The Mad Hungarian as he is fondly called because of his weird last name, horseshoe-shaped mustache, his long flowing hair, and the habit of furiously stomping around the pitch to get himself psyched up for the game to come is a well-known figure in the game of baseball. Al Hrabosky is a retired baseball player who played in the major league from the year 1970 until 1982, giving his skills to a number of different clubs such as the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves, and Kansas City Royals. He was an eclectic player on and off the pitch, with a colorful personality that helped endear him to teammates, coaches, critics, and baseball lovers all around the country. His trademark style of play, a fastball which blazed through defenses all the way across to whatever side of the pitch he was aiming towards made him one of the finest, consistent, and clinical relievers of his era.
Since his retirement, Hrabosky has turned towards sports broadcasting where he serves as a color commentator for the regional sports network, FSN Midwest, on their broadcasts on Cardinals games during the regular season. He is one of the most beloved voices that have come to be associated with the game of baseball when it comes to broadcasting.
Early Life
The talented baseball pitcher was born Alan Thomas Hrabosky on July 21, 1949, in Oakland, California. He was born to Hungarian parents and he studied at Savanna High School where he was a member of the baseball team. He got drafted in 1967 in the 11th round by the Minnesota Twins, but he ended up not signing with them, choosing to join the St. Louis Cardinals barely two years later. He made his first major league appearance at the age of 20, going up against the San Diego Padres.
Over time, he became a fan favorite who delighted viewers with his pitching antics as well as his obvious talent at throwing the ball. Al Hrabosky’s best career season was in 1975 which saw him placed first in saves in the National League and earned him the NL Fireman of the Year trophy awarded by the Sporting News. He then left to join the Kansas City Royals in a trade. During his first year with the Royals, he pitched 58 games with 35 walks, 60 strikeouts, 75 innings with 20 saves, and an ERA of 2.88. After two years, Hrabosky was granted a free agency and he joined the Atlanta Braves.
With the Braves, it became obvious that Hrabosky’s career was slowly winding down. He saw less and less playing time and was only able to make a total of seven saves in the three seasons he spent at the club. He made his final major league appearance against the Montreal Expos on August 18, 1982. The Atlanta Braves let him go, after which he signed with the Chicago White Sox but decided to retire before the new season began in order to take up a job with Fox Sports Midwest as a colour commentator reporting on Cardinals games.
Al Hrabosky joined the Fox Sports family in 1997 and has remained there till date. From time to time, the former pitcher features on the Cardinals Radio Network as a fill-in analyst.
His Net Worth
The retired pitcher made a lot of money from his impressive baseball career as well as his work as a commentator for Fox Sports Midwest. Although his present salary is not known at this time, it is believed to be within a respectable figure befitting a man of his status and experience. Al Hrabosky is estimated to have a net worth of $2 million.
Al Hrabrosky’s Daughter
Al Hrabrosky is a happily married man who has built a family of his own away from the pitch. Family is very important to him and he doesn’t hesitate to show and choose it whenever he has to prioritize it over something else. The Mad Hungarian is married to a beautiful woman named June. They have not one, but four daughters together named Tiffany, Nickie, Lisa, and Kim Hrabosky. He and wife have also welcomed two grandsons into their family named West and Ford. He lives in St. Louis with his family.
Quick Facts
1. The FSN Midwest colour commentator stands at a height of 5 feet 11 inches and weighs about 83 kg.
2. He occasionally works as a radio host and has hosted his own shows on KFNS 590AM.
3. Al Hrabosky is very active on social media, with over 81,000 followers on Twitter alone.
