Mark Koenig

Mark Anthony Koenig (July 19, 1904 – April 22, 1993) was an American baseball shortstop who played twelve seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played with the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants from 1925 to 1936. A switch hitter who threw right-handed, he was listed at and . Although primarily playing as a shortstop, Koenig was utilized at both second base and third base as well.

Koenig played minor league baseball with four different teams until May 1925, when he signed with the New York Yankees. After making his debut in September 1925 and spending five seasons with the Yankees, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers, where he spent the next two seasons. He subsequently joined the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds via trades in 1932 and 1934, respectively, and was finally traded to the New York Giants, with whom he played his last game on September 27, 1936. Koenig is most famous for being the last surviving member of the Murderers' Row.

Early life Koenig was born on July 19, 1904, in San Francisco. His father, Charles Koenig, and paternal grandfather William were both bricklayers, with the latter having immigrated from Germany to the United States. His mother Stella Koenig had two brothers and a sister, and, during his childhood, he first met and played baseball with fellow San Franciscan and future teammate Tony Lazzeri.

Professional career

Minor leagues Koenig first started playing organized baseball on the Moose Jaw Millers team in the Western Canada League. It was here he was first spotted by Bob Connery, a scout who worked for the New York Yankees organization. After the league collapsed in the middle of the season, he proceeded to play with the St. Paul Saints, a minor league baseball team which competed in the American Association. He spent nearly the next four seasons with the team; during this time, he had brief sojourns with the Jamestown Jinkotans and the Des Moines Boosters in order to garner more playing experience. Although the rules at the time stipulated the Saints could temporarily utilize a player from another American Association team to replace Boone, the Orioles objected

New York Yankees (1925–1930) Koenig made his major league debut for the Yankees on September 8, 1925, at the age of 21, During his rookie season the following year, he posted a batting average of .271 and struck out just 37 times in 617 at bats, In the crucial Game 7, Koenig made an error attempting to field a double play opportunity in the fourth inning. This eventually led to the Cardinals scoring what turned out to be the winning run in a 3–2 victory. Koenig was subsequently criticized by fans for being responsible for Yankees losing the game and, ultimately, the series. This lineup, which was utilized in that order throughout the majority of the season, was given the nickname "Murderers' Row". Many sports analysts, baseball writers and fans consider the 1927 team the greatest baseball team of all time. Although he was dismissive of the role he played, Koenig contributed to the team's success as he batted .285 and amassed 150 hits, 11 triples, 99 runs scored and 62 runs batted in. However, he once again led the league in errors with 47, but compensated for this by recording the highest range factor at shortstop (5.61) and third most assists at shortstop (423). Koenig went to the Cubs in 1932 with whom he returned to the World Series this time against the New York Yankees. It news was that the Cubs voted Koenig only a half share of the World Series bonus that led to hostility from his former team which continued over the course of the series famously culminating in Babe Ruth’s called shot home run.

Career statistics

In 1162 games over 12 seasons, Koenig posted a .279 batting average (1190-for-4271) with 572 runs, 195 doubles, 49 triples, 28 home runs, 446 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, 222 bases on balls.316 on-base percentage and .367 slugging percentage. He finished his career with a .933 fielding percentage playing primarily at shortstop, third and second base. In 20 World Series games, he batted .237 (18-for-76) with 9 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple and 5 RBI. Together, they had one daughter, Gail, who was born in 1930. He later was remarried to Doris Bailey, who died in 1979. He appeared as himself in The Pride of the Yankees, an Academy Award-winning movie released in 1942 which paid tribute to his fellow Yankees teammate Lou Gehrig. After his baseball career ended, he settled back in his hometown and took up several jobs, namely owning gas stations and working as a brewer.

Beginning in 1982, Koenig's health began to deteriorate. In addition to the lung cancer which had developed as a three-pack-a-day smoker, He died of cancer on April 22, 1993, in Willows, California, at the age of 88 and was cremated. He had outlived his two wives and was survived by his daughter, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. At the time of his death, he was the last surviving member of the 1927 New York Yankees starting lineup, nicknamed "Murderers' Row". He was also the last surviving member of the 1928 World Champion New York Yankees.