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Ray Stoviak

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Ray Stoviak
Outfielder
Born: (1915-06-06)June 6, 1915
Scottdale, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died: February 23, 1998(1998-02-23) (aged 82)
Nicoya, Costa Rica
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 5, 1938, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
August 7, 1938, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Games played10
At bats10
Hits0
Teams

Raymond Thomas Stoviak (June 6, 1915 – February 23, 1998) was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1938. He was the last player to be struck out in a major league game at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia, on June 30, 1938.[1]

Stoviak graduated from Villanova College (now Villanova University) in 1938, where he quarterbacked the Wildcats for three years and led his team to a record of 22–4–2. He played for head coaches Harry Stuhldreher, one of the fabled Four Horsemen of Notre Dame, and Maurice J. "Clipper" Smith. Stoviak led the Wildcats to the Bacardi Bowl in Havana, played on January 1, 1937. There, Villanova battled Auburn to a 7–7 tie. He was inducted into Villanova's Varsity Club Hall of Fame on June 8, 1989.[2]

During World War II, he was a first lieutenant in the United States Navy stationed at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Pensacola, Florida, where he coached baseball with Bob Kennedy and Ted Williams. In 1946, Stoviak was the backfield coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, serving under head football coach William Reinhart. In 1947 he was appointed head football coach at athletic director at Arnold College in Milford, Connecticut.[3] He also coached baseball at Arnold. After Arnold was absorbed by the University of Bridgeport in 1953, Stoviak was appointed football coach and mathematics faculty at Meriden High School in Meriden, Connecticut.[4] He later served as assistant football coach at Yale University under Jordan Olivar.[5]

Stoviak suffered a severe stroke in February 1994 and subsequently moved into the home of his daughter in Costa Rica where he died four years later.[5] He became the first Major League Baseball player known to have died in Costa Rica.[6]

Head coaching record

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College football

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Arnold Terriers (Independent) (1947–1952)
1947 Arnold 3–2–1
1948 Arnold 6–2–1
1949 Arnold 2–5–1
1950 Arnold 3–4
1951 Arnold 2–5–1
1952 Arnold 4–4
Roanoke: 20–22–5
Total: 20–22–5

References

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  1. ^ Jordan, David (2010). Closing 'Em Down: Final Games at Thirteen Classic Ballparks. USA: McFarland Publishing Company. p. 216. ISBN 9780786449682.
  2. ^ "Stoviak ('38) to be Inducted into Villanova Hall of Fame".
  3. ^ "Three Marine Academy Grid Coaches Resign". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. Associated Press. August 20, 1947. p. 20. Retrieved August 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  4. ^ "Ray Stoviak, Former Arnold Football Coach, Named Meriden High Mentor". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. Associated Press. September 1, 1953. p. 13. Retrieved August 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  5. ^ a b "A look back: Major League ties to Milford schools". Milford Mirror. August 21, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "Players by place of death: Costa Rica Baseball Stats and Info". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
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