Born July 10, 1917 in Ventura, California
Died: 1999
Graduated from:
Ventura High School, 1937
ATHLETIC CAREER
Amateur
Basketball and baseball player at Holy Cross School, Ventura Junior High School and Ventura High School.
Also played on Ventura College, city and semipro baseball teams when he was a senior in high school.
Professional
1938: Began minor league baseball career with St. Louis Cardinals organization. Played first base for Sacramento (Calif.) Solons, Midland (Texas) Cardinals, Decatur (Ill.) Commodores, Houston (Texas) Buffs over 7 years.
1945: Played for New York Yankees organization with Kansas City (Mo.) Blues, also in Mexico and at Binghamton (N.Y.) Yankees.
1946 & 1947: Played with an independent team, Sherman-Denison (Texas) Twins.
ACHIEVEMENTS
1936-37: Ventura County high scorer in basketball; effort remained a county record for many years.
1938: As a rookie, honored with a “Jake Suytar Night” in Midland; played all nine positions in that game, a league first. Was 1 for 5, with five putouts, 2 assists and 0 errors in a 15-7 loss.
1938: Selected as rookie as West Texas-New Mexico League All-Star Game first baseman.
1949: As a veteran near the end of his career, honored with another “Jake Suytar Night,” this time by Sherman-Denison Twins.
Note: An injury in 1942 ended what experts calculated as a “can’t-miss major league career” for Suytar. Nonetheless, he played minor league ball the next eight years.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
1973-75: Coached Oxnard Petticoat League team.