Albie Pearson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Albie Pearson |
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Pearson in 1959
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: September 12, 1934 Alhambra, California, U.S. |
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| Died: February 21, 2023 (aged 88) La Quinta, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 14, 1958, for the Washington Senators | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 16, 1966, for the California Angels | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .270 | ||
| Home runs | 28 | ||
| Runs batted in | 214 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Albert "Albie" Gregory Pearson (born September 12, 1934 – died February 21, 2023) was an American professional baseball player. He played as a centerfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Albie played for the Washington Senators (1958–59), Baltimore Orioles (1959–60), and Los Angeles/California Angels (1961–66).
Pearson was known for being quite short for a baseball player, standing at 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) (1.65 m) tall. He weighed 140 pounds (64 kg) (64 kg) and played left-handed. He won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1958. Later, he became an All-Star in 1963. After his baseball career, Albie Pearson became a minister and helped start a ranch for children.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Albie Pearson was named after a famous college football player, Albie Booth. He was the only child of his parents, who were also not very tall. His father was 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) and his mother was 5 feet 1 inch (1.55 m).
From a young age, Albie loved baseball. When he was six, he used his mother's pillows to create a pretend baseball field. He imagined hitting a home run to win the World Series against the New York Yankees. He said he felt God told him to "Join my team" during that game.
Pearson was a talented athlete at El Monte High School. He played baseball, football, and basketball, earning many awards. In baseball, he was a pitcher and an outfielder. In his senior year, he had a great pitching record and batted .506. However, scouts didn't show much interest because of his height.
He turned down football scholarships to attend Mt. San Antonio College near his home. But he soon dropped out to sign with the Boston Red Sox in 1953. He realized he was more interested in baseball than his college classes.
Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Albie Pearson signed his first professional baseball contract in 1953. He received two pairs of cleats, a suitcase, and a promise of $225 a month. He was assigned to the San Jose Red Sox in the Class C California League.
Even though he was signed as a pitcher, the team needed outfielders. So, Pearson played in the outfield every day. He started strong, getting eight hits in his first two games. He ended up hitting .334 in his first season. After that, he rarely pitched in his minor league career.
Pearson continued to play well in the minor leagues. He played for teams like the Albany Senators and the Montgomery Rebels. In 1956, he played for the San Francisco Seals and the Oklahoma City Indians. He had a combined batting average of .358 that year. He also won the batting championship in the Texas League.
People noticed his positive attitude and clean lifestyle. A newspaper article from that time said, "The little man doesn't drink or smoke or swear." In 1957, he helped the Seals win the Pacific Coast League title.
Major League Debut and Rookie of the Year
In 1958, the Red Sox traded Pearson to the Washington Senators. He was determined to make a good impression despite his height. He even wrote to the team owner asking to report to spring training early.
Pearson earned a spot as the Senators' starting centerfielder on Opening Day. His first major league hit came on April 19. On July 28, he hit his first major league home run against a future Hall of Famer, Early Wynn.
In 1958, Albie Pearson played 146 games for the Senators. He batted .275 and scored 63 runs. He won both the Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year and the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Awards in the American League (AL).
Moving to Baltimore
Pearson had a tough start to the 1959 season. He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles during the year. With the Orioles, he played as a reserve outfielder. He went back and forth between the minor leagues and the majors in 1959 and 1960.
Joining the Los Angeles Angels
After the 1960 season, Albie Pearson heard that a new team, the Los Angeles Angels, was starting in his home state of California. He wrote to the Angels' general manager, Fred Haney, asking to be picked in the expansion draft. Haney did pick him, as the very last player chosen.
Joining the Angels helped Pearson turn his career around. In the team's first game, he scored the franchise's first run. He became a starting outfielder again. In 1961, he batted .288 with 7 home runs and 92 runs scored.
In 1962, Pearson led the AL with 115 runs scored. He played 160 games, batting .261.
All-Star Season
The 1963 season was Albie Pearson's best. He was chosen for the All-Star Game. He even started the game in centerfield over the famous Mickey Mantle. Pearson had a great year, setting career highs in many areas. He batted .304, which was one of the best averages in the American League that season.
Later Years and Retirement
In 1964, Pearson's batting average dropped, and he lost his starting job. He played mostly as a pinch-hitter and pinch-runner. In 1965, he shared playing time in right field and batted .278.
However, a back injury in 1966 limited him to only two games. He decided to retire after that season. He felt it was time to move on, partly due to his injury and his faith.
In his nine-year major league career, Albie Pearson batted .270. He hit 28 home runs and had 214 runs batted in.
His Stature
Albie Pearson was the shortest player in Major League Baseball during his career. He stood at 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) tall and weighed 140 pounds (64 kg). His small size made him a favorite among children, as he was closer to their height.
He joked about his height, saying he could never look an umpire in the eye. He also said he often signed autographs for kids who were taller than him. But he always believed that once he stepped up to bat, he was as good as anyone else.
Life After Baseball
After retiring from baseball, Albie Pearson became very involved in Christian ministries. He became an ordained minister in 1972. He had taught Sunday school even before that.
In 1997, Albie and his wife, Helen, sold their home to start Father's Heart Ranch. This ranch is in Desert Hot Springs, California. It is an 11-acre (4.5 ha) home for abused, neglected, and abandoned boys aged 6 to 12. The ranch helps these boys and even has its own football and baseball teams.
Pearson said that the boys at the ranch respond wonderfully to love. He believed that when they feel loved and know they have a purpose, they change in amazing ways. In 2011, his foundation was also helping to provide food for thousands of children in Zambia whose parents had died.
Albie Pearson also enjoyed golf and even acted in some television shows. He released a record with Capitol Records in 1961. He also worked as a disc jockey for a time.
Albie Pearson passed away on February 21, 2023, in La Quinta, California, at the age of 88.
See Also
- List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise
Images for kids
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Pearson in 1959
