Stanley Andrew Rojek (April 21, 1919 – July 9, 1997) born in

North Tonawanda, New York North Tonawanda is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 31,568 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is named after Tonawanda Creek, its south bo ...

was a

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists who ...

for the

Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...

(1942 and 1946–47),

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

(1948–51),

St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...

(1951) and

St. Louis Browns The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the Milwaukee Brewers. A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St. Louis, Missouri, after the 1901 season, where they p ...

(1952). He helped the Dodgers win the 1947 National League Pennant. He worked in his family's dairy, 'Rojek's Dairy'. He finished 10th in voting for the 1948 NL MVP for leading the league in Games (156), At Bats (641), Plate Appearances (713) and Singles (150). He also had 85 Runs, 186 Hits, 27 Doubles, 5 Triples, 4 Home Runs, 51 RBI, 24 Stolen Bases, 61 Walks, .290 Batting Average, .355 On-base percentage, .367 Slugging Percentage, 235 Total Bases and 8 Sacrifice Hits. In 8 seasons he played in 522 Games and had 1,764 At Bats, 225 Runs, 470 Hits, 67 Doubles, 13 Triples, 4 Home Runs, 122 RBI, 32 Stolen Bases, 152 Walks, .266 Batting Average, .327 On-base percentage, .326 Slugging Percentage, 575 Total Bases and 35 Sacrifice Hits. His career fielding percentage was .966. He lockered next to

Jackie Robinson Jack Roosevelt Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line ...

, in Brooklyn, when Jackie broke baseball's colored barrier. Rojek was one of the only players who was kind to Jackie. Rojek was very poor. When he wasn't playing baseball or helping with his brothers' families, he was driving the family milk truck and working the business. The dairy was called "Rojek's Dairy", and Stan would assist his brother, Theodore, with the milk bottle and cream cheese deliveries. He died in his hometown at the age of 78. In dedication, he has a baseball field named after him in his hometown, North Tonawanda.

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* 1919 births 1997 deaths Baseball players from New York (state) Major League Baseball shortstops Brooklyn Dodgers players Pittsburgh Pirates players St. Louis Cardinals players St. Louis Browns players People from North Tonawanda, New York Olean Oilers players Dayton Wings players Durham Bulls players Montreal Royals players Toledo Mud Hens players Charleston Senators players Mobile Bears players St. Paul Saints (AA) players Burials in Buffalo, New York {{baseball-shortstop-stub