Steve Macko was born on Monday, September 6, 1954, in Burlington, Iowa. Macko was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on August 18, 1979, with the Chicago Cubs. His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous items-of-interest are presented by Baseball Almanac on this comprehensive Steve Macko baseball stats page.
"THE PAIN OF a severe thigh bruise from (Bill) Madlock slide was only the first chapter of the ordeal Macko faced in the final 15 months of his life. Some Cubs accused Madlock of deliberately trying to injure the rookie, but Macko disagreed. 'Steve felt that Madlock probably did him a favor because the cancer was detected while he was being treated for the thigh injury,' (Mike) Krukow said. 'He always wanted to play against the Pirates one more time for a chance to get back at Madlock the same way with a good, clean shot. I'm not going to point the finger at Madlock because he's an aggressive player and the play was just one of those things that happens in baseball. Steve wasn't bitter at him, either, because he wasn't that kind of man." - The Dispatch (11/17/1981, Non-star Macko waged silent cancer fight, Page 21)
Steve Macko |
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Biographical Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Steve MackoSteve Macko Pitching Stats |
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Year | Age | Team | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
- | - | Did Not Pitch | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Career | G | GS | GF | W | L | PCT | ERA | CG | SHO | SV | IP | BFP | H | ER | R | HR | BB | IBB | SO | WP | HB | BK | HLD |
Steve MackoSteve Macko Hitting Stats |
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Year | Age | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG |
1979 | 25 | Cubs | 19 | 40 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .225 | .295 | .250 |
1980 | 26 | Cubs | 6 | 20 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .300 | .300 | .400 |
Career | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | GRSL | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | SH | SF | HBP | GIDP | AVG | OBP | SLG | ||
2 Years | 25 | 60 | 4 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .297 | .300 |
Steve MackoSteve Macko Fielding Stats |
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Team | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
1979 Cubs | 2B | 10 | 7 | 195 | 39 | 3.9 | 39 | 18 | 21 | 0 | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 5.40 |
1979 Cubs | 3B | 4 | 3 | 78 | 15 | 3.8 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 5.19 |
1980 Cubs | 2B | 1 | 1 | 27 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 3.00 |
1980 Cubs | 3B | 2 | 1 | 24 | 2 | 1.0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 2.25 |
1980 Cubs | SS | 3 | 3 | 72 | 20 | 6.7 | 20 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 7.50 |
Career | POS | G | GS | OUTS | TC | TC/G | CH | PO | A | E | DP | PB | CASB | CACS | FLD% | RF |
2B Totals | 11 | 8 | 222 | 42 | 3.8 | 42 | 20 | 22 | 0 | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 5.11 | |
3B Totals | 6 | 4 | 102 | 17 | 2.8 | 17 | 5 | 12 | 0 | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 4.50 | |
SS Totals | 3 | 3 | 72 | 20 | 6.7 | 20 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 7.50 | |
2 Years | 20 | 15 | 396 | 79 | 4.0 | 79 | 32 | 47 | 0 | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1.000 | 5.39 |
Steve MackoSteve Macko Miscellaneous Stats |
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Baserunning Statistics | Other Positions | Common Hitting Ratios | Common Pitching Ratios | |||||||||
Team | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
1979 Cubs | 0 | 0 | .000 | 6 | 0 | n/a | 0.0 | 5.0 | 13.3 | - | - | - |
1980 Cubs | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 1 | n/a | 0.0 | 6.7 | 10.0 | - | - | - |
Career | SB | CS | SB% | PH | PR | DH | AB/HR | AB/K | AB/RBI | K/BB | K/9 | BB/9 |
2 Years | 0 | 0 | .000 | 6 | 1 | n/a | 0.0 | 5.5 | 12.0 | - | - | - |
Steve MackoSteve Macko Miscellaneous Items of Interest |
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Team | Roster | Uniform Numbers | Salary | All-Star | World Series |
1979 Chicago Cubs | 12 | $21,000.00 | - | - |
1980 Chicago Cubs | 12 | $30,000.00 | - | - |
Steve Macko Stats by Baseball Almanac |
On August 6, 1980, bottom of the sixth inning, Cliff Johnson struck out. Jerry Martin walked, then stole second. Barry Foote grounded out to third. Steve Macko doubled, Martin scored (Cubs 5 / Pirates 4), and the career-ending collision with Bill Madlock at second base occurred:
Steve Macko | 1980 Topps Baseball Card (#676)Baseball Almanac Research Library
The Chicago Tribune wrote, "STEVE MACKO wasn't a legend like Lou Gehrig. Macko's battle against the cancer that killed him Sunday was waged in a quiet corner of the Cubs' clubhouse. The story of Gehrig's fight with the creeping paralysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (now known as Lou Gehrig disease) was page-one news all over American and eventually became a memorable movie called Pride of the Yankees.
"In a way, Macko was the pride of the Cubs, even though he batted only 60 times for them. The 27-year-old infielder lived and died far from the glare of national publicity. Only his family and Cub teammates knew of the price Macko paid to put on a uniform and travel with the club until September, when he was too weak to make the last trip.
"Steve was a small man in stature, but he made up for it with the size of his heart, said pitcher Mike Krukow, one of Macko's closest friends on the Cubs. I know I'm speaking for everyone on the team when I say we're better people because Steve Macko was one of us."
Source: Chicago Tribune Staff Writer Bob Logan. November 18, 1981. A fatal cancer couldn't rob Cubs' Macko of class, dignity. Page 1.
Steve Macko Obituary | The Journal and Courier | November 16, 1981 | Sports - Page 1Baseball Almanac Research Library
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