Nick Koback, a big 'baby'

In 1947, Major League Baseball implemented the Bonus Rule, which took various forms since it's inclusion in the rule book to its abandonment in 1965. At the time that Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Branch Rickey signed Hartford Public High School stand-out catcher Nick Koback, the rule stated that the "bonus baby" Koback must be a member of the team's MLB roster for two years before he could be demoted to a farm club.

Koback was born Hartford, Connecticut on July 19, 1935. His father, Nickolai Koback was from Poland and worked at the Hartford Screw Company. While in high school, Nick Koback played on the school's baseball team, and during his sophomore season, he led his club to the Triangular League Championship. He was also a member of the school's basketball team. Koback served as a guard. He graduated in 1953 and let the MLB contract offers roll in.

According to Koback, he received offers from the Boston Red Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Red Sox wanted to send him to their Class-B minor league affiliate, which wouldn't do for the young catcher. Initially, Koback walked away from the Pirates contract offer, which he felt was inadequate in the salary department. Eventually, Pirates GM Branch Rickey forked over the most money ($20,000), and Koback signed. He later recalled, "Money looks awfully big to an 18-year-old".

Upon his debut with the Pirates, Rickey released pitcher Bob Schultz, a four-season cup-of-coffee southpaw. Koback was immediately put through a training program which was led by Pittsburgh coaches. He made his MLB debut on July 29, 1953 as a pinch hitter for catcher Mike Sandlock against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. He accumulated two at-bats that night, going hitless in both. In his next game, which was his first career start, Koback caught a complete game shutout, which was delivered by Pirates pitcher Murry Dickson. Koback also got his first MLB hit that game, coming off of Chicago Cubs pitcher Paul Miner.

Koback saw limited time over the remainder of the '53 season. He finished with a .125 batting average with two hits, including a triple, in 16 at-bats. After the season, he joined MLB pitcher Spec Shea, who led a travailing team around the U.S. Koback received a hero's welcome back in Hartford after completing his first MLB season. His former high school coaches invited him to a banquet in his honor and Koback served as a quest speaker at a Hartford firefighter's convention.

At the start of the 1954 season, Koback was issued to report to spring training early as a part of a rookie development program put-on by the Pirates organization. Pittsburgh began taking criticism on keeping players like Koback who showed potential, but who weren't ready for full-time duty in the majors. Sam Cohen, a Connecticut sports writer criticized the rule by saying "[the rule] we feel hampers rather than aids the costly prospects' development, because in practically every case, they see so little action". He went on to use Koback as an example of how the rule hinders young players. On the season, Koback would play just four games. He went hitless in 10 at-bats.

In January 1955, Koback re-signed with the Pirates. He was later asked how he interacted with his then rookie teammate Roberto Clemente. Koback stated, "Sometimes [Clemente] would come out on the field and bullshit with me. He'd say 'Hey you—strong guy!" On May 17, Koback made his season debut in a game against the Cincinnati Reds. In that game, he got a hit off of Reds pitcher Joe Nuxhall. Koback's last MLB hit came on June 5 against Cincinnati pitcher Jackie Collum. On Independence Day, Koback played the final game of his short MLB career. It was later noted that Koback was used as the Pirates bullpen catcher for most of his career. In seven at-bats that season, he got two hits.

On July 12, 1955, Pittsburgh sent Koback down to the minor league Lincoln Chiefs of the Class-A Western League. Upon reporting, Koback wasn't disheartened, stating that he intended to work his way back-up the organizational ladder and return to the majors. With the Chiefs, he batted .223 in 38 games played. Before the start of the '56 season, Koback was assigned to the Hollywood Stars during the Pacific Coast League's open classification period. He played with the Stars on Opening Day, but appeared in just nine games after that. He was then sent to the Double-A New Orleans Pelicans and later the Class-A Williamsport Grays. Combined between his three clubs that season, Koback batted a respectable .288 in 83 games.

After the 1956 season, he joined the Mexican Pacific League. Before the start of the '57 season, Koback played a charity game as a member of the Hartford Young Democrats against the Republicans. He began the season with Hollywood again, but was soon demoted to the Mobile Bears of the Double-A Southern Association, and later the Pelicans of New Orleans. Although his statistics for the Mobile club are not know, his combined total between Hollywood and New Orleans is a .217 batting average in 52 games played.

In 1958, Koback signed with the Salt Lake City Bees, who farmed him out to the Lincoln Chiefs for the season. He batted .240 that year in 68 games. After the season, he joined the Nebraska National Guard and took up primary residency in that state. He was still under contract with the Bees in 1959, who farmed him out to the Class-A Columbus-Gastonia Pirates. Koback batted just .226 in 50 games. Before the start of the 1960 season, Salt Lake City traded Koback to the Triple-A Charlton Senators in exchange for former MLB outfielder Chick King. After just five games that season, Koback was forced to retire at the age of 24 due to an injury to his throwing hand.

Despite his injury, Koback was not finished with sports. He spent many years as a golf instructor in Hartford and played numerous pro-am tournaments. In 2004, Koback was inducted into Hartford Public High School's Athletic Hall of Fame for his contributions to the school's team in the early-to-mid '50s. Koback currently resides in Weatogue, Connecticut.

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