Cy Block
Block in 1946
Second baseman / Third baseman
Born: (1919-05-04)May 4, 1919
Brooklyn, New York, US
Died: September 22, 2004(2004-09-22) (aged 85)
Manhasset, New York, US
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 7, 1942, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
September 23, 1946, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Fielding percentage.960
Putouts19
Batting average.302
Teams

Seymour "Cy" Block (May 4, 1919 – September 22, 2004) was an American professional baseball second baseman and third baseman for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball during the 1942, 1945, and 1946 seasons. He played in the minor leagues from 1938 to 1950, with the exception of his military service from 1943 to 1944. After his playing career, Block became an insurance salesman.

Early life

Block was born on May 4, 1919, in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City. His parents, Abraham and Jenny (née Levitsky), were immigrants from Russia. He was raised in Flatbush, near Ebbets Field, the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB).[1][2]

Block attended Boys High School in Bedford–Stuyvesant, where he was told that he was too small and not good enough to make the school's baseball team. He organized a sandlot ball team and played American Legion Baseball.[1][2]

Baseball career

1937–1942

In 1937, Block attended an open tryout for the Dodgers at Ebbets Field; though he survived the first cut and was invited to another tryout in Elmira, New York, the Dodgers opted not to sign him. In 1938, Block attended Joe Stripp's baseball academy in Orlando, Florida, where he received personal instruction from Joe Tinker.[1][2][3]

Tinker recommended Block to the Memphis Chicks of the Class A1 Southern Association.[2] They assigned him to the Paragould Rebels of the Class D Northeast Arkansas League for the 1938 season.[4] Block was batting .331 for Paragould, the fourth-best average in the Northeast Arkansas League, when Memphis acquired Block from Paragould.[5] In 1939, Memphis optioned Block to the Greenville Buckshots of the Class C Cotton States League.[2] He had agreed to a salary of $125 per month with Memphis, but received $85 per month from Greenville. He appealed to William G. Bramham, the president of Minor League Baseball, who declined to intervene, and wrote to Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the Commissioner of Baseball, who did not meet with him for a year and a half.[1]

In April 1940, Memphis sold Block to the Elmira Pioneers of the Class A Eastern League, a farm team for the Dodgers;[6] later in the month, Elmira assigned Block to the Macon Peaches of the Class B South Atlantic League.[7] He batted .311 in 1940.[8] Landis met with Block after the 1940 season, who told him that Block would only have a case if he had the salary agreement in writing, which he did not.[1] Elmira added Block to their reserve list going into the 1941 season.[8] Playing for Macon in 1941, Block won the league's batting championship with a .357 batting average.[9]

In January 1942, the Chicago Cubs purchased Block from Macon for $15,000.[2] The Cubs gave Block and Glen Russell an opportunity to compete with Stan Hack, the incumbent third baseman of the Cubs, for playing time during spring training.[10] The Cubs optioned Block to the Tulsa Oilers of the Class A1 Texas League before the start of the 1942 season.[11] Block made his major league debut with the Cubs on September 7.[12] He batted .364 (12-for-33) in nine games.[13] Block enlisted in the United States Coast Guard during World War II and served at Ellis Island and on the USS Monticello.[1][14]

1945–1951

In September 1945, Block was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard.[15] Returning to the Cubs, Block appeared in two games during the 1945 season. He batted .143 (1-for-7).[16] Block appeared in one game of the 1945 World Series, which the Cubs lost to the Detroit Tigers. He entered the game as a pinch runner and did not record an official at-bat.[17] In 1946, the Cubs optioned Block to the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League.[18] In June, Los Angeles optioned Block to the Nashville Volunteers of the Class AA Southern Association, where he succeeded Pete Elko as their third baseman.[19] Block batted .354 in 81 games for Nashville.[20] He was again recalled to the Cubs in September 1946[21] and appeared in six games for the Cubs before the end of the season. Block batted .231 (3-for-13).[22]

In April 1947, the Cubs released Block, who was out of options, to Nashville.[1][23] He appealed to James T. Gallagher, the general manager of the Cubs, to sell him to another MLB team instead. Larry Gilbert, Nashville's owner, allowed Block to try to arrange a deal with an MLB team, but Block found that the Cubs refused to trade him. Block appealed to the new commissioner, Ford Frick, who told Block that there was nothing that he could do.[1] Block reported to Nashville and batted .360. His average was the second-best in the league, behind Ted Kluszewski, who batted .377,[24] and Block was named to the league's post-season all-star team.[25] After the 1947 season, Nashville traded Block to the Buffalo Bisons of the Class AAA International League for a minor league pitcher and an undisclosed amount of money.[20] Block played for Buffalo from 1948 to 1950 before he was released in April 1951.[1]

Block played in 17 major league games in his career, finishing with a .302 batting average in the major leagues.[17] He retired with a lifetime .325 batting average in professional baseball.[14]

Congressional testimony

In 1951, Representative Emanuel Celler announced that he would hold hearings in the United States House Judiciary Committee to examine MLB's anti-trust exemption.[26] Celler entered the hearings believing that MLB needed laws to support the reserve clause.[27] Star players, such as Lou Boudreau and Pee Wee Reese, indicated their support of the reserve clause. Minor league veteran Ross Horning testified about his experiences in baseball, which he said were more common for rank-and-file players.[28] Block testified about his experiences and how the reserve clause prevented him from getting an extended trial in the major leagues.[29]

Celler's final report suggested that the U.S. Congress should take no action, allowing for the matter to be settled in the federal judiciary of the United States. The Supreme Court of the United States upheld MLB's anti-trust exemption and the reserve clause in Toolson v. New York Yankees, Inc. in 1953.[28]

Business career

Block began to sell life insurance after the 1950 season, and made $120,000 of sales. He sold $480,000 in 1951, reached $1 million in sales in 1952, and had sold $6 million in 1963. Block became a twelve-time member of the Million Dollar Round Table, which requires $1 million in sales for membership.[30] He worked for Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company[31] before becoming chairman of his own firm, CB Planning Services Corp.[32]

In December 1955, Block led a six-member syndicate which attempted to purchase the Detroit Tigers from Walter Briggs Jr.[33] Though they made a good-faith $250,000 deposit to signify their interest,[34] their offer to purchase the club was received by Briggs after the deadline.[35]

Personal life

In 1943, he married Harriet Block. Together they had three daughters. He also authored a book, So You Want to be a Major Leaguer, in 1980.[14]

Block was Jewish. He was involved with B'nai B'rith and served on the board of directors for Israel Tennis Centers and the American Committee of the Maccabiah Games.[1] Block also founded several Little League Baseball leagues in New York.[36]

In 1997, Block and four other players from before 1947, Dolph Camilli, Frankie Crosetti, Al Gionfriddo, and Pete Coscarart, brought a class action lawsuit against MLB alleging that the league was profiting off of their likeness without compensating them.[37] They were denied class certification.[38]

Block developed Alzheimer's disease in 1995.[39] He died in his home on Long Island on September 29, 2004.[40]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Corbett, Warren. "Cy Block". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Murphy, James J. (January 18, 1942). "Block, Ex-Dodger Farmhand, a Cub". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 2C. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Esch, Harold (January 11, 1946). "Block Pays Stripp Tribute". Orlando Evening Star. p. 7. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ Blackwell, Clinton C. (May 18, 1938). "Ramblin' 'Round". Sun Herald. p. 7. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Chicks Get Cy Block From Paragould Club". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. August 25, 1938. p. 12. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "John Gaddy Bought From Brooklyn Club". The Commercial Appeal. April 8, 1940. p. 10. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Paul Paynack to Hurl in Opener at Williamsport". Elmira Star-Gazette. April 22, 1940. p. 14. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 "Six Holdovers On Reserve List of Elmira Club". Elmira Star-Gazette. September 12, 1940. p. 27. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Cy Block Wins Sally Loop Batting Title; Homer Parade Slips". The Greenville News. Greenville, South Carolina. September 14, 1941. p. 2. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Hack Must Hustle To Hold Third Base". Courier-Post. International News Service. January 9, 1942. p. 23. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Cubs Release 3 To Tulsa Farm". New York Daily News. Associated Press. April 9, 1942. p. 56. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Burns, Edward (September 8, 1942). "Jim Wilson Finds Winning Lineup, So Cubs Divide". Chicago Tribune. p. 23. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "1942 Chicago Cubs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 Pfaff, Chris (June 7, 1992). "A Fan For All Seasons". New York Daily News. pp. 10–11. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Cub Infielder Discharged". Courier-Post. Camden, New Jersey. United Press. September 14, 1945. p. 22. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "1945 Chicago Cubs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  17. 1 2 Vecsey, George (September 28, 1984). "Sports of the Times; The Cubs' Alumni Society". The New York Times. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Cy Block, Lynn Are Released To Angels". The Fresno Bee. United Press. March 29, 1946. p. 8. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ Johnson, Raymond (June 23, 1946). "Vols Get Block, Third Sacker, From Los Angeles Club". The Tennessean. p. 49. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. 1 2 Mansfield, Dick (December 5, 1947). "Vols Peddle Block–Minors Halt PCL". The Tennessean. p. 48. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Eight Vol Players Eyed By Ball Clubs". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. September 11, 1946. p. 10. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "1946 Chicago Cubs Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  23. ↑ Gold, Ben (April 22, 1947). "Roundup". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. p. 16. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Kluszewski Wins Southern Crown". The Atlanta Constitution. September 14, 1947. p. 10-B. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Five Nashvols Names on All-Stars". The Tennessean. Associated Press. October 23, 1947. p. 23. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "Mystery Man New Witness For Baseball". Quad-City Times. Associated Press. May 24, 2018. p. 15. Retrieved March 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "Truman Favors Baseball Anti-Trust Investigation". The Tampa Tribune. Associated Press. July 19, 1951. Retrieved March 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. 1 2 Corbett, Warren. "Voices for the Voiceless: Ross Horning, Cy Block, and the Unwelcome Truth". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  29. ↑ "O'Connor, Ex-Landis Aide, Testifies Before House Group". The Herald-News. Associated Press. October 16, 1951. p. 30. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "One Man's Opinion". The Tennessean. March 2, 1965. p. 14. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ Leonard, George (February 25, 1958). "Sports Closeup". Nashville Banner. p. 19. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ↑ Isaacson, Melissa (June 7, 1987). "The Players Who Invented The System Have Become Its Victims". Orlando Sentinel. p. C10. ProQuest 277116473. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via ProQuest.
  33. ↑ "Cy Block Heads Group: Bid For Tigers Revealed". The Orlando Sentinel. Associated Press. December 21, 1955. p. 10. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ↑ "Cy Block Heads Syndicate Seeking To Buy Tigers". News-Press. Fort Myers, Florida. Associated Press. June 20, 1956. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ↑ "New Owner of Tigers to Be Picked After All-Star Game". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. United Press. July 6, 1956. p. 58. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ↑ Grayson, Harry (August 10, 1960). "Block, Old Cub Infielder Pushes for Little League". Okemah News Leader. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 4. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ↑ Bock, Hal (May 25, 1997). "Major league baseball is hoping old-timers will go away". Great Falls Tribune. Associated Press. p. 6S. Retrieved March 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ↑ "Former major leaguers fail to reach first base". Defense Counsel Journal. 65 (4): 559. 1998. ProQuest 220679714. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Proquest.
  39. ↑ Talan, Jamie (August 25, 2004). "Caregivers' burden lingers". Newsday. p. A29. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ↑ Hageman, William (October 17, 2004). "'Cy' Block, 1919–2004: 'Wonderful life' devoted to kids and baseball". Chicago Tribune. p. 13-3A. Retrieved March 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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