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World's smallest big league baseball player |
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Born: June 8, 1925, Died: June 18, 1961
In 1951 the Browns were the second favorite big league baseball team in St. Louis. That made them last place in the hearts of fans who stayed away in staggering numbers. What the Brownies did have was an owner/operator whose relentless determination and zany approach to promotion would become legendary.
Browns owner/operator Bill Veeck put 3’7”, 65 pound Eddie Gaedel at the plate in an actual major league game on August 19, 1951. Story in a nutshell: Eddie masterfully uses his 1 1/2” strike zone to pound out a four pitch walk, which prompted Veeck to proclaim Gaedel to be “by golly, the best darn midget who ever played big-league ball.”
Veeck’s inspiration had been a long-time notion planted by a friend of his father’s (former President of the Chicago Cubs). The friend was John J. McGraw the manager of the New York Giants who had a club house guy named Eddie Morrow who was not a little person but, nonetheless, described as “gnome-like.” McGraw swore he would someday put Morrow up to bat. Morrow never got his at-bat and Bill Veeck never forgot.
For lack of any other reason, Veeck decided to use this 1951season to celebrate 50 years of American League baseball. He included team sponsor Falstaff Brewery in the promotion. It was a brilliant way to use Falstaff’s network of distributors to help push tickets statewide. Veeck was throwing a birthday party and anyone buying a ticket was invited.
The twenty-six year old Gaedel lived in Chicago and was sent by a sports entertainment agent to Veeck who immediately promised to make him immortal - Eddie was in, fame was his. Then Veeck told him that he would “be up on the roof with a high-powered rifle. If you so much as look as if you’re going to swing, I’m going to shoot you dead.” Welcome to the big leagues.
Between games of a double-hitter the party began. No one loved a three-ring circus more than Bill Veeck who also believed that circus acts and baseball were meant for each other. He put a hand-balancing act on first base, a trampoline artist took second and jugglers on third. Max Patkin coaxed a young lady from the stands who joined him in a jitterbug dance at the mound. At home plate was the team band with Satchel Paige on drums.
An announcement was made that there was a birthday present for Browns coach Zack Taylor - a brand new Brownie. The team brought out a large birthday cake and Eddie emerged, waving his little bat. The attending staff of Falstaff was less than impressed thinking this was it, this was all there was to Veeck’s big promotion.
In the first inning came another announcement. “Number one-eighth, Eddie Gaedel batting for Saucier.“ Out from the dugout came Gaedel, wearing the bat boy’s uniform with “1/8” on the back. He was carrying three toy bats over his shoulder. The umpire took off towards the Browns dugout for an explanation which was deftly provide by coach Taylor who had all of Eddie’s signing papers in proper order with him. Play ball. The pitcher, Bobby Cain was reportedly laughing so hard by the third pitch that he could hardly throw. Catcher Bob Swift played his part while positioning on his knees. Eddie took four straight balls and his name will forever be in the big league record book. 0 for 0, 1 walk, period.
Eddie made $100 for his brief career. Veeck booked him elsewhere after this event and he reportedly cashed in on his instant fame for another $5000 to $10,000. It’s reported that Gaedel’s autograph has fetched more than Babe Ruth’s.
In 1959 when Veeck owned the Chicago White Sox he brought Eddie to Comisky Park for a Martian skit. Eddie and three other spaceman-costumed little people landed by helicopter behind second base and proceeded to capture two White Sox players: Nellie Fox (5'9" ) and Luis Aparacio (5'10" ). The spacemen, led by Gaedel, presented the two with ray guns. Gaedel reportedly says, "I don't want to be taken to your leader; I already know him."
Gaedel at the bat trivia:
Stadium: Sportsman’s Park - St. Louis
Opposing team: Detroit Tigers
Pinch batted for: Frank Saucier
Pinch runner for Gaedel: Jim Delsing
Umpire: Eddie Hurley
Detroit pitcher: Bobby Cain
Detroit catcher: Bob Swift
Stadium Announcer: Bernie Ebert
Final Score: Detroit won 6-2
Attendance: 18,369
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