2 0 0
1945 CLE C 14 0 63 14 2 2
1947 CLE C 16 0 14 6 0 0

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Catcher 32