Johnny Van Cuyk
{{short description|American baseball player (1921-2010)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Johnny Van Cuyk
|image=Johnny Van Cuyk.JPG
|position=Relief pitcher
|birth_date={{Birth date|1921|07|07|mf=y}}
|birth_place=Little Chute, Wisconsin
| death_date= {{death date and age|2010|07|10|1921|07|07}}
| death_place= Rochester, Minnesota
|bats=Left
|throws=Left
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate=September 18
|debutyear=1947
|debutteam=Brooklyn Dodgers
|finalleague = MLB
|finaldate=May 9
|finalyear=1949
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label=Win–loss record
|stat1value=0-0
|stat2label=Earned run average
|stat2value=5.23
|stat3label=Strikeouts
|stat3value=3
|finalteam=Brooklyn Dodgers
|teams=
- Brooklyn Dodgers (1947–49)
}}
John Henry Van Cuyk (July 7, 1921 – July 10, 2010) was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from {{baseball year|1947}} through {{baseball year|1949}} for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Listed at {{height|ft=6|in=1}}, 190 lb., he batted and threw left-handed. His younger brother, Chris Van Cuyk, also pitched in the majors.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/vancujo01.shtml |title= Baseball Reference – major league statistics}}
A native of Little Chute, Wisconsin, to Henry and Anna Van Cuyk, he grew up in the close village of Kimberly, where he attended school. He started his professional career in 1940 with Class-D Appleton Papermakers, playing for them in part of two seasons before serving stateside in the United States Army during World War II from 1941 to 1945.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=vancuy001joh |title= Baseball Reference – minor league statistics}}{{cite web |url=http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=5&a=460942 |title=Obituary |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120911065956/http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=5&a=460942 |archivedate=2012-09-11 }}
Van Cuyk entered the majors in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers, pitching in seven games for them in part of three seasons. He posted a 5.53 earned run average and did not have a decision or save, allowing seven runs (six earned) on four hits while walking three and striking out three in 10.1 innings of work. He also saw time at the minor league level with the Montreal Royals (1946), St. Paul Saints (1947-'49) and Oakland Oaks (1950-'51), combining to go 77–68 with a 4.00 ERA in 330 pitching appearances (114 starts) during a 10-year career.
Following his baseball career, Van Cuyk went into real estate and car sales. He was a longtime resident of Rochester, Minnesota, where he died three days after his 89th birthday.{{Cite web|url=https://alt.obituaries.narkive.com/HKuIIVeP/johnny-van-cuyk-89-pitched-for-brooklyn-dodgers|title = Johnny van Cuyk, 89; Pitched for Brooklyn Dodgers}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.fold3.com/record/111691938/john-henry-van-cuyk-social-security-death-index|title = John Henry van cuyk in Social Security Death Index}}
Notes
{{Reflist|2}}
References
{{baseballstats | br=v/vancujo01 |brm=vancuy001joh}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Van Cuyk, Johnny}}
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Brooklyn Dodgers players
Category:Appleton Papermakers players
Category:Fort Worth Cats players
Category:Montreal Royals players
Category:Oakland Oaks (baseball) players
Category:St. Paul Saints (AA) players
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II
Category:Baseball players from Wisconsin
Category:Military personnel from Wisconsin
Category:American people of Dutch descent
Category:People from Little Chute, Wisconsin
Category:Sportspeople from Rochester, Minnesota