New Ulm HALL OF FAME Member

John (Jack) Pollei

Pitcher-Infielder

Selected 1992

Lifetime Baseball Batting Stats Page

Lifetime Baseball Pitching Stats Page

          Jack Pollei, a standout in basketball as well as baseball both locally and at St. John's, pitched for two different New Ulm teams in state tournaments early and late in his career.

          In 1947 he pitched the New Ulm Millers into the state, winning the first game and then losing to the eventual state champions.

          A year previously his 6-0 record was the most wins by an undefeated pitcher and was backed by a strong 0.88 ERA, fifth best in the first 50 years of New Ulm baseball. He was 9-1 the following year.

          In 1949 he was a member of the Brewers state team.

          His career ERA was 1.45. His "worst" single season ERA was a 2.116 ERA in his final year.

          His most remembered game as a pitcher came in 1948, when he was the winning pitcher in a celebrated 15-inning title-deciding game with Springfield. He threw nine strong innings of relief that August.

          Pollei started as a shortstop and played three seasons before becoming an amateur pitcher. After that he pitched for both the Brewers and Millers throughout 1949. In high school he didn't pitch until his senior year, when he had a 4-0 record with a 1.85 ERA in 30 innings.

          Pollei was a volunteer helper for the 1953 state tournament when it was in New Ulm.