Dave Koza
| Dave Koza | |||
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| First baseman / Outfielder | |||
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Born: September 16, 1954 Norfolk, Virginia |
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David Wayne Koza (born September 16, 1954) is a former first baseman and outfielder in Minor League Baseball who played his entire professional career in the Boston Red Sox organization. Listed at 6' 2" [1.89 m], 195 lb. [88 k], he batted right-handed and threw left-handed.
Koza was part of the Red Sox farm system for 10 years, but he never appeared in a Major League Baseball game, was not even invited by Boston to join its spring training roster, perhaps because his raw power was offset by a lack of consistency, a lethany of injuries, and a high strikeout rate.
Nevertheless, Koza is regarded as the batter that drove in the winning run in the longest game ever recorded in professional baseball history; a 33-inning affair played in 1981 at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
Koza was born in Norfolk, Virginia and grew up in Torrington, Wyoming, where he attended Torrington High School. Koza was a standout in every sport young men could play at Torrington. While there, he led the football team to an undefeated season as a quarterback, and eventually appeared as a defensive back and kicker. In addition, he played basketball and starred at track and field, being a triple winner in inter-school competition in discus throw, triple jump and long jump. Nevertheless, he never played high school baseball because it was not offered at the school. This posed a problem for the young Dave, as he struggled to understand a community that did not offered organized baseball. He always loved baseball and dreamed about becoming a major leaguer someday.
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