Tony Cuccinello

{{Short description|American baseball player (1907–1995)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Tony Cuccinello |image=Cuccinello.jpg |position=Second baseman / Third baseman |birth_date={{birth date|1907|11|8}} |birth_place=Long Island City, New York, U.S. |death_date={{Death date and age|1995|9|21|1907|11|8}} |death_place=Tampa, Florida, U.S. |bats=Right |throws=Right |debutleague = MLB |debutdate=April 15 |debutyear=1930 |debutteam=Cincinnati Reds |finalleague = MLB |finaldate=September 25 |finalyear=1945 |finalteam=Chicago White Sox |statleague = MLB |stat1label=Batting average |stat1value=.280 |stat2label=Home runs |stat2value=94 |stat3label=Runs batted in |stat3value=884 |teams= * Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|1930}}–{{mlby|1931}}) * Brooklyn Dodgers ({{mlby|1932}}–{{mlby|1935}}) * Boston Bees ({{mlby|1936}}–{{mlby|1940}}) * New York Giants ({{mlby|1940}}) * Boston Braves ({{mlby|1942}}–{{mlby|1943}}) * Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|1944}}–{{mlby|1945}}) |highlights= * 3× All-Star (1933, 1938, 1945) * World Series champion ({{wsy|1968}}) }} '''Anthony Francis Cuccinello''' (November 8, 1907 – September 21, 1995) was an American professional baseball second baseman and third baseman, then a longtime coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Bees / Braves, New York Giants and Chicago White Sox between {{mlby|1930}} and {{mlby|1945}}. He was the older brother and uncle, respectively, of former major league players Al Cuccinello and Sam Mele. His surname was pronounced "coo-chi-NELL-oh".<ref name="statistics">[https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cuccito01.shtml "Tony Cuccinello Statistics and History"]. "baseball-reference.com. Retrieved on 2017-05-14.</ref>

A native of Long Island City, New York, Cuccinello threw and batted right-handed; he was listed as {{convert|5|ft|7|in}} tall, with a playing weight of {{convert|160|lb}}. As a major leaguer, he led National League second basemen in assists and double plays three times and hit .300 or better five times, with a career high .315 in {{baseball year|1931}}. He was selected for MLB's first All-Star Game, played on July 6, {{baseball year|1933}} at Comiskey Park, batting as a pinch-hitter for Carl Hubbell in the ninth inning. He also was selected for the 1938 All-Star Game.

On August 13, 1931, as a member of the Reds, he had six hits in six at bats, scoring four runs and recording five RBI in a 17–3 rout of the Braves.

During the 1945 season, the 37-year-old Cuccinello hit .308 for the White Sox, and just missed winning the American League batting title, one point behind Snuffy Stirnweiss' .309. Nevertheless, with the World War II manpower shortage ending and hundreds of big league players returning to the game from military service, he was released during the offseason.

In his 15-season career, Cuccinello was a .280 hitter with 94 home runs and 884 RBI in 1,704 games. His 1,729 career hits also included 334 doubles and 46 triples.

Cuccinello spent 1941 as the player-manager of the Jersey City Giants of the top-level International League. After being out of baseball in 1946, Cuccinello managed the 1947 Tampa Smokers (named after the city's large cigar business) of the Florida International League, then he spent 1948 as a coach for the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A American Association. He returned to the major leagues to coach with the Reds (1949–51), Cleveland Indians (1952–56), White Sox (1957–66; 1969) and Detroit Tigers (1967–68). He was the third-base coach under former teammate Al López in Cleveland and Chicago and was a member of Lopez' {{baseball year|1954}} and {{baseball year|1959}} American League championship teams. As a coach with Mayo Smith's Tigers, Cuccinello earned a ring with the {{baseball year|1968}} World Series champions.

Cuccinello died in Tampa, Florida, at the age of 87.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Baseballstats|br=c/cuccito01|brm=cuccin001ant}} *Interview of Tony Cuccinello conducted by Eugene Murdock on January 3, 1980, in Tampa, Florida: [https://cdm16014.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4014coll27/id/44/rec/83 Part 1], [https://cdm16014.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4014coll27/id/45/rec/84 Part 2] * {{Find a Grave}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cuccinello, Tony}} Category:1907 births Category:1995 deaths Category:American League All-Stars Category:Baseball coaches from New York (state) Category:Baseball players from Queens, New York Category:Boston Bees players Category:Boston Braves players Category:Brooklyn Dodgers players Category:Chicago White Sox coaches Category:Chicago White Sox players Category:Cincinnati Reds coaches Category:Cincinnati Reds players Category:Cleveland Indians coaches Category:Columbus Senators players Category:Danville Veterans players Category:Detroit Tigers coaches Category:Jersey City Giants players Category:Lawrence Merry Macks players Category:Major League Baseball second basemen Category:Major League Baseball third base coaches Category:Minor league baseball managers Category:National League All-Stars Category:New York Giants (baseball) players Category:New York Yankees scouts Category:People from Long Island City, Queens Category:Syracuse Stars (minor league baseball) players Category:Tampa Smokers players Category:20th-century American sportsmen