Kosco, Andrew “Cuppy”

Andrew “Cuppy” Kosco – (1988)

 

ANDREW “CUPPY” KOSCO

After a brief two year fling at Class ”D” baseball in 1933-1934, Andy Kosco settled into his lifetime love-fastpitch softball. The game was good to him and he was good for the game.

Grit — determination and — speed — speed — speed that’s what outfielder ”Cuppy” Kosco was all about. If you did not see him racing from base to base or outracing a fly ball, then you heard him with his hands ”cupped” to his mouth spewing out staccato urgings louder than a bullhorn.

It all began when Cuppy joined the A.R.S. traveling league in 1936 as centerfielder and shortfielder. The league or district consisted of Cleveland, Youngstown, Campbell, Struthers and Lorain, Ohio and New Castle, Farrell and Sharon, Pennsylvania. For six straight years, Lorain won the title and in 1939 won the national championship.

Before joining the Army in 1942, Cuppy played with Rusine’s, Crystal Clear and Harts Jewelers, each year batting over 300 and leading his team in stolen bases.

After the service, he returned to the Hahn Manufacturing team in the Lakewood AA in 1946. In 1947 his Russo-Slav club won city and county titles and Cuppy was drafted by Sobels for the State tournament. In 1948-49 his Hart Jewelers won the city, county and district and went to the State. In 1952 Cuppy played with the Lakewood AA champs, Nickoloff Builders.

Popular with the opposition as well as his teammates, Cuppy never lost his cool. During 15 seasons he batted over 300 and every year led his team in stolen bases. His longtime manager Mike Zelesky admiringly declared ”Give me nine Cuppys and nobody will beat me!”