Chet Trail facts for kids

Chester Borner Trail was born on January 19, 1944. He is an American former professional baseball player and a clergyman. He played as an infielder, which means he played positions like second baseman or shortstop. Chet is known as a "phantom ballplayer." This means he was on a Major League Baseball (MLB) team's official list but never actually played in a game. He was even eligible for the New York Yankees team during the 1964 World Series.

Chet Trail's Early Life and Baseball Journey

Chet Trail grew up in Toledo, Ohio. He went to Libbey High School where he was a fantastic athlete. He was a star in baseball, basketball, and tennis. After high school, Ohio State University wanted him to play college basketball. However, Chet chose to go to Bowling Green State University instead. They offered him a chance to play college baseball, which he loved.

Joining the New York Yankees

Chet was very good at baseball, and the New York Yankees started watching him. He was about 6 feet tall. Chet thought he might be too short for a professional basketball career. So, on July 1, 1962, he signed with the Yankees. He received a special payment called a "$43,000 signing bonus." This was part of a rule called the "bonus rule." This rule meant that young players who received a large bonus had to stay on the main team's roster for a certain time.

Playing in the Minor Leagues

In 1963, Chet started his professional baseball journey. He played for the Fort Lauderdale Yankees, a minor league team. He had a .260 batting average that year. A batting average shows how often a player gets a hit.

The next year, in 1964, Chet played for the Greensboro Yankees. His batting average was .257. He also played in the Florida Instructional League. During this time, the Yankees put Chet on their list of players who could play in the 1964 World Series. Even though he was on the list, he did not get to play in any games. The "bonus rule" allowed him to play for a minor league team while still being counted as part of the main Yankees team.

Moving Up and Moving On

In 1965, Chet returned to Greensboro. He had a great season, hitting .276. He also hit 22 home runs and had 89 runs batted in (RBIs). RBIs mean he helped his teammates score runs.

In 1966, Chet started with the Toledo Mud Hens. This was a higher-level minor league team. But he found it hard to get a regular spot in the starting lineup. So, he was sent back to Greensboro.

Chet continued to play in the minor leagues in 1967. He played for the Binghamton Triplets and the Syracuse Chiefs. On December 15, 1967, the Yankees traded Chet to the Baltimore Orioles. He retired from baseball after the 1969 season. He never played in a major league game.

The Unique "Phantom Ballplayer" Status

Chet Trail is the only player known to have been on a World Series eligibility list without ever playing in a major league game. There have been a few other unique cases in baseball history. For example, some players have made their first major league appearance in the postseason or even in the World Series itself. But Chet's situation is special because he was eligible for the biggest series in baseball but never played in any major league game at all.

Chet Trail's Life After Baseball

Chet Trail's father, Eddie, also played baseball. He played in the Ohio-Indiana Negro League.

Chet was one of ten children in his family. While he was playing baseball, he also took classes at Bowling Green State University. After he stopped playing baseball, Chet worked in insurance and investments. He also coached basketball at Sylvania Southview High School. Later in his life, Chet became a pastor and then a bishop. He worked at Grace Temple Church of God in Christ in Toledo and Greater St. James Church of God in Christ in Fremont, Ohio.

Chet and his wife, Donna, have three daughters.

See also

• Phantom ballplayer