Passing of John Vrablik
Tom Vrablik remembers his father, Pitch and Hit Club Member John Vrablik...
Actually, my dad’s brother Steve was the lifelong scout for the White Sox and Mariners (he passed in June ‘08). Uncle Steve was a pitcher and he and my dad (a great catcher) actually formed a “brother battery” in 1942 with the Cubs’ Janesville farm team.
My dad, John, played for Schurz high school, graduating in 1940. He was invited to the Chicago Cubs baseball school in 1941 and finally signed with the Cubs where he joined Janesville in 1942.
He spent the next three years in the army where he actually got to play baseball with Camp Grant and Camp Ellis before being deployed to the Philippines.
Upon his return John received another chance in professional baseball, signing with the White Sox (Northern League) in 1946.
In 1947 and 1948 John played for the Cleveland Indians organization in Tucson, AZ and Burlington IA.
In 1949 John returned to the White Sox organization (again in the Northern League) and retired from baseball following the season.
I enjoyed many Pitch and Hit banquets with my Dad, Uncle Steve and many cousins while I was growing up. I recall the banquets at downtown’s Palmer House as well as those at the Martinique in Evergreen Park. All wonderful memories.
The most recent and best baseball memory that I shared with dad was watching the White Sox win the World Series in ’05!
Visitation for John Vrablik is at the Skaja Terrace Funeral Home, 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles, Tuesday 02/24 from 3 to 8 p.m. Lying in state Wednesday 02/25 at 11 a.m. until time of service 12 noon at Trinity Slovak Lutheran Church, 5106 N. LaCrosse, Chicago. Interment Bohemian National Cemetery.
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