Mike Balas

Mike Balas
Pitcher
Born: (1910-05-09)May 9, 1910
Lowell, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died: October 15, 1996(1996-10-15) (aged 86)
Westford, Massachusetts, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 27, 1938, for the Boston Bees
Last MLB appearance
April 27, 1938, for the Boston Bees
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average6.75
Strikeouts0
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Mitchell Francis "Mike" Balas (May 9, 1910 – October 15, 1996) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in one game in with the Boston Bees in 1938.[1]

Balas entered professional baseball in 1929 playing for the Brockton Shoemakers of the New England League.[2] After moving around the minors for the next 9 years, he played in his only MLB game on April 27, 1938. In that game, he pitched 11⁄3 innings facing 8 batters, surrendering 3 runs (1 earned), walking and striking out none.[3] Following the game he returned to the minors and continued there until 1940.[2] He also was a minor league manager from 1945 to 1948.[2]

Balas was a Jehovah's Witness and in 1942 was prosecuted in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts for failing to report to a conscientious objector camp during World War II. He was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George Clinton Sweeney to three years in federal prison.[4]

References

  1. ^ Bevis, Charlie. "Mike Balas". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Mike Balas Minor Leagues Statistics & History". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "Brooklyn Dodgers 13, Boston Bees 2". retrosheet.org. April 27, 1938. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  4. ^ "'Mike' Balas Gets Three Years". New York Times. United Press International. November 11, 1942. Retrieved February 11, 2021.


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