RAY SADECKI
1940-2014
Inducted – 2010
An 18-year veteran in the major leagues (1960-77), Raymond Michael Sadecki pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Kansas City Royals and Milwaukee Brewers. He finished his career with a record of 135-131, which included 20 shutouts, 1,614 strikeouts and a 3.78 earned run average in 2,500 innings. A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Sadecki helped lead Bishop Ward High School to an 18-0 record and state championship as a senior in 1958 before signing as a “Bonus Baby” for the Cardinals. He broke into the majors in 1960 as a 19-year-old and won Cardinal Rookie of the Year honors with a 9-9 record. He joined the starting rotation in 1961 and his best year came in 1964 with a 20-11 record as the Cardinals won the World Series. Sadecki won one game in the Series against the New York Yankees. In 1968, he finished fifth in the National League with 208 strikeouts for the Giants. In 1973, Sadecki pitched for the Mets’ National League champions as a reliever and made four appearances and earned one save in the World Series against the Oakland Athletics. When Catholic Charities of Kansas City and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund renovated a baseball field in 2002, it was dedicated and renamed Ray Sadecki Field. Inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. Born: December 26, 1940 – Kansas City, Kansas. Graduated: Bishop Ward H.S., 1958.