George Alusik---1963
Take away the hat, the bats and the
uniform and George Alusik could be
a high school biology teacher at the
end of a hard day. Hardly an
imposing sight in the batters box,
Alusik did manage to hit .256 with 23
long balls in 298 major league games
for reasons we just can’t explain.
Sure, there were a couple of
highlights for the wiry outfielder
during his 5-year major league
career. As a pinch-hitter, Alusik once
coaxed a ninth inning walk on a 3-2
count to end Minnesota Twin Jack
Kralick’s bid for a perfect game on
August 26, 1962. (Kralick did retire
the final two batters to register his no-
no).
Somehow the scrawny Alusik belted
home runs in five consecutive
games, August 7-11, 1962, to tie an
Athletics’ team record--- which was
later broken in 2006 by slugging DH
Frank Thomas, who launched long
balls in six straight games
(September 5-11) for the A’s.
However we can’t find out much more
on old George.
Just looking at the card, Alusik
doesn’t seem to be too thrilled with
life. Possibly it is the realization that
he is at the end of a unfulfilled career
after years of flailing at curve balls.
Or he could have eaten a musty tray
of clams casino the previous night.
Then again, maybe he is lost in
thoughts of how to teach the Kreb’s
cycle to a bunch of pimple-faced
sophomores who really don’t care.
(10/15/08)
uniform and George Alusik could be
a high school biology teacher at the
end of a hard day. Hardly an
imposing sight in the batters box,
Alusik did manage to hit .256 with 23
long balls in 298 major league games
for reasons we just can’t explain.
Sure, there were a couple of
highlights for the wiry outfielder
during his 5-year major league
career. As a pinch-hitter, Alusik once
coaxed a ninth inning walk on a 3-2
count to end Minnesota Twin Jack
Kralick’s bid for a perfect game on
August 26, 1962. (Kralick did retire
the final two batters to register his no-
no).
Somehow the scrawny Alusik belted
home runs in five consecutive
games, August 7-11, 1962, to tie an
Athletics’ team record--- which was
later broken in 2006 by slugging DH
Frank Thomas, who launched long
balls in six straight games
(September 5-11) for the A’s.
However we can’t find out much more
on old George.
Just looking at the card, Alusik
doesn’t seem to be too thrilled with
life. Possibly it is the realization that
he is at the end of a unfulfilled career
after years of flailing at curve balls.
Or he could have eaten a musty tray
of clams casino the previous night.
Then again, maybe he is lost in
thoughts of how to teach the Kreb’s
cycle to a bunch of pimple-faced
sophomores who really don’t care.
(10/15/08)
