Carl Furillo

Background

Furillo was born in Stony Creek Mills, Pennsylvania, to Italian immigrants from Campania. His father was from the province of Caserta and his mother from the province of Benevento. He was affectionately called "Skoonj", a nickname derived from the Italian word scungilli ("conch"), which was his favorite dish. He dropped out of school in the eighth grade and worked various jobs, including apple-picking and work in a woolen mill.

After his mother's death when he was eighteen, he decided to pursue baseball professionally. In 1940, he signed with the Reading Chicks of the Interstate League, earning the nickname "the Reading Rifle" for his powerful arm; the Dodgers were so impressed they purchased the entire minor league franchise to acquire him. His career was interrupted by World War II; he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942, served three years, saw combat in the Pacific Theater, and received three battle stars and the Purple Heart.

After returning, he made the major leagues in 1946. He was diagnosed with cataracts in 1952, had surgery, and returned to win the 1953 batting title. On September 6, 1953, a brawl with the Giants led to a fractured knuckle on his little finger. The Dodgers released him in May 1960 while he was injured with a torn calf muscle; he sued the team, collecting $21,000, and later maintained he was blackballed from baseball.

After retiring, he worked installing elevators at the World Trade Center, owned a deli in Flushing, Queens, and later worked as a night watchman. He died of leukemia and an apparent heart attack at age 66 in Stony Creek Mills, Pennsylvania.

Did You Know?

• He threw out a runner at first base from right field on August 27, 1951.
• In the 1952 World Series, he made a spectacular catch over the fence to rob Johnny Mize of a home run in the 11th inning.
• He drove in the tying run with a 2-run homer in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the 1953 World Series.