John Clarence "Nap" Kloza (September 7, 1903 – June 11, 1962) was a professional baseball player and manager. Listed at 5' 11", 180 lb., he batted and threw right-handed. Sometimes he is credited as Jack Kloza.[1]
Kloza was hailed as a potential Babe Ruth at that time, but his major league experience was cut short by illness, from which he never fully recovered his best playing strength, appearing in parts of two seasons. He was a .150 hitter in 22 games, driving in two runs and scoring five more without home runs.[1][4]
In 1933 Kloza returned to the minors, playing for the Brewers during four seasons before retiring at age 32. In a 12-year minor league career, he hit .312 with 153 home runs and a .532 slugging average in 1217 games. Following his playing retirement, he promoted baseball activities for the youth. In 1944 he managed the Rockford Peaches of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, guiding his club a 25–23 record while finishing third out of four opponents.[4][5][6]
^ ab"All-American Girls Professional Baseball League entry". from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
^"Baseball Almanac – Major League Baseball players born in Poland". from the original on 2011-12-10. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
^"Baseball Reference – Minor leagues career". from the original on 2015-06-28. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
^ abc"Baseball Reference – Major leagues career". from the original on 2018-01-08. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
^"1944 Rockford Peaches". from the original on 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
^"All-American Girls Professional Baseball League records". from the original on 2009-09-07. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
^"All-American Girls Professional Baseball League History". from the original on 2011-04-22. Retrieved 2010-05-29.
January 01, 1970
kloza, john, clarence, kloza, september, 1903, june, 1962, professional, baseball, player, manager, listed, batted, threw, right, handed, sometimes, credited, jack, kloza, outfielderborn, 1903, september, 1903warsaw, congress, polanddied, june, 1962, 1962, age. John Clarence Nap Kloza September 7 1903 June 11 1962 was a professional baseball player and manager Listed at 5 11 180 lb he batted and threw right handed Sometimes he is credited as Jack Kloza 1 Nap KlozaOutfielderBorn 1903 09 07 September 7 1903Warsaw Congress PolandDied June 11 1962 1962 06 11 aged 58 Milwaukee WisconsinBatted RightThrew RightMLB debutAugust 16 1931 for the St Louis BrownsLast MLB appearanceJune 26 1932 for the St Louis BrownsMLB statisticsBatting average 150Home runs0Runs batted in2TeamsSt Louis Browns 1931 32 Kloza is recognized as one of four Major League Baseball leaguers born in Poland along with Moe Drabowsky Henry Peploski and Johnny Reder At age 28 it had been a long journey to the major leagues for Kloza He debuted in 1925 as an outfielder with the Blytheville Tigers of the Tri State League but spent nearly seven full seasons in the minors with eleven teams before reaching the majors in 1931 with the St Louis Browns 2 While playing for the Montgomery Lions in 1926 Kloza led the Southeastern League with a 379 average and nine home runs in 114 games Then in 1927 he hit 404 with 28 homers in 122 games for the Albany Nuts in the same league After that he slugged 347 with 28 home runs in 1930 for the Wichita Falls Spudders of the Texas League and 319 with 22 homers for the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association in 1931 being promoted to the Browns late in the season 3 4 Kloza was hailed as a potential Babe Ruth at that time but his major league experience was cut short by illness from which he never fully recovered his best playing strength appearing in parts of two seasons He was a 150 hitter in 22 games driving in two runs and scoring five more without home runs 1 4 In 1933 Kloza returned to the minors playing for the Brewers during four seasons before retiring at age 32 In a 12 year minor league career he hit 312 with 153 home runs and a 532 slugging average in 1217 games Following his playing retirement he promoted baseball activities for the youth In 1944 he managed the Rockford Peaches of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League guiding his club a 25 23 record while finishing third out of four opponents 4 5 6 Kloza was a longtime resident of Milwaukee Wisconsin where he died at the age of 58 He is part of the AAGPBL permanent display at the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum at Cooperstown New York opened in 1988 which is dedicated to the entire league rather than any individual player 7 Sources edit a b All American Girls Professional Baseball League entry Archived from the original on 2011 06 15 Retrieved 2010 05 29 Baseball Almanac Major League Baseball players born in Poland Archived from the original on 2011 12 10 Retrieved 2010 05 29 Baseball Reference Minor leagues career Archived from the original on 2015 06 28 Retrieved 2018 03 27 a b c Baseball Reference Major leagues career Archived from the original on 2018 01 08 Retrieved 2018 03 27 1944 Rockford Peaches Archived from the original on 2010 09 17 Retrieved 2010 05 29 All American Girls Professional Baseball League records Archived from the original on 2009 09 07 Retrieved 2010 05 29 All American Girls Professional Baseball League History Archived from the original on 2011 04 22 Retrieved 2010 05 29 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nap Kloza amp oldid 1175046839, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
