Dick Kryhoski – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Dick Kryhoski put together a respectable seven-season career in Major League Baseball, playing first base for five different teams from 1949 to 1955. He grew up in Leonia, New Jersey, born there in 1925, and his path to the majors took a detour when he served as a machinist’s mate on the USS Ticonderoga in the Pacific during World War II.

Kryhoski debuted with the New York Yankees on April 19, 1949, as their opening day first baseman. But his career ended up defined by a string of trades, sending him to the Yankees, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles, and Kansas City Athletics. At 6’2″ and 200 pounds, he brought solid fundamentals to every team that picked him up. A lefty both at bat and in the field, he was always steady if not flashy.

Kryhoski saw some of baseball’s most memorable moments and put up respectable stats for multiple franchises. His journey from high school captain to big-league veteran really highlights the challenges players faced in a time of constant roster changes and shifting team loyalties.

Early Life and Education

Richard David Kryhoski was born March 24, 1925, in Leonia, New Jersey, to Polish immigrants John and Rosalie Kryhoski. His upbringing was shaped by his family’s immigrant story and his father’s work as a gardener and chauffeur, while his own athletic ability started to shine during his years at Leonia High School.

Childhood in Leonia, New Jersey

Dick grew up as the youngest of four kids in Leonia, New Jersey. His parents, John and Rosalie (Weinconek), arrived from Poland in 1900 and 1912.

John Kryhoski worked first as a gardener and later as a chauffeur for Edward Stagg’s family. Stagg was a well-known local businessman, someone the papers called “one of its oldest and most highly respected citizens.”

Dick learned baseball on a sandlot not far from his Christie Heights Street home. With his blond hair, blue eyes, and tall frame, he looked the part early on. His Polish roots and working-class background seemed to give him a strong work ethic and a bit of grit.

Time at Leonia High School

At Leonia High, Kryhoski captained both the basketball and baseball teams. He avoided football, worried about injuries that might mess up basketball season, but baseball gradually took over as his main focus.

He earned All-Star honors twice as a first baseman and led the Northern New Jersey Interscholastic League in hitting. Not bad for a kid from a small town.

His senior yearbook listed his ambition as “professional baseball.” By 1942 and 1943, he was already taking batting practice at Yankee Stadium. “I worked out with the Yanks both in 1942 and ’43,” he remembered. “I was scared to death. At the time, they had players like Joe DiMaggio and Charlie Keller and Bill Dickey and Red Rolfe.”

Yankees scout Paul Krichell noticed his talent. Kryhoski graduated in 1943, already dreaming about a future in baseball.

Collegiate Career at Upsala College

Kryhoski started college at Upsala in East Orange, New Jersey, working toward a degree in political science and history while also building his baseball career.

World War II interrupted his college years. After the war, he went back to his studies and kept playing baseball.

During the off-seasons, he stayed committed to education. He once said, “I have hopes of teaching when my baseball days are over.”

College gave him more than a diploma. His studies in political science turned him into a staunch Republican, and he got into some lively political debates in the clubhouse over the years.

Military Service During World War II

After finishing high school in 1943, Kryhoski enlisted in the Navy at just 18. The war was raging, and he worked as a machinist’s mate in the Pacific.

He served aboard the USS Ticonderoga. On January 21, 1945, the ship was near Taiwan when Japanese kamikaze pilots attacked. The assault killed 143 sailors and wounded 202 more.

Kryhoski survived without physical injury, but the trauma stuck with him. Reports say he had nightmares for years, sometimes shouting “Fire! Fire!” in his sleep, which definitely scared his roommates on baseball road trips.

The war ended in September 1945. By spring 1946, Kryhoski—now 21 and a veteran—was back in New Jersey, playing semipro ball for the Lincoln Fliers before signing with the Yankees.

Professional Baseball Career

Dick Kryhoski played seven seasons in the majors from 1949 to 1955, covering first base for five different teams. He started with the Yankees, then moved on to the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles, and Kansas City Athletics before hanging it up in 1955.

Signing with the New York Yankees

The Yankees signed Kryhoski as an amateur free agent in 1946. Scout Paul Krichell found him in Leonia and brought him into the fold.

Kryhoski kept attending Upsala College during the off-seasons, working on his degree and sharpening his baseball skills. He was a lefty, stood 6’2″, and weighed 200 pounds.

After his military service, he worked his way up through the Yankees’ minor league system. It took three years, but he finally got his shot at the majors.

Major League Debut and Rookie Season

Kryhoski made his big-league debut on April 19, 1949, with the Yankees. At 24, he joined one of baseball’s most storied franchises during a championship run.

That year, the Yankees won the World Series. Kryhoski got a championship ring as a rookie, though he didn’t play in the Series itself.

His time in New York was short but memorable. In December 1949, the Yankees traded him to the Detroit Tigers for Dick Wakefield. That deal kicked off his journey through several different teams.

Teams Played For: Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Baltimore Orioles

Kryhoski found his groove with the Tigers in 1950 and 1951. He had his best season in 1951, hitting .287 with 12 home runs and 57 RBIs in 421 at-bats.

The Tigers finally gave him regular playing time, and he made the most of it. That strong season helped establish him as a solid first baseman in the American League.

He moved to the St. Louis Browns in 1952 and played there through 1953. He shared first base with Roy Sievers during the Browns’ last season.

On July 16, 1953, Kryhoski played in a wild game against the Yankees. The Browns hit three straight home runs in the first inning—Clint Courtney, Kryhoski, and Jim Dyck. In the first three innings, they hit five solo homers, setting a new record, and won 8-6.

When the Browns became the Baltimore Orioles in 1954, Kryhoski stuck with the team. He was part of a huge 17-player, two-part trade between the Orioles and Yankees that year.

Retirement in 1955 and Final Game

Kryhoski’s last season came in 1955 with the Kansas City Athletics. He played 28 games and hit just .213 before wrapping up his major league career.

His final game was on June 10, 1955. After struggling with the A’s, he finished the year with Columbus in the International League.

Over his career, he hit .265 with 45 home runs in seven seasons. After leaving baseball, he started a new chapter as a district sales manager for Keuffel & Esser, a company that made slide rules and engineering tools. That job had nothing to do with baseball, but it marked a fresh start.

Career Statistics and Notable Performances

Dick Kryhoski finished with a .265 batting average, 45 home runs, and 231 RBIs across seven major league seasons. His best year at the plate came in 1951, when he hit .287 with 12 homers for Detroit.

Batting Averages and Power Numbers

Kryhoski’s career batting average of .265 was solid—not spectacular, but you could count on him. In 1951, he hit .287 in 119 games, his best season.

He made consistent contact throughout his career. In 1,946 plate appearances, he struck out just 163 times, showing pretty good plate discipline for his era.

His power numbers were all over the place, honestly. His slugging percentage peaked at .497 in 1953 with St. Louis, when he drove in 50 runs and posted an .830 OPS, his best single-season mark.

By 1955, his numbers had dropped. With Kansas City, he hit just .213 in 28 games before calling it quits.

Home Run Achievements

Kryhoski hit 45 home runs in his seven-year career, peaking in 1953 with St. Louis. That year, he hit 16 homers—more than a third of his career total.

He wasn’t a huge power hitter but stayed steady, reaching double digits twice (12 in 1951, 16 in 1953). In 1955, he didn’t manage a single homer in 47 at-bats.

On average, he hit 13 home runs per 162 games. That put him in the middle of the pack for first basemen in the early 1950s, a time when offense wasn’t exactly booming across the league.

RBI and OPS Analysis

Kryhoski drove in 231 runs in his career, with his best RBI season coming in 1951—57 RBIs for Detroit. He averaged 66 RBIs per 162 games, which is pretty solid for a first baseman of that era.

His OPS numbers bounced around. He hit an .830 OPS in 1953, but by 1955, it had dropped to .557.

Kryhoski’s WAR (Wins Above Replacement) ended up at 1.6 for his career. His best year by WAR was 1.9 in 1953, when his offense really peaked.

The advanced stats show Kryhoski as a steady, replacement-level player who gave his teams reliable, if unspectacular, production.

Memorable Moments and Records

Kryhoski’s seven-year run in the majors included a few standout moments—his rookie World Series, some power displays with St. Louis, and involvement in major trades that shook up several franchises.

Participation in 1949 World Series

Kryhoski made his big-league debut with the Yankees in 1949, right in the middle of one of their dominant stretches. The Yankees finished 97-57 and faced the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series.

As a rookie first baseman, Kryhoski didn’t get much playing time during the regular season. The World Series was his introduction to baseball’s biggest stage. The Yankees won in five games, and Kryhoski got his only World Series ring.

He mostly backed up the established Yankees lineup. Still, the experience gave him a taste of championship baseball and set some pretty high expectations for what might come next, even though he got traded to Detroit that December.

Three Consecutive Home Runs with the Browns

Kryhoski really made his mark with the St. Louis Browns in 1952 and 1953. He pulled off the rare trick of hitting home runs in three straight at-bats.

That run showed off just how much power he had as a left-handed hitter. The Browns, honestly, didn’t have much offense going for them back then.

Kryhoski’s sudden burst of home runs gave the team a highlight to remember. He drove in runs and gave the lineup some much-needed life.

Those three consecutive homers were the high point of his power hitting in the majors. It really stands out as one of the big moments from his time in St. Louis.

Significant Trades and Transactions

Kryhoski’s career took some unexpected turns thanks to a series of big trades. In December 1949, the Yankees sent him to Detroit in exchange for Dick Wakefield, a former All-Star outfielder.

That move finally gave Kryhoski a real shot at regular playing time. The Tigers then traded him to St. Louis in February 1952, packaging him with Gene Bearden and Bob Cain.

The Browns picked up all three players, giving up four, including Dick Littlefield and Matt Batts. In 1954, Kryhoski landed in a massive 17-player trade between the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles.

That trade was one of the biggest in baseball history. By March 1955, the Kansas City Athletics purchased his contract, and he wrapped up his career there.

Legacy, Impact, and Alumni Involvement

Dick Kryhoski stayed close with his old teams long after he played his last game in 1955. He showed up for Detroit Tigers alumni events and St. Louis Browns reunions, keeping the game’s history alive.

He earned a lot of respect from former teammates and even from some rivals.

Contribution to Detroit Tigers Alumni Association

Kryhoski stayed involved with Detroit Tigers alumni activities for years. He came out for old-timers games and reunions in Detroit throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

His presence helped bridge the gap between different generations of Tigers players. Guys like Don Kolloway and manager Red Rolfe often mentioned how much they appreciated his dedication to maintaining connections.

The Tigers invited him to charity events and fan gatherings, and he was always a hit—especially with fans who remembered his .287 average and 12 home runs in 1951. Kryhoski didn’t just show up for photo ops, either.

He played in Tigers alumni golf tournaments and winter banquets, helping raise money for retired players’ programs.

St. Louis Browns Alumni Events

Kryhoski always felt a special bond with the St. Louis Browns. He played for their last team in 1953 before they moved to Baltimore.

He joined several Browns reunions, events usually organized by former players and baseball historians. Those gatherings helped keep the memory of a franchise alive—a team that struggled financially but had big personalities like owner Bill Veeck.

Kryhoski liked to share stories about playing alongside Eddie Gaedel, the 3-foot-7 pinch hitter who became a baseball legend. His firsthand memories of that 1951 game have turned into valuable bits of baseball history.

Former Browns players stuck together because of their shared experience during the franchise’s final years. Kryhoski kept up friendships with guys like Clint Courtney and Jim Dyck long after they all hung up their spikes.

Reputation Among Peers

Players around the league respected Kryhoski for his professionalism and work ethic. Managers from different teams often praised him as a dedicated teammate.

Joe DiMaggio himself pushed for Kryhoski to get more playing time during Yankees spring training in 1949. That kind of endorsement doesn’t come along every day.

Teammates remembered his interest in politics and his curiosity about the world outside baseball. While playing professionally, he kept working toward his degree at Upsala College—he clearly thought about life after baseball.

Folks who played with or against him described him as a gentleman competitor. He played the game with integrity and always respected baseball’s traditions.

Personal Life and Passing

Richard David Kryhoski married Donna Henwood in May 1951. After baseball, he moved into a successful business career.

He passed away on April 10, 2007, at 82. He left a legacy as a dedicated family man and a true professional.

Family and Post-Retirement Life

Kryhoski married Donna Henwood on May 23, 1951, while he was playing for the Tigers. They tied the knot just three days after his 13-game hitting streak came to an end.

After retiring in 1955, Kryhoski chased his education goals. He’d been working toward a political science and history degree from Upsala College in East Orange, New Jersey.

“I have hopes of teaching when my baseball days are over,” he once said. But he didn’t end up teaching.

Instead, he found success in business. He worked as a district sales manager for Keuffel & Esser, a company that made slide rules and other engineering equipment.

That job let him put his analytical skills to use in a whole new way. Even after leaving the game, Kryhoski stayed connected through community work.

In the winter of 1952, he served as an instructor at the American Baseball Academy in Manhattan. That program aimed to help 1,500 kids and fight juvenile delinquency.

Passing and Commemoration

Richard David Kryhoski died on April 10, 2007, at 82. He lived a full life that went way beyond his seven years in Major League Baseball.

He faced a lot of history firsthand. As a World War II veteran, Kryhoski served aboard the USS Ticonderoga aircraft carrier. He survived terrifying kamikaze attacks near Taiwan in 1945.

Those memories didn’t just fade away. For years after the war, nightmares haunted him and sometimes even “terrified his roommates on road trips.”

People remembered Kryhoski as a skilled ballplayer and, honestly, a man of real character. Back in his playing days, he liked a good debate—especially political ones.

In the Browns’ clubhouse, he often got into spirited political discussions as a staunch Republican, especially with his teammate Clint Courtney.

His baseball journey took him through five teams between 1949 and 1955. Still, his personal legacy stretched much further, touching his family, his business life, and his community.