Cass Michaels

Cass Michaels, born Casimir Eugene Kwietniewski (1926-1982), was an American infielder who played in Major League Baseball over twelve seasons. He joined the Chicago White Sox at seventeen years old in 1943 and played mainly at second base, also appearing at shortstop and third base. Michaels became one of the more productive second basemen in the American League during the late 1940s and was selected as the starting American League second baseman at the 1949 All-Star break. Over his career he also played for the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Philadelphia Athletics before returning to the White Sox. His playing career ended in 1954 when he was struck in the head by a pitch from Athletics pitcher Marion Fricano on August 27, an injury that impaired his vision and forced his retirement at age 28. After baseball he worked for the Grosse Pointe, Michigan, Department of Public Works, coached high school basketball, and operated a neighborhood bar in Warren, Michigan. He died in Grosse Pointe in 1982 at age 56.