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Johnny Labetich

 

Date and Place of Birth: December 3, 1909 Oakland, CA
Date and Place of Death:    February 20, 1944 Presidio of Monterey Reception Center, CA
Baseball Experience: Minor League
Position: Third Base
Rank: Private
Military Unit: US Army
Area Served: United States

John J. Labetich, son of Joseph and Frances Labetich, was born in Oakland, California on December 3, 1909. His parents were born in Yugoslavia and had settled in Biloxi, Mississippi before moving to California. John had an older brother Mitchell, and a younger brother Joseph.

He graduated from Prescott High School in 1925 and played for numerous semi-pro and amateur Bay area teams including Southern Pacific Stores and Oak Billiards. Aged 19, the third baseman was signed by the Seattle Indians of the Pacific Coast League and batted .204 in 17 games to finish the season. He was sent to the Topeka Senators of the Class A Western League in 1930, and batted .265 in 35 games before being released. He was with the Pacific Coast League's Mission Reds for spring training in 1931, before joining the Tucson Missions of the Class D Arizona-Texas League for the regular season. Hampered by a recurring leg injury, Labetich still batted .323 in 41 games before being released mid-season.

The 22-year-old was with the Oakland Oaks for spring training in 1932, played the summer with the Arizona-Texas League's Bisbee Bees, where he hit a sensational .340 in 99 games, and rejoined the Oaks for four regular season games. Despite having had his strongest season in four years of organized baseball, Labetich didn't return to the professional game after 1932, but continued to play for semi-pro teams in California, including the Watsonville Falcons of the California State League, Southern Pacific Stores (with his brother Mitchell), Micky's Inn and the Keystone Club.

In 1939, Labetich moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, the home of his wife, Dina Mladinich, whom he married in September 1934. He played baseball for the Biloxi Slavs of the Gulf Coast League, and opened Johnny's Cash Grocery in October 1939 at the junction of Division Street and Bohn Street.

Labetich returned to California in the spring of 1943, leaving the grocery store in the hands of his brother-in-law, Ernest Mladinich. The reason for his return is unclear, but his brother, Joseph, who worked for the Pacific Silicate Company, died on June 10 of that year, aged just 31.

His wife, Dina, and their seven-year-old daughter, Frances, joined him in California around September 1943, and on February 19, 1944, John Labetich was inducted into military service at the Presidio of Monterey reception center in California. The following day, he died from an undisclosed illness. He was just 34 years old.

John Labetich was returned to Biloxi, where services were held at St. Michael's Church, followed by burial with full military honors at Biloxi City Cemetery. The guard of honor and pallbearers were from nearby Keesler Army Air Field.

"We wish to express our sincere heartfelt thanks to relatives and friends during the sudden death of our husband, father and brother, John Labetich. Especially do we wish to thank Chaplain Jerome Major, Rev. Father Mullen, Lt. Newhinney and the boys of the armed forces of Keesler Field for the many floral offerings and expressions of sympathy.
Wife, Daughter and Brother"
Biloxi Sun-Herald, March 4, 1944

His brother, Mitchell, passed away in 1997, aged 88. His wife, Dina, passed away in 2006, aged 92. Frances, their daughter, passed away in 2022, aged 86.

Year

Team

League

Class

G

AB

R

H

2B

3B

HR

RBI AVG
1929 Seattle PCL AA 17 49 - 10 1 0 0 - .204
1930 Topeka Western A 35 98 - 26 7 1 3 - .265
1931 Tucson Arizona-Texas D 41 158 - 51 - - - - .3223
1932 Bisbee Arizon-Texas D 99 391 - 133 26 10 11 - .340
1932 Oakland PCL AA 4 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

John J. Labetich

John Labetich

John Joseph Labetich

Date Added July 21, 2024

Thanks to Jack Morris for "discovering" Johnny Labetich.

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