Edward Michael “Big Ed” Hanyzewski Sr.

Edward Michael Hanyzewski was born in Union Mills, Indiana to Polish immigrants, Franciszka Klodzinski 1902 - 1923 & Ludovicus 'Louis' Michael Hanyzewski 1888 - 1944

Ed he grew up in very difficult situations, and perhaps because of this he was so successful at an early age in sports and drove him later to become a professional athlete. His Mother passed in 1923 when he was only a few years old, in fact his Father having already lost his first wife Josephea 'Josie' Stejbach to Diphtheria in 1918.

So before Ed was born they had given him a big brother Julius Budd 'Hank' Hanyzewski b. 1916

Sadly tragedy struck in 1923 and after the loss of his Mother, his Father Louis eventually re-married a third time to Anna Strykul (nee Bancer) around 1924, after her husband had died in a tragic car accident in 1923. Eventually they gave Ed 3 more sisters, but Anna also had many children from her previous marriage.

As a multi talented athlete at Washington High School in South Bend, Ed was a very accomplished basketball player, played in the state football championships as star left end, but baseball was where he really excelled, leading his high-school team to three successive conference championships.

He first got in the spotlight in 1939 by pitching in a exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox. He also played in the American Legion Post 35 who played in the National Championship in 1941.

He graduated in 1940 from high school, and married Lucille Paprocki on November 22, 1940, but before that he had worked at the Studebaker Auto plant, and even played on the Company baseball team. After his graduation he became the star of his freshman team at the University of Notre Dame.

Shortly after his freshman year he played a exhibition game, it was the Studebaker Athletics team against the Chicago Cubs where he was able to strike out 14 Cubs, and though lost the game (because his team was not able to score against the pro Cubs team) Cubs manager did take note which would eventually lead to his joining the team.

He played professional baseball player 1942-1946 and was a Pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, and also worth noting that his cousin Don pitched for the Chicago White Sox 1942-1944.

However Ed's term in the big leagues would not last, though an impressive time during his tenure, he was forced out after after injuries to his elbow, after several months recuperation time, when he resumed play 23 Aug 1944 it was said in a game against the St Louis Cardinals, that the 'pop' of his elbow could be heard in the press box. He recovered and even played two games in the year the Cubs won the Nat'l League pennant, and went on to the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. Sadly, due to injury was left off the roster.

Though later surgery in 1946 was deemed a success, he had recovered 100% and Cubs management optioned him off to Nashville, and though much more to this story he was eventually sold on to the Cleveland Indians but released in May 1947.

He was twice rejected for induction to the Army, once in 1943 due to a knee injury from high school football and again in 1945 for the same reason. He was upset that he was not able to serve his country as so many friends had.

In the end he returned to Indiana and became a policeman in South Bend. He continued to play semipro for several teams but in 1949 his arm went out completely and had to retired from his beloved baseball though continued to coach others. He retired from the police force in 1967 after 20 years of service, where he began to work in security for many more years, but shortly after the death of his wife in 1980, Ed moved to Pelican Rapids, Minnesota where he helped coach with his son local high school baseball and even the girls softball teams.

Sources: Ancestry.com and FindAGrave.com

09/05/2023 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49711509/edward-michael-hanyzewski