{{Short description|American baseball player (1908–1994)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Mike Kreevich |image=Mike Kreevich.jpg |position=Center fielder |birth_date={{birth date|1908|6|10}} |birth_place=Mount Olive, Illinois, U.S. |death_date={{Death date and age|1994|4|25|1908|6|10}} |death_place=Pana, Illinois, U.S. |bats=Right |throws=Right |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=September 7 |debutyear=1931 |debutteam=Chicago Cubs |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=September 23 |finalyear=1945 |finalteam=Washington Senators |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Batting average |stat1value=.283 |stat2label=Home runs |stat2value=45 |stat3label=Runs batted in |stat3value=514 |teams= *Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|1931}}) *Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|1935}}–{{mlby|1941}}) *Philadelphia Athletics ({{mlby|1942}}) *St. Louis Browns ({{mlby|1943}}–{{mlby|1945}}) *Washington Senators ({{mlby|1945}}) |highlights= *All-Star (1938) }} '''Michael Andreas Kreevich''' (June 10, 1908 – April 25, 1994) was an American professional baseball player.<ref name="Mike Kreevich statistics">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kreevmi01.shtml |title=Mike Kreevich statistics |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=November 16, 2019}}</ref> He played as a center fielder in Major League Baseball from {{mlby|1931}} to {{mlby|1945}}.<ref name="Mike Kreevich statistics"/> He batted and threw right-handed.
==Early life== Kreevich was born in Mount Olive, Illinois.<ref name="Mike Kreevich statistics"/> He started working in coal mines in late 1924 at the age of 16. Although short of stature (five feet and seven and a half inches tall), he developed a muscular physique while coal mining for almost five years. With the Great Depression, the coal mines closed in 1930. It was about this time that he was invited to play for a team in McCook, Nebraska. Kreevich soon went from that small town team to the National League's Chicago Cubs, thanks to a scout who recognized the talent in him.
==Career== Kreevich began his career in {{mlby|1931}} with the Chicago Cubs, but only played five games for them.<ref name="Mike Kreevich statistics"/> In {{mlby|1935}}, he joined the cross-town Chicago White Sox, but did not become a regular until {{mlby|1936}}.<ref name="Mike Kreevich statistics"/> In {{mlby|1937}} he led the American League in triples and sacrifice flies while batting .302, and finishing 10th in the American League MVP Award voting.<ref name="Mike Kreevich statistics"/> In {{mlby|1939}}, he again finished 10th in the American League MVP Award voting, while batting .323.<ref name="Mike Kreevich statistics"/> He was also named to the American League All-Star team in {{mlby|1938}}.<ref name="Mike Kreevich statistics"/>
After the {{mlby|1941}} season, Kreevich was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics. He was released after only one season, and signed with the St. Louis Browns before the {{mlby|1943}} campaign. While with the Browns he played in the all-St. Louis 1944 World Series against the Cardinals. In the middle of the {{mlby|1945}} season, he was purchased by the Washington Senators; he finished his career after that season in the nation's capital.
In 1,241 games played over 12 seasons, Kreevich compiled a .283 batting average (1321-4676) with 676 runs, 221 doubles, 75 triples, 45 home runs, 514 RBIs, 115 stolen bases, 446 bases on balls, .346 on-base percentage and a .391 slugging percentage.<ref name="Mike Kreevich statistics"/> His career fielding percentage was .981.<ref name="Mike Kreevich statistics"/>
==See also== * List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Baseballstats|br=k/kreevmi01}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kreevich, Mike}} Category:1908 births Category:1994 deaths Category:American League All-Stars Category:Major League Baseball outfielders Category:Baseball players from Macoupin County, Illinois Category:Chicago Cubs players Category:Chicago White Sox players Category:Philadelphia Athletics players Category:St. Louis Browns players Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:Washington Senators (1901–1960) players Category:People from Mount Olive, Illinois Category:McCook Generals players Category:Des Moines Demons players Category:Kansas City Blues (baseball) players Category:Los Angeles Angels (minor league) players