Carl Furillo's biography: Remembering the former baseball player

Carl Furillo's biography: Remembering the former baseball player

Claudia Kogi
updated at November 28, 2023 at 2:29 PM

Famously nicknamed the Reading Rifle or Skoonj, Carl Anthony Furillo was an American-based professional baseball right fielder who played in Major League Baseball, MLB, spending his entire career with the Brooklyn or Los Angeles Dodgers from 1946, when he professionally debuted to 1960. It is over seventy years later, and Carl's name still resounds in the halls of baseball.

Carl Furillo
American former baseball player, Carl Furillo on 1 January 1955. Photo: Hulton Archive (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Renowned for his strong and accurate throwing arm ability, Carl Furillo recorded ten or more assists in nine consecutive seasons, led the league twice, and retired with the fifth-most games in right field (1,408) in the history of the National League. Explore the remarkable career and legacy of Carl Furillo, the "Reading Rifle," whose powerful prowess left an indelible mark on the Brooklyn Dodgers during the golden era of baseball.

Carl Furillo's profile summary

Full name

Carl Anthony Furillo

Nickname

Reading Rifle or Skoonj

Date of birth

8 March 1922

Place of birth

Stony Creek Mills, Pennsylvania, the United States of America

Zodiac sign

Pisces

Date of death

21 January 1989

Cause of death

Alleged heart attack

Religion

Christian

Marital status

Married

Spouse

Fern Reichart Furillo

Kids

2 sons (5 grandchildren)

Profession

Former professional baseball player

Team (s)

Los Angeles Dodgers

Active years

1946 to 1960

Carl Furillo's biography

The former baseball player (who passed at the age of 66 in 1989) was born in Stony Creek Mills, Pennsylvania, the United States of America on 8 March 1922. Carl Furillo was born to a family of Italian immigrants from Campania, where his father was from the province of Caserta while his mother was from Benevento.

The late famous MLB legend's nationality is American of white ethnicity. Regarding his physical stats, Carl Furillo's height was allegedly 6 feet or 183 centimetres, and his weight 190 pounds or 86 kilograms.

Carl Furillo
Carl Furillo before the MLB National League game against the St Louis Cardinals on 27 July 1949 at the Ebbets Field Stadium in Brooklyn, New York City, United States. Photo: Curt Gunther
Source: Getty Images

What was Carl Furillo's cause of death?

Although the cause of his death remains under wraps, some sources, like Paduli in America, speculate that the professional athlete died from an apparent heart attack caused by Leukemia on 21 January 1989.

Where was Carl Furillo buried?

The famous baseball athlete was buried in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Reiffton, Berks County, in the United States of America.

Carl Furillo's stats

Furillo played his entire 15-year career with the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, participating in seven World Series. He finished with a career batting average of .299, with 192 home runs and 1,058 runs batted in. One of the most notable moments was in 1953 when he won the NL batting title with a .344 average despite Carl Furillo's broken arm.

He was famously renowned as the Reading Rifle because of his powerful throwing arm. His colleagues often acknowledge his incredible pitch skills. Roy Campanella, the Dodgers catcher, once revealed in an interview,

He had the best throwing arm of any right fielder I ever played with or against.

Moreover, he went ahead and paid him tribute;

I am really sorry to hear he has passed away. He was quite a good friend. There were seven of us who played every day, and he was one of them.
Carl Furillo's family
The late Carl Furillo at Spring Training on 1 January 1950 in Vero Beach, Florida. Photo: Kidwiler Collection (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

He made his last appearance on 7 May 1960 for the Los Angeles Dodgers after he encountered a severe injury. In a nutshell, here are his MLB statistics,

Battling average

.299

Home runs

192

Runs batted in

1058

What number did Carl Furillo wear?

He was mostly seen wearing the number 6 while playing right fielder.

Has Carl Furillo been inducted into the Hall of Fame?

As of November 2023, the late baseball athlete has yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Carl Furillo's baseball card

Even at his death, the late Carl's legacy is still embraced, with his various cards being auctioned, sold, and bid for.

  • #70 - $280
  • #81 - $370
  • #78 - $400
  • #190 - $305
  • #400 - $700
  • #3 - $4.50

His most expensive card, bearing the number 400, goes for approximately $700, while the lowest one, number 3, goes for $4.50.

Frequently asked questions

Once someone becomes a sought-after personality, their fans often take to social media asking various questions to understand better who they really are. Here are some of the most asked questions about the late baseball legend Carl Furillo.

1. Where was Carl Furillo born?

The former baseball guru was born in Stony Creek Mills, Pennsylvania, the United States of America, on 8 March 1922.

2. Why was Carl Furillo given his nickname, the Reading Rifle?

He was dubbed the Reading Rife following his powerful throwing arm ability.

Where was Carl Furillo buried?
Furillo prior to an MLB game against the St Louis Cardinals on 1 January 1955 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York. Photo: Hy Peskin (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

3. Was Carl Furillo married?

Carl was married to Fern Furillo until his death, as reported by the LA Times. They had two sons, Carl A. Furillo Jr., and Jon M. Furillo, and five grandchildren.

4. How did Furillo die, and where was he?

Although the cause of his death is still somewhat under wraps, some sources speculate that the professional athlete died from an apparent heart attack at his home.

5. When did Furillo professionally debut in the Major Baseball League, MLB?

The professional baseball player debuted on 16 April 1946.

Final word

Carl Furillo, famously remembered as Reading Rifle or Skoonj, is a former renowned baseball player who played in Major League Baseball MLB, spending his entire career with the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1946, when he professionally debuted, to 1960. Carl is still regarded among the most significant right fielders the sport has ever seen.

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Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.