Ray Jankowski
| Date and Place of Birth: | June 23, 1929 Locust Township, PA |
| Date and Place of Death: | November 2, 1951 Fort Huachuca, AZ |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Rank: | Private |
| Military Unit: | US Army |
| Area Served: | United States |
An Illinois State League all-star in 1948, Jankowski had only been in military service for seven months when tragedy struck.
Raymond Henry Jankowski was born in Locust Township, Pennsylvania on
June 23, 1929. He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals organization in
1948, pitching for the West Frankfort Cardinals of the Class D Illinois
State League. The 5-foot-8, left-hander finished the season with a
superb 15-2 won-loss record and a 2.52 ERA in 23 appearances. He hurled
a 2-0, one-hitter against the Mattoon Indians on August 28 and was an
Illinois State League all-star selection.
Jankowski was with the St. Joseph Cardinals of the Class C Western
Association at the start of 1949. Despite hurling a 9-0, two-hitter over
Leavenworth in the season opener, the 20-year-old spent the majority of
the season with the Hamilton Cardinals of the Class D PONY League,
posting a 13-7 record in 23 appearances with a 4.70 ERA.
In 1950, Jankowski was assigned to the Columbus Cardinals of the Class A
Sally League. However, an arm operation kept him on the disabled list
for the entire season. In 1951, he was signed by the Pocatello Cardinals
of the Class C Pioneer League but military service called before the
season began.
Stationed with the Army at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, Private Jankowski had
only been in the army seven months when he was tragically killed in an
accident. On November 2, 1951, he was run over by a bulldozer and died
of his injuries several hours later.
Sources
Mount Vernon Register-News – July 7, 1948
Mount Vernon Register-News – July 19, 1948
Mount Vernon Register-News – August 28, 1948
Mount Vernon Register-News – August 30, 1948
Joplin Globe – April 24, 1949
Ada Evening News – April 27, 1949
Miami (OK) Daily News-Record – April 29, 1949
Dunkirk Evening Observer – September 13, 1949
Idaho Sunday Journal – October 15, 1950
Ogden Standard-Examiner – October 16, 1950
Idaho State Journal – January 14, 1951
Idaho State Journal – February 20, 1951
Berkshire Evening Eagle – November 6, 1951
Hagerstown Morning Herald – November 6, 1951
Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates - http://genealogy.az.gov
Date Added September 29, 2012
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