Don Kolloway – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Don Kolloway built a solid 12-year career in Major League Baseball, mostly playing as a second baseman for three teams between 1940 and 1953.

This 6-foot-3 infielder from Illinois earned a reputation for his speed, defensive reliability, and steady hitting during an era that spanned World War II and the post-war baseball boom.

His career covered multiple decades and included military service that cut into his prime playing years.

Kolloway retired from Major League Baseball in 1953 after playing just two games for the Philadelphia Athletics.

That marked the end of a journey that took him from the Chicago White Sox to the Detroit Tigers and finally to Philadelphia.

His final season wrapped up a career filled with challenges, including nearly three years of military service in Europe during World War II.

Kolloway’s path reflected the experiences of many players from his generation who balanced athletic careers with military duty.

Let’s take a look at Kolloway’s journey, from his early days as a high school standout in Blue Island, Illinois, through his major league tenure.

His story sheds light on the life of a solid, dependable player during one of baseball’s most turbulent times.

Early Life and Background

Don Kolloway was born on August 4, 1918, in Posen, Illinois, to parents of German ancestry.

His early years in the Chicago area set him on the path to professional baseball and earned him the nickname “The Blue Island Bird Dog.”

Family and Hometown

Kolloway grew up in Blue Island, Illinois, a small town outside Chicago.

He was a first-generation American, with parents who immigrated from Germany.

Blue Island became a big part of his baseball identity.

Locals gave him the nickname “The Blue Island Bird Dog” because he could track down batted balls with ease.

His German heritage shaped his life, especially during World War II.

When he saw the horrors of Nazi concentration camps during his military service, his family background made those moments hit even harder.

Growing up near Chicago gave Kolloway access to quality baseball programs.

His tall frame—6’3″ and quick on his feet—made him stand out among local players from a young age.

Education and Early Baseball Experiences

There isn’t much info about Kolloway’s formal education.

Still, his early baseball development in the Chicago area clearly prepared him for the pros.

Kolloway showed off his athletic ability as a young player.

Scouts noticed his speed and fielding skills in the late 1930s.

The Chicago White Sox signed him as a prospect.

He worked his way through their minor league system before making his major league debut on September 16, 1940, at age 22.

His talent as an infielder became obvious during his amateur and early pro years.

Kolloway could steal bases and cover ground on defense, setting him apart from others his age.

Major League Baseball Career

Don Kolloway played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1940 to 1953.

He made his mark as a reliable infielder, mostly at second base.

He spent most of his career with the Chicago White Sox before finishing with the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Athletics.

Debut and Teams Played For

Kolloway made his major league debut on September 16, 1940, with the Chicago White Sox.

He appeared in just one at-bat during his first game against the Boston Red Sox.

During his MLB career, he played for three teams.

He spent nine seasons with the Chicago White Sox (1940-1943, 1946-1949), three years with the Detroit Tigers (1949-1952), and finished with the Philadelphia Athletics (1953).

Military service interrupted his career.

Kolloway served in the U.S. Army from July 1943 to March 1946, missing almost three full seasons.

Chicago White Sox Years

Kolloway’s best years came with the Chicago White Sox.

He developed into a steady everyday player.

In 1941, he played 71 games while platooning with Bill Knickerbocker at second base.

His breakout season was 1942.

He became the Sox’s starting second baseman, played in 147 games, batted .273, led the American League with 40 doubles, and stole 16 bases.

One of his most memorable games happened on June 28, 1941.

He stole four bases in a single game—second, third, and home—while also hitting two home runs and a single in a 6-4 win over the Cleveland Indians.

After returning from military service in 1946, Kolloway proved he still had it.

He played 123 games and batted .280, quieting doubts about his abilities after nearly three years away.

Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Athletics Tenure

The White Sox traded Kolloway to the Detroit Tigers in May 1949.

He spent three and a half seasons there, mostly at second base but also at first and third.

The Tigers then traded him to the Philadelphia Athletics in January 1953.

His last major league game came on April 21, 1953, against the Washington Senators at age 34.

The Athletics released Kolloway in May 1953, ending his big league run.

He wrapped up his MLB career with a .271 batting average, 29 home runs, and 393 RBIs over 1,079 games.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Don Kolloway’s 12-year major league career featured some standout moments.

His top achievement came in 1942 when he led the American League in doubles.

His base-running skills also gave fans one of baseball’s more memorable feats.

Notable Performances

Kolloway broke out in 1942 as one of the league’s premier doubles hitters.

He led the American League in doubles with 40, showing off his knack for driving the ball into the gaps.

His contact hitting made him valuable throughout his career.

At 6’3″ and 200 pounds, Kolloway was big for a second baseman in his day.

Despite his size, he rarely struck out and kept making contact at the plate.

Kolloway finished with a .271 career batting average in 1,079 games.

He collected 1,081 hits, drove in 393 runs, and scored 466 times.

He hit just 29 home runs, focusing more on contact than power.

Significant Games and Moments

Kolloway’s most famous moment happened in 1941 with the White Sox.

In one inning, he stole second, third, and home plate—a rare feat that showed off his speed and base-running smarts.

Stealing home was especially impressive for someone his size.

Not many big infielders pulled off plays like that.

This moment became a defining highlight early in his career.

His military service interrupted his playing days.

He joined the U.S. Army in July 1943 and served until March 1946, missing almost three full seasons during his prime.

Awards and Recognitions

Kolloway’s 1942 American League doubles title stands out as his main individual achievement.

Leading the league with 40 doubles put him among the top hitters that year.

His versatility got noticed too.

He played first base often for the Sox, Tigers, and Athletics.

That kind of flexibility made him valuable to several teams.

Kolloway’s consistent play over 12 seasons showed he was a reliable big leaguer.

He avoided strikeouts and kept up solid offensive numbers, making him a dependable contributor wherever he played.

Statistical Profile

Don Kolloway put together a career .271 batting average over 12 seasons, with 1,081 hits, 29 home runs, and 393 RBIs in 1,079 games.

His stats show a steady contact hitter who helped his teams with base hits more than power.

Batting Average Analysis

Kolloway kept a .271 career batting average across 12 seasons.

His best year at the plate was 1949, when he hit .292 with the Detroit Tigers and drew 49 walks.

His batting average went up and down throughout his career.

He hit .273 in 1942, dropped to .216 in 1943, then bounced back to .280 after military service in 1946.

He stayed pretty consistent through 1950.

As a contact hitter, Kolloway didn’t strike out much.

His strikeout totals rarely topped 40 a season, even as strikeouts became more common in the league.

Home Runs Overview

Power wasn’t Kolloway’s thing.

He hit just 29 home runs in 12 seasons.

His single-season high was six, which he reached in 1948 with the White Sox.

Most seasons, he hit only a few home runs.

He hit three in both 1941 and 1942, which was about as much power as he showed early on.

After returning from the Army, his home run numbers stayed modest.

Middle infielders of his era weren’t expected to hit for power, so this wasn’t unusual.

Kolloway helped his teams more with situational hitting than with long balls.

Career Offensive and Defensive Stats

Kolloway racked up 1,081 hits, 180 doubles, and 30 triples.

He drove in 393 runs, mostly through timely hitting with runners on base.

He had decent speed early on, stealing 76 bases with 54 times caught stealing.

His best year on the bases came in 1942, when he swiped 16 bags in 147 games.

On defense, Kolloway played second, third, and first base.

His versatility helped his teams, though it’s hard to find detailed defensive stats from that era.

Comparison with Era Peers

Kolloway’s .271 career batting average put him among the solid but not spectacular players of his time.

His OPS+ of 80 shows he was a bit below league average offensively.

He had a lot in common with other utility infielders from the 1940s and early 1950s.

Guys like Eddie Miller and Marty Marion offered similar offense, maybe with a little more defensive reputation.

Missing two years for military service during 1944-1945 probably hurt his career totals.

His best seasons came in 1942 and 1949, so without that gap, he might have put up even better numbers.

Retirement in 1953 and Life After Baseball

Don Kolloway’s baseball career ended in 1953 when the Philadelphia Athletics released him in May.

He went into business, opening a tavern in his hometown.

Later, he worked on voter registration for Cook County.

Reasons for Retirement

The Philadelphia Athletics picked up Kolloway in January 1953 after a trade with the Detroit Tigers.

That move set up what would be his last MLB season.

Kolloway’s time with the Athletics was short.

They released him in May 1953, ending his major league career after 12 seasons.

After his release, Kolloway didn’t walk away from baseball right away.

He signed with the Portland team in the Pacific Coast League for the rest of the 1953 season.

He kept playing with Portland through 1954.

That minor league stint marked the end of his professional baseball days before he retired for good.

Later Life and Personal Pursuits

After he wrapped up his baseball career, Kolloway went back to his hometown of Blue Island, Illinois.

He decided to open a tavern and jumped into local business ownership.

Kolloway’s Tavern grew into a pretty well-known spot in Blue Island. He ran the place from 1956 to 1969, keeping the doors open for 13 years.

Running the tavern helped Kolloway stay close to his community. Folks around town probably knew him as both a former major league player and the friendly tavern owner down the street.

In 1969, he sold his tavern and moved on to something new. He started working in a different field that still let him serve the people around him.

Community Involvement and Legacy

Once he left the tavern business behind, Kolloway took a job in local government services.

He worked in voter registration for Cook County, helping people take part in elections.

That role really showed how much Kolloway cared about his community. He made sure residents could cast their votes, whether for local or national races.

Kolloway never left Blue Island. He stayed in the city he called home since he was a kid.

On June 30, 1994, Don Kolloway died at St. Francis Regional Hospital in Blue Island. He was 75.

They buried Kolloway at Cedar Park Cemetery in Blue Island. That final resting place says a lot about his lifelong connection to the community he loved.

Historical Research and Data Sources

If you’re researching Don Kolloway’s career, you can find plenty of detailed records in various databases. These digital archives keep stats, salary info, and biographical details from his days with the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Philadelphia Athletics.

Retrosheet and retrosheet.org

Retrosheet stands out as a top spot for historical baseball data. They keep detailed game logs and stats for players like Don Kolloway.

Their database covers play-by-play info, which lets researchers dig into specific games from his career between 1940 and 1953.

You can visit retrosheet.org for free access to all sorts of historical baseball data. The site offers game-by-game stats that highlight how Kolloway performed across different teams and seasons.

Retrosheet relies on volunteers to keep their coverage of MLB games so thorough. Thanks to their work, we can fill in the blanks for players from the pre-digital era, especially those whose records might have otherwise faded away.

Additional Baseball Databases

Baseball-Reference.com keeps a huge stash of Kolloway’s career stats. You can even find his salary data, thanks to Doug Pappas and the Society for American Baseball Research.

Dr. Michael Haupert of UW-LaCrosse dug into the Baseball Hall of Fame contract archives. His research adds more salary info for the years between 1915 and 1969.

Baseball Almanac gives you a deep dive into Kolloway’s life and stats, year by year. They don’t just stop at numbers—there’s info about his birth in Posen, Illinois, and his first big league game on September 16, 1940.

Together, these sources help paint a fuller picture of Kolloway’s time in pro baseball. You’ll even find details about his World War II military service and how he moved between teams in the late ’40s and early ’50s.