# Ed Mierkowicz

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{{Short description|American baseball player (1924–2017)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Ed Mierkowicz
|position=[Leftfielder](/source/Leftfielder)
|image=Ed Mierkowicz.jpeg
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|birth_date={{Birth date|1924|3|6}}
|birth_place=[Wyandotte, Michigan](/source/Wyandotte%2C_Michigan), U.S.
|death_date={{Death date and age|2017|5|19|1924|3|6}}
|death_place=[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan](/source/Bloomfield_Hills%2C_Michigan), U.S.
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=August 31
|debutyear=1945
|debutteam=Detroit Tigers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=April 19
|finalyear=1950
|finalteam=St. Louis Cardinals
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=[Batting average](/source/Batting_average_(baseball))
|stat1value=.175
|stat2label=[Home runs](/source/Home_runs)
|stat2value=1
|stat3label=[Runs batted in](/source/Runs_batted_in)
|stat3value=4
|teams=
*[Detroit Tigers](/source/Detroit_Tigers) ({{mlby|1945}}, {{mlby|1947}}–{{mlby|1948}})
*[St. Louis Cardinals](/source/St._Louis_Cardinals) ({{mlby|1950}})
|highlights=
*[World Series champion](/source/World_Series_champion) ({{wsy|1945}})}}'''Edward Frank Mierkowicz''' (March 6, 1924 – May 19, 2017), nicknamed "'''Mouse'''," was an American professional [baseball](/source/baseball) player. He played in [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) from 1945 to 1950 as an [outfielder](/source/outfielder) for the [Detroit Tigers](/source/Detroit_Tigers) and [St. Louis Cardinals](/source/St._Louis_Cardinals). Mierkowicz was a member of the world champion [1945 Detroit Tigers](/source/1945_Detroit_Tigers_season) team.

==Early life==
Mierkowicz was born in [Wyandotte, Michigan](/source/Wyandotte%2C_Michigan),<ref name=BR>{{cite web|title=Ed Mierkowicz|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=November 4, 2023|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mierked01.shtml}}</ref> the son of a factory worker.<ref name=Bak/> He lettered in three sports at [Roosevelt High School](/source/Theodore_Roosevelt_High_School_(Wyandotte)) in Wyandotte. He played center for the basketball team and led them to the Michigan state finals. He also led the football team to a state championship. As a first baseman for the baseball team, he hit more [home run](/source/home_run)s than any player in school history.<ref name=Wy>{{cite news|title=Tigers Sign Ed. Mierkowicz: Traded From Buffalo Team|newspaper=The Wyandotte News-Herald|date=March 8, 1945|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-wyandotte-news-herald-tigers-sign-ed/134591042/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mierkowicz is the Difference: Cager Who Became Eligible is Spark|newspaper=The Daily Monitor|date=February 26, 1942|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-monitor-leader-mierkowicz-is-t/134610124/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Wyandotte '5' Whips Bathers|newspaper=Monitor-Leader|date=March 6, 1943|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-monitor-leader-mierkowicz/134610351/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref>

He was friends as a child with [Bob Kuzava](/source/Bob_Kuzava) who went on to pitch for the [New York Yankees](/source/New_York_Yankees).<ref>{{cite news|title=A member of 1945 Tigers pulling for Cubs this time|newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=November 3, 2015|page=C3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-a-member-of-194/134583507/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref>

In 1943, Mierkowicz was inducted into the Army. Mierkowicz was discharged after contracting [rheumatic fever](/source/rheumatic_fever).<ref name=Bak>{{cite book|author=Richard Bak|title=Cobb Would Have Caught It: The Golden Age of Baseball in Detroit|publisher=Wayne State Univ. Press|year=1991}}(Chapter 18 "Ed Mierkowicz")</ref>

==Professional baseball==
===Minor leagues (1944–1945)===
In February 1944, Mierkowicz was signed by [Wish Egan](/source/Wish_Egan) for the Detroit Tigers.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wyandotte High Boy Signed by Tigers|newspaper=The Detroit Evening Ties|date=February 6, 1944|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-evening-times-mierkowicz/134590485/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Herd Roster Raised to 35 by Signing of 3 4-F Ball Players|newspaper=Buffalo Evening News|author=Cy Kritzer|date=February 3, 1944|page=19|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-herd-roster-raised-to-3/134590293/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref> He was assigned to the [Buffalo Bisons](/source/Buffalo_Bisons) who in turn optioned him to the Hagerstown Owls of the Inter-State League. He appeared in 139 games for Hagerstown during the 1944 season, appearing in 139 games and compiling a .331 batting average with 90 hits, 44 extra-base hits, and 94 RBIs.<ref name=BRM>{{cite web|title=Ed Mierckowicz Minor League Statistics|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|accessdate=November 3, 2023|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mierko001edw}}</ref>

Mierkowicz spent most of the 1945 season with the Buffalo Bisons. He appeared in 131 games for Buffalo, compiled a .303 batting average, scored 91 runs and tallied 67 extra-base hits, 23 home runs, and 94 RBIs.<ref name=BRM/>

===Detroit Tigers (1945)===
Mierkowicz was called up by the Detroit Tigers in late August 1945. He collected his first major-league hit on September 11 at [Fenway Park](/source/Fenway_Park) in Boston; he hit a double in the ninth inning that scored Rudy York with the game-winning run.<ref>{{cite news|title=Detroit Wins 2d for Split|newspaper=Detroit Evening Times|author=Leo MacDonnell|date=September 12, 1945|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-evening-times-detroit-wins-2d-fo/134591637/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref>  He played in 10 games in 1945, tallying two hits, a walk and two RBIs in 15 at bats.

The Tigers won the American League pennant and defeated the [Chicago Cubs](/source/Chicago_Cubs) in the [1945 World Series](/source/1945_World_Series). Mierkowicz appeared as a defensive replacement for [Hank Greenberg](/source/Hank_Greenberg) in the ninth inning of Game 7.<ref name=fan>{{cite news|title=Cubs Fan - Now|author=Trister, Noah|date=November 3, 2016|newspaper=[New York Post](/source/New_York_Post)|page=76}}</ref> Mierkowicz did not bat in the Series but he received a [World Series ring](/source/World_Series_ring) in his rookie season.<ref name=fan/>

===1946 to 1950 seasons===
In 1946, Mierkowicz spent most of the season in the minor leagues with Buffalo, but he did play in 21 games with the Tigers, batting .190. In 1948, he appeared in 3 games.

He finished his major-league career on April 19, 1950, with the St. Louis Cardinals. He struck out in his one and only at bat for the Cardinals.

===Minor leagues (1951–1957)===
Mierkowicz continued to play in the minor leagues from 1951 to 1957. He played for the [Rochester Red Wings](/source/Rochester_Red_Wings) during the 1949, 1950, 1951, and 1953 seasons. He also had stints with the Houston Buffaloes (1952), [Richmond Virginians](/source/Richmond_Virginians) (1954)[Syracuse Chiefs](/source/Syracuse_Chiefs) (1954-1955), [Sacramento Solons](/source/Sacramento_Solons) (1955), and [Buffalo Bisons](/source/Buffalo_Bisons) (1956). He concluded his career in 1957 with the [San Antonio Missions](/source/San_Antonio_Missions), appearing in 99 games and compiling a .262 batting average.<ref name=BRM/>

He said his major-league career "was like a cup of coffee but no cream" but added that "God gave me the ability to play ball.  Made a pretty good living.  We didn't make a lot of money, but it was a lot of fun."<ref name=fan/>

==Later life==
After his playing career ended, Mierkowicz lived in [Wayne County, Michigan](/source/Wayne_County%2C_Michigan), working at a bar and as a mechanic and machinist.<ref name=CT/> He also worked for 24 years at a waste treatment plant in [Wyandotte, Michigan](/source/Wyandotte%2C_Michigan). He retired in 1984.<ref name=Bak/> Interviewed in 2016, he recalled that he had "just lived a normal life."<ref name=CT/> He lived for most of his later years in [Grosse Ile, Michigan](/source/Grosse_Ile%2C_Michigan).<ref>{{cite news|title=Old-Timer from Wyandotte once played for Detroit|newspaper=Downriver Sunday Times|date=March 31, 2014|url=https://www.downriversundaytimes.com/2013/03/31/old-timer-from-wyandotte-once-played-for-detroit/}}</ref>

Mierkowicz fell at his apartment in [Bloomfield Hills, Michigan](/source/Bloomfield_Hills%2C_Michigan), in February 2016, injuring his hip, leg and foot.<ref name=CT>{{cite news|title=A Tiger's tale: Sole survivor of Cubs' last World Series|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author=Patrick M. O'Connell|date=February 24, 2016|pages=1, 7|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-a-tigers-tale-sole-sur/134582604/|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref> Following the injury, he gained press attention as the last surviving member for the 1945 Detroit Tigers.<ref name=CT/><ref>{{cite news|author=Tom Gage|title=Tigers 1945 World Series: One play, One Ring|newspaper=The Detroit News|date=February 17, 2015}}</ref> After his release from the hospital, he stayed at a rehabilitation facility in [Troy, Michigan](/source/Troy%2C_Michigan). He fell and broke his hip for a second time and was placed in a nursing center in [West Bloomfield, Michigan](/source/West_Bloomfield%2C_Michigan).<ref name=NH/> He died on May 19, 2017.<ref name=NH>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenewsherald.com/2017/05/19/ed-mierkowicz-last-living-member-of-the-detroit-tigers-1945-world-series-championship-team-dies/ |title=Ed Mierkowicz: Last living member of the Detroit Tigers' 1945 World Series championship team dies |newspaper=News-Herald|author=David Dyer|date=May 19, 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{1945 Detroit Tigers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mierkowicz, Ed}}
Category:1924 births
Category:2017 deaths
Category:Sportspeople from Wyandotte, Michigan
Category:Baseball players from Wayne County, Michigan
Category:Military personnel from Wayne County, Michigan
Category:Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
Category:Columbus Jets players
Category:20th-century American sportsmen
Category:Detroit Tigers players
Category:Hagerstown Owls players
Category:Houston Buffaloes players
Category:Little Rock Travelers players
Category:Major League Baseball left fielders
Category:Miami Marlins (International League) players
Category:Milwaukee Brewers (minor league) players
Category:Richmond Virginians (minor league) players
Category:Rochester Red Wings players
Category:Sacramento Solons players
Category:St. Louis Cardinals players
Category:San Antonio Missions players
Category:Seattle Rainiers players
Category:Syracuse Chiefs players
Category:Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo players
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II
Category:American expatriate baseball players in Mexico

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ed Mierkowicz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Mierkowicz) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Mierkowicz?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.