Joe Buzas

Joseph John Buzas
Born: Oct. 2, 1919 in Alpha, N.J.
Died: March 19, 2003 in Salt Lake City, Utah
Debut: 1945 | Pos: SS
HT: 6-1 | WT: 180 | B: R | T: R

Yr	G	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	AVE
1	30	65	8	17	0	6	.262

>> Visit the Joe Buzas biography on Baseball Almanac for complete statistics.

Joe Buzas, who spent more than 60 years in baseball, died on March 19, 2003, at the age of 84.

Buzas, the owner of the Salt Lake Stingers and the team's president at the time of his death, had operated 82 minor league franchises in his 47 years as a owner. In 1996, his team had received the John J. Johnson President's Trophy, given each year to the top minor league franchise.

As a student at Bucknell University, Buzas had been a standout in basketball, football, baseball and boxing. He signed with the New York Yankees in 1941. He made it to the major leagues in 1945 and played in 30 games, hitting .262. However, a shoulder injury ended his playing career early.

At the age of 26, he became a manager of a minor league team. He spent a decade in Puerto Rico before taking over the AA team in Allentown, Pa.

Buzas moved his Portland team to Salt Lake in 1994 and the team led the Pacific Coast League in attendance for its first six years.

Source: Total Baseball, Joe Buzas obituary