Mike Zaluski burst on the Youngstown State baseball scene as a freshman and posted a solid four-year career with the Penguins from 1974 to 1977.
For his career, Zaluski, a first baseman-outfielder finished with a .325 batting average (138 hits in 425 at bats), and 84 runs scored, 61 stolen bases, 24 doubles and 59 RBI in 131 career games. He was one of the toughest batters to strike out in school history whiffing only 23 times in 425 at bats.
The Penguins won more than 20 games in each of his four seasons posting an overall mark of 88-43. During his senior campaign, YSU advanced to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Tournament in Edwardsville, Ill., and set a then-school-record for victories in a season.
As a freshman he had an outstanding rookie year with a .415 batting average and 24 stolen bases. He had 39 hits and scored 24 runs, both team highs. His batting average was the 16th-best in the nation that season and his stolen-base total ranked fourth in the country.
As a sophomore he hit .241 with 28 hits and 17 runs scored. He finished second on the team with 11 stolen bases and 19 RBI. YSU was 20-15 that season. As a junior, Zaluski hit .336 with team-highs 38 hits and 22 runs scored. He tied for the team lead in steals with 15 as the Penguins finished the year 20-14.
As a senior he was named to the NCAA Division II All-District IV Team after batting .324 for the 26-8 Penguins. He had 33 hits and scored a team-best 21 runs. His 13 RBI were second on the team.
From YSU, he earned degrees in Management and Marketing before moving onto the business world.
He continued playing baseball following his YSU career and just recently retired after playing his passion for almost 40 years. He has been enshrined in the Stark County Baseball Hall of Fame.
Zaluski had a standout high school baseball and football career at Struthers High School before coming to Youngstown State.
As a first baseman he was a first- team All-Ohio and All-Steel Valley Conference selection his senior season while leading Struthers to the state semifinals. For his career he had a .345 batting average. On the football team, he was a halfback and defensive back who also returned punts and kickoffs.
In 1973, he bypassed the Major League Baseball Draft and turned down a football scholarship to Arizona State to play baseball for the Penguins. In 2000, he was inducted into the Struthers Athletics Hall of Fame.
He currently works at Aultman Health Foundation/Aultcare in Canton, Ohio. For Aultman, he is the manager of the Third Party Administrator Division for Cardinal Administrative Services.
Mike resides in North Canton, Ohio, with his wife of 25 years Jean and their son Chris. Chris attends North Canton Hoover High School where he is a member of the varsity Football and Baseball teams.
