Nicholas Nicholie "Nick" Koback was born on July 19, 1935 in Hartford, Connecticut to Nickolai Koback, who was a naturalized citizen of the United States originally from Russia. He worked at the Hartford Machine Screw Company. Nick Koback attended Hartford Public High School where he played baseball. During his sophomore season, his school\'s team won the Triangular League championship.\n', '

In May 1952, Koback missed playing time for his high school team due to a broken finger. He also played guard on the school\'s basketball team. Koback graduated from Hartford Public High School in June 1953.\n', '

On July 9, 1953, after being scouted by Ed McCarrick, Koback was signed by the Major League Baseball (MLB) Pittsburgh Pirates out of high school. Koback received contract offers from the Boston Red Sox, Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and New York Giants who wanted to start him out in the minor leagues, but he declined after Pittsburgh offered the most money. Koback later said in an interview with The Pittsburgh Press that "Money looks awful big to an 18-year-old". Koback was signed under the Bonus Rule which at the time stated that he had to be on the Pirates roster for two years.\n', '

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