- Mar 19, 2006
- 38,658
- 567
- 113
- 75
Game 1, WS 1959, Early Wynn pitching
1979 July - Disco Demolition
Luis Aoaricia and Martion midgets
WHITE SOX FANS...MUST SEE
- Thread starter Old School
- Start date
Game 1, WS 1959, Early Wynn pitching
1979 July - Disco Demolition
Luis Aoaricia and Martion midgets
- Mar 19, 2006
- 38,658
- 567
- 113
- 75
- Mar 19, 2006
- 38,658
- 567
- 113
- 75
- Mar 19, 2006
- 38,658
- 567
- 113
- 75
- Mar 19, 2006
- 38,658
- 567
- 113
- 75
- Mar 19, 2006
- 38,658
- 567
- 113
- 75
Those tuff Chicago boys
Those tuff Chicago boys
Joe Dobson, Marilyn Monroe, Gus Zernial
Those tuff Chicago boys
Those tuff Chicago boys
Joe Dobson, Marilyn Monroe, Gus Zernial
Duane Pillette Story Ball (Pitched in Famous Eddie Gaedel Game)
Duane Pillette was the pitcher for the St. Louis Browns the day Eddie Gaedel was sent to pinch hit. We all know Gaedel, a midget hired by St. Louis owner Bill Veck for one day, walked on four straight pitches and was then lifted for a pinch runner. Pillette pitched for the Browns, who lost the game 6-2, but this story helped create the legend that was Bill Veck. Pillette gives good insight to this unique happening with a story ball signed in black ballpoint on an OML (Selig) ball. The St. Louis starter describes the event as "Clowns did their act, a chimp did his tricks. A midget jumps out of a cake. Fun for all. The Browns come to bat Eddie Gaedel a 3-ft. midget walked to the plate. Pinch-hitting for Saucier. The crowd hooted and howled." Furthermore Pillette concluded the story ball by writing "What a stunt. For one at bat he became the highest paid player for one game. What a day!" This ball was consigned by Pillette himself.
- Mar 19, 2006
- 38,658
- 567
- 113
- 75
Edward Carl "Eddie" Gaedel (June 8, 1925 - June 18, 1961), born in Chicago, Illinois, was an American dwarf who became famous for participating in a Major League Baseball game.
Just 3 feet 7 inches (109 cm) tall and weighing 65 pounds (29.5 kg), Gaedel gained immortality in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday, August 19, 1951. He was secretly signed by the St. Louis Browns and put in uniform (complete with number "1/8" on the back) as a publicity stunt by maverick Browns owner and showman Bill Veeck.
Gaedel popped out of a papier-mache cake between games of a doubleheader to celebrate the American League's 50th anniversary, and as a Falstaff Brewery promotion. Falstaff, and the fans, had been promised a "festival of surprises" by Veeck. Before the second game got underway, the press agreed that the "midget-in-a-cake" appearance had not been up to Veeck's usual promotional standard. Falstaff personnel, who had been promised national publicity for their participation, were particularly dissatisfied. Keeping the surprise he had in store for the second game to himself, Veeck just meekly apologized.
Contents [hide]
1 The plate appearance
2 Baseball reaction
3 Later life
4 Miscellany
5 External links
[edit] The plate appearance
Eddie Gaedel entered the game between the Browns and Detroit Tigers as a pinch-hitter for leadoff batter Frank Saucier. Immediately, umpire Ed Hurley called for Browns manager Zack Taylor. Veeck and Taylor had the foresight to have a copy of Gaedel's contract on hand, as well as a copy of the Browns' active roster, which had room for Gaedel's addition.
The contract had been filed late in the day on Friday, August 17. Veeck knew the league office would summarily approve the contract upon receipt, and that it would not be scrutinized until Monday, August 20. Upon reading the contract, Hurley motioned for Gaedel to take his place in the batter's box. (As a result of Gaedel's appearance, all contracts must now be approved by the Commissioner of Baseball before a player can appear in a game.) The change to that day's St. Louis Browns scorecard, listing Gaedel, went unnoticed by everyone except Harry Mitauer, a writer for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Mitauer's inquiry was shunted aside by the Browns' publicity man.
Eddie Gaedel was under strict orders not to attempt to move the bat off his shoulder. When Gaedel had hinted to Veeck that he might be tempted to swing at a pitch, the owner promised to bring a rifle to the game and shoot him if he tried. Tigers catcher Bob Swift offered his pitcher a piece of strategy: "Keep it low."
With Bob Cain on the mound - laughing at the absurdity that he actually had to pitch to Gaedel - and Bob Swift catching on his knees, Gaedel crouched with bat in hand. In his stance, Gaedel's strike zone measured just an inch and a half. Cain delivered four consecutive balls, all high. Gaedel took his base (stopping twice during his trot to bow to the crowd) and was replaced by pinch-runner Jim Delsing. The fans gave Gaedel a standing ovation.
[edit] Baseball reaction
Veeck had dearly hoped that Delsing would go on to score in a one-run Browns victory, but he ended up stranded at third base and the Tigers went on to win the game 6-2. American League president Will Harridge, saying Veeck was making a mockery of the game, voided Gaedel's contract the next day. Veeck humorously threatened to request an official ruling on whether Yankees shortstop and reigning MVP Phil Rizzuto was a short ballplayer or a tall midget.
Initially, major league baseball struck Gaedel from its record book, as if he had not been in the game. He was listed a year later. Eddie Gaedel finished his major league career with an on-base percentage of 1.000. His total earnings as a pro athlete were $100, the scale price for an AGVA appearance. However, he was able to parlay his baseball fame into more than $17,000 by appearing on several television shows.
[edit] Later life
Gaedel's major league career lasted just the one plate appearance, but Veeck continued to employ Gaedel in non-playing promotions over the years: in 1959, Gaedel and three other dwarves dressed as spacemen were seen presenting "ray guns" to White Sox players Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio at Comiskey Park. (Gaedel reportedly said, "I don't want to be taken to your leader; I already know him.") In 1961, Veeck hired several dwarves, including Gaedel, as vendors, so as not to "block the fans' view" of the game.
Some claim that living down the stunt was difficult for Gaedel. Combative in his private life, he later became a heavy drinker and died of a heart attack after being mugged in Chicago in 1961. He was just 36 years old. The only baseball figure to attend the funeral was Bob Cain, the pitcher who had walked him. Said Cain: "I never even met him, but I felt obligated to go."
Due to scarcity, Gaedel's autograph now sells for more than Babe Ruth's. In his autobiography "Veeck as in Wreck," Bill Veeck commemorated Gaedel as "the best darn midget who ever played big-league ball."
[edit] Miscellany
Gaedel is mentioned in Terry Cashman's song homage to 1950's baseball, "Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey, and the Duke)". His "1/8" jersey is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Due to his size, Gaedel worked as a riveter during World War Two. He was able to crawl inside the wings of airplanes.
Although Gaedel appeared at the plate in a Major League Baseball game, he cannot be credited with an at-bat as he walked. According to official scoring, Gaedel is 0 for 0 in his career.
[edit] External links
Eddie Gaedel at Baseball Library.com
ESPN.com article: "Short on size, long on history"
Box score for the Gaedel game
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Gaedel"
Eddie Gaedel
August 19, 1951 at Sportsman's Park
Hitting & Fielding Notes
NAME POS AB R H RBI
Jerry Priddy 2b 3 1 1 1
Dick Kryhoski 1b 4 1 1 0
George Kell 3b 4 1 3 0
Vic Wertz rf 2 0 0 0
Charlie Keller rf 2 0 1 2
Pat Mullin cf 5 1 3 2
Steve Souchock lf 4 0 1 1
Bob Swift c 4 0 1 0
c-Johnny Lipon pr 0 1 0 0
Joe Ginsberg c 0 0 0 0
Neil Berry ss 4 0 0 0
Bob Cain p 2 1 0 0
Dizzy Trout p 0 0 0 0
Totals 34 6 11 6
NAME POS AB R H RBI
Frank Saucier rf 0 0 0 0
a-Eddie Gaedel ph 0 0 0 0
b-Jim Delsing cf 3 0 1 0
Bobby Young 2b 4 0 1 0
Cliff Mapes cf-rf 5 0 2 0
Sherm Lollar c 5 1 0 0
Ken Wood lf 3 0 2 1
Hank Arft 1b 4 0 0 0
Fred Marsh 3b 4 1 1 0
Bill Jennings ss 4 0 0 0
Duane Pillette p 2 0 0 0
Jim Suchecki p 0 0 0 0
d-Jack Maguire ph 1 0 0 0
Totals 35 2 7 1
a: Bases on balls for Saucier in 1st inning.
b: Pinch ran for Gaedel in 1st inning.
c: Pinch ran for Swift in 8th inning.
d: Grounded out for Suchecki in 9th inning.
Double Plays: Kell-Kryhoski.
Doubles: Mullin 2, Delsing, Wood, Marsh.
Errors: Kell 2, Berry, Young.
Home Run: Priddy.
Left On Base: Detroit 9, St. Louis 11.
Sacririce Hits: Cain, Keller.
Line Score
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Detroit
0 0 0 1 0 1 3 1 0 6 11 3
St. Louis
0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 7 1
Pitching Notes
Name IP H R ER BB SO
Bob Cain 8.1 7 2 1 5 4
Dizzy Trout 0.2 0 0 0 0 1
Name IP H R ER BB SO
Duane Pillette 6.2 9 5 5 4 8
Jim Suchecki 2.1 2 1 1 0 0
Losing Pitching: Pillette.
Passed Ball: Lollar.
Winning Pitcher: Cain.
Game Notes
Attendance: 18,369.
Length of Game: 2:24.
Umpires: HP:Ed Hurley, 1B:Art Passarella, 3B:Joe Paparella.
Eddie Gaedel Major League Debut Box Score
Just 3 feet 7 inches (109 cm) tall and weighing 65 pounds (29.5 kg), Gaedel gained immortality in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday, August 19, 1951. He was secretly signed by the St. Louis Browns and put in uniform (complete with number "1/8" on the back) as a publicity stunt by maverick Browns owner and showman Bill Veeck.
Gaedel popped out of a papier-mache cake between games of a doubleheader to celebrate the American League's 50th anniversary, and as a Falstaff Brewery promotion. Falstaff, and the fans, had been promised a "festival of surprises" by Veeck. Before the second game got underway, the press agreed that the "midget-in-a-cake" appearance had not been up to Veeck's usual promotional standard. Falstaff personnel, who had been promised national publicity for their participation, were particularly dissatisfied. Keeping the surprise he had in store for the second game to himself, Veeck just meekly apologized.
Contents [hide]
1 The plate appearance
2 Baseball reaction
3 Later life
4 Miscellany
5 External links
[edit] The plate appearance
Eddie Gaedel entered the game between the Browns and Detroit Tigers as a pinch-hitter for leadoff batter Frank Saucier. Immediately, umpire Ed Hurley called for Browns manager Zack Taylor. Veeck and Taylor had the foresight to have a copy of Gaedel's contract on hand, as well as a copy of the Browns' active roster, which had room for Gaedel's addition.
The contract had been filed late in the day on Friday, August 17. Veeck knew the league office would summarily approve the contract upon receipt, and that it would not be scrutinized until Monday, August 20. Upon reading the contract, Hurley motioned for Gaedel to take his place in the batter's box. (As a result of Gaedel's appearance, all contracts must now be approved by the Commissioner of Baseball before a player can appear in a game.) The change to that day's St. Louis Browns scorecard, listing Gaedel, went unnoticed by everyone except Harry Mitauer, a writer for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Mitauer's inquiry was shunted aside by the Browns' publicity man.
Eddie Gaedel was under strict orders not to attempt to move the bat off his shoulder. When Gaedel had hinted to Veeck that he might be tempted to swing at a pitch, the owner promised to bring a rifle to the game and shoot him if he tried. Tigers catcher Bob Swift offered his pitcher a piece of strategy: "Keep it low."
With Bob Cain on the mound - laughing at the absurdity that he actually had to pitch to Gaedel - and Bob Swift catching on his knees, Gaedel crouched with bat in hand. In his stance, Gaedel's strike zone measured just an inch and a half. Cain delivered four consecutive balls, all high. Gaedel took his base (stopping twice during his trot to bow to the crowd) and was replaced by pinch-runner Jim Delsing. The fans gave Gaedel a standing ovation.
[edit] Baseball reaction
Veeck had dearly hoped that Delsing would go on to score in a one-run Browns victory, but he ended up stranded at third base and the Tigers went on to win the game 6-2. American League president Will Harridge, saying Veeck was making a mockery of the game, voided Gaedel's contract the next day. Veeck humorously threatened to request an official ruling on whether Yankees shortstop and reigning MVP Phil Rizzuto was a short ballplayer or a tall midget.
Initially, major league baseball struck Gaedel from its record book, as if he had not been in the game. He was listed a year later. Eddie Gaedel finished his major league career with an on-base percentage of 1.000. His total earnings as a pro athlete were $100, the scale price for an AGVA appearance. However, he was able to parlay his baseball fame into more than $17,000 by appearing on several television shows.
[edit] Later life
Gaedel's major league career lasted just the one plate appearance, but Veeck continued to employ Gaedel in non-playing promotions over the years: in 1959, Gaedel and three other dwarves dressed as spacemen were seen presenting "ray guns" to White Sox players Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio at Comiskey Park. (Gaedel reportedly said, "I don't want to be taken to your leader; I already know him.") In 1961, Veeck hired several dwarves, including Gaedel, as vendors, so as not to "block the fans' view" of the game.
Some claim that living down the stunt was difficult for Gaedel. Combative in his private life, he later became a heavy drinker and died of a heart attack after being mugged in Chicago in 1961. He was just 36 years old. The only baseball figure to attend the funeral was Bob Cain, the pitcher who had walked him. Said Cain: "I never even met him, but I felt obligated to go."
Due to scarcity, Gaedel's autograph now sells for more than Babe Ruth's. In his autobiography "Veeck as in Wreck," Bill Veeck commemorated Gaedel as "the best darn midget who ever played big-league ball."
[edit] Miscellany
Gaedel is mentioned in Terry Cashman's song homage to 1950's baseball, "Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey, and the Duke)". His "1/8" jersey is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Due to his size, Gaedel worked as a riveter during World War Two. He was able to crawl inside the wings of airplanes.
Although Gaedel appeared at the plate in a Major League Baseball game, he cannot be credited with an at-bat as he walked. According to official scoring, Gaedel is 0 for 0 in his career.
[edit] External links
Eddie Gaedel at Baseball Library.com
ESPN.com article: "Short on size, long on history"
Box score for the Gaedel game
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Gaedel"
Eddie Gaedel
August 19, 1951 at Sportsman's Park
Hitting & Fielding Notes
NAME POS AB R H RBI
Jerry Priddy 2b 3 1 1 1
Dick Kryhoski 1b 4 1 1 0
George Kell 3b 4 1 3 0
Vic Wertz rf 2 0 0 0
Charlie Keller rf 2 0 1 2
Pat Mullin cf 5 1 3 2
Steve Souchock lf 4 0 1 1
Bob Swift c 4 0 1 0
c-Johnny Lipon pr 0 1 0 0
Joe Ginsberg c 0 0 0 0
Neil Berry ss 4 0 0 0
Bob Cain p 2 1 0 0
Dizzy Trout p 0 0 0 0
Totals 34 6 11 6
NAME POS AB R H RBI
Frank Saucier rf 0 0 0 0
a-Eddie Gaedel ph 0 0 0 0
b-Jim Delsing cf 3 0 1 0
Bobby Young 2b 4 0 1 0
Cliff Mapes cf-rf 5 0 2 0
Sherm Lollar c 5 1 0 0
Ken Wood lf 3 0 2 1
Hank Arft 1b 4 0 0 0
Fred Marsh 3b 4 1 1 0
Bill Jennings ss 4 0 0 0
Duane Pillette p 2 0 0 0
Jim Suchecki p 0 0 0 0
d-Jack Maguire ph 1 0 0 0
Totals 35 2 7 1
a: Bases on balls for Saucier in 1st inning.
b: Pinch ran for Gaedel in 1st inning.
c: Pinch ran for Swift in 8th inning.
d: Grounded out for Suchecki in 9th inning.
Double Plays: Kell-Kryhoski.
Doubles: Mullin 2, Delsing, Wood, Marsh.
Errors: Kell 2, Berry, Young.
Home Run: Priddy.
Left On Base: Detroit 9, St. Louis 11.
Sacririce Hits: Cain, Keller.
Line Score
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Detroit
0 0 0 1 0 1 3 1 0 6 11 3
St. Louis
0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 7 1
Pitching Notes
Name IP H R ER BB SO
Bob Cain 8.1 7 2 1 5 4
Dizzy Trout 0.2 0 0 0 0 1
Name IP H R ER BB SO
Duane Pillette 6.2 9 5 5 4 8
Jim Suchecki 2.1 2 1 1 0 0
Losing Pitching: Pillette.
Passed Ball: Lollar.
Winning Pitcher: Cain.
Game Notes
Attendance: 18,369.
Length of Game: 2:24.
Umpires: HP:Ed Hurley, 1B:Art Passarella, 3B:Joe Paparella.
Eddie Gaedel Major League Debut Box Score
