Whitey Kurowski almost didn’t get a chance to wear this stunning 1948 St. Louis Cardinal road uniform set. As a boy in Reading, Pennsylvania, the future All-Star suffered from osteomyelitis that resulted in doctors having to remove part of the bone of his right forearm. Whitey persevered, building up the muscles in his shortened arm and honing his skills through almost non-stop games of softball and baseball. Still, scouts were reluctant to take a chance on the handicapped kid, but he finally got his chance in 1937. Kurowski never looked back, quickly becoming one of the Cardinals top prospects and making the majors in 1941 alongside Stan Musial. The two Polish rookies from Pennsylvania became the building blocks upon which the Cardinals 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1946 pennant winners were assembled.
Interestingly, his high on-base percentage was attributed to his shortened right arm, forcing him to crowd home plate in order to reach outside pitches and resulting in double-digit hit-by-pitch tallies for five straight seasons. By 1948 Kurowski was a five-time All-Star, but his career would end prematurely the next year when his arm finally gave out. He went on to coach in the minor leagues for almost two decades before he retired, passing away in 1999.
This classic 1948 Cardinals road uniform set was worn by Kurowski during his last healthy season in the majors. The Rawlings jersey has the timeless bat and birds logo across the front, augmented by thick red piping around the neck and front as well as down each sleeve. The left front tail has “Kurowski 48” in red chain stitching and Rawlings size 42 labeling sewn in the collar. The back has Kurowski’s number “1” in red and navy felt. The thick flannel shirt's zipper has been lost from age and storage, presumably.
The matching pants have the same thick red piping down the legs and around the belt tunnels on each side and back. The waistband has size 38 Rawlings labels and “Kurowski” stitched in red. A size 38 belt of red fabric and brown leather completes this impressive set. The jersey has several stains throughout the body from pine tar and field contact. Likewise, the pants exhibit grass and pine tar staining throughout, the set looking every inch the uniform of a hard-nosed Cardinals veteran.
The uniform comes with a letter of provenance from the Cardinals’ team dentist.