According to the Associated Press on Wednesday, former Cincinnati Reds all-star shortstop Eddie Kasko of Elizabeth, New Jersey, passed away at the age of 88. No cause of death was given.
Kasko played 10 seasons of Major League Baseball from 1957 to 1966. He was with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1957 and 1958, the Reds from 1959 to 1963, the Houston Colt .45s in 1964, the Houston Astros in 1965, and the Boston Red Sox in 1966.
In 1961, Kasko represented the Reds and the National League in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He also got to play in the World Series, as the Reds faced the New York Yankees. In the five games, which was won by the Yankees four games to one, Kasko batted .318 with seven hits in 22 at bats.
Kasko was an all-star in 1961 even though he only had two home runs and 27 runs batted in. He seemed to have had his best Major League Baseball season in 1960, when he had career highs in batting average (.292), home runs (six), runs batted in (51), stolen bases (nine), walks (46), on base percentage (.359), and slugging percentage (.378).
Kasko was known for his defense. He led the National League in field percentage for third basemen in 1960 (.966) while with Cincinnati, and then all National League shortstops in field percentage for shortstops in 1964 during his first year in Houston (.978).
In 1077 Major League games, Kasko batted .264 with 22 home runs and 261 runs batted in. He scored 411 runs, and collected 935 hits, 146 doubles, 13 triples, 31 stolen bases, 265 walks, and 1173 total bases. Kasko’s career on base percentage was .317, and his career slugging percentage was .331.
After his playing career, Kasko managed the Red Sox for four seasons from 1970 to 1973. He had a record of 345 wins and 295 losses.
