The Chicago White Sox discovered Kwietniewski playing sandlot ball in Detroit, Michigan, and signed him to a major league contract in 1943 just shy of his seventeenth birthday. When he made his major league debut at third base on August 19, he was the second-youngest player in the American League, behind 16-y-o Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Carl Scheib. He went hitless in two games and seven at bats.\n', '

He shortened his name to Cass Kwiet for the 1944 season. After a slow start, he was demoted to the Southern Association\'s Little Rock Travelers for more seasoning. In 27 major league games, mostly played at shortstop, he batted .176 with five runs batted in.\n', '

His third big league season brought with it a third name, as he entered spring training 1945 as Cass Michaels, the name he would retain for the rest of his major league career. With Skeeter Webb having been dealt to the Detroit Tigers during the off-season, and Luke Appling serving in the U.S. Navy, shortstop belonged to Michaels alone. He emerged as a smooth fielder with an erratic arm; he committed a league leading 47 errors, mostly on throws.\n', '

Return to Cass Michaels Autograph Profile