Eddie Gaedel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eddie Gaedel |
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Gaedel batting in August 1951,
in his only plate appearance in baseball |
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| Pinch hitter | |||
| Born: June 8, 1925 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Died: June 18, 1961 (aged 36) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 19, 1951, for the St. Louis Browns | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| August 19, 1951, for the St. Louis Browns | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| On-base percentage | 1.000 | ||
| Batting average | – | ||
| Plate appearances | 1 | ||
| Base on balls | 1 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Edward Carl Gaedel (June 8, 1925 – June 18, 1961) was a famous baseball player. He is known for being the shortest person to ever play in a Major League Baseball game.
Gaedel became famous on August 19, 1951. He played in the second game of a St. Louis Browns doubleheader. He weighed about 27 kg (60 lb) and stood 109 cm (3 ft 7 in) tall. This made him the shortest player in Major League history.
He only had one turn at bat. He was given a walk after four pitches. Then, a pinch-runner took his place at first base. His special uniform, with the number "1⁄8", is now in the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck later wrote about Gaedel. He said Gaedel was "the best darn midget who ever played big-league ball. He was also the only one."
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Early Life of Eddie Gaedel
Edward Carl Gaedele (Gaedel) was born in Cook County, Illinois, on June 8, 1925. His father, Carl Gaedele, was an immigrant from Lithuania. He worked as a department store manager and parking lot checker. His mother, Helen, was a homemaker. The family lived in Chicago.
Gaedel's Unique Appearance
Before baseball, Gaedel worked as a riveter during World War II. He was small enough to crawl inside airplane wings. He was also a professional performer. He belonged to the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). After the war, he worked for Mercury Records in 1946. He was a mascot called the "Mercury Man." He wore a winged hat to promote music.
How Bill Veeck Found Gaedel
Browns' owner Bill Veeck loved putting on shows and publicity stunts. He found Gaedel through a booking agency. Veeck secretly signed Gaedel to the team. He even gave him a uniform with the number "1⁄8". This uniform actually belonged to William DeWitt, Jr., who was a 9-year-old batboy for the Browns at the time.
Gaedel first appeared from a papier-mache cake. This happened between games of a doubleheader at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. It was part of the American League's 50th anniversary celebration. It was also a promotion for Falstaff Beer. Veeck had promised fans a "festival of surprises."
The Famous At-Bat
On August 19, 1951, Gaedel played in the second game. It was between the Browns and the Detroit Tigers. He came in during the first inning as a pinch-hitter for Frank Saucier. The umpire Ed Hurley immediately called for Browns manager Zack Taylor.
Veeck and Taylor were ready. They had Gaedel's contract and the team roster. The contract had been filed just two days before. Veeck knew the league office would approve it quickly. The umpire then let Gaedel go to the batter's box. (Now, all contracts must be approved by the Commissioner of Baseball before a player can play.)
Gaedel's teammates didn't even know he would play until he stepped up. Veeck had told Gaedel not to swing the bat. He even joked that he had a $1 million insurance policy on Gaedel. He said he would be on the stadium roof with a rifle if Gaedel tried to swing! Veeck had taught Gaedel to crouch low. This would make his strike zone very small, only about 3.8 cm (1 1/2 in) high. But Gaedel stood in a more normal batting pose.
Bob Cain was the pitcher for the Tigers. He was laughing at the strange situation. Catcher Bob Swift caught on his knees. Cain threw four consecutive balls. All of them were high. Gaedel walked to first base. He stopped twice to bow to the cheering crowd. Then, Jim Delsing came in as a pinch-runner. The 18,369 fans gave Gaedel a standing ovation.
Baseball's Reaction to Gaedel
Veeck hoped Delsing would score, but he didn't. The Tigers won the game 6–2. The next day, American League president Will Harridge was upset. He said Veeck was making fun of the game. He canceled Gaedel's contract.
Veeck joked back. He threatened to ask if Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto, who was 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) tall, was a short player or a tall dwarf.
At first, Major League Baseball removed Gaedel from its records. But a year later, he was put back in. Eddie Gaedel finished his career with a perfect on-base percentage of 1.000. He earned $100 for his baseball appearance. Later, he made over $17,000 by appearing on TV shows.
Later Life and Legacy
Gaedel's Major League career was just one time at bat. But when Veeck bought the White Sox in 1959, Gaedel found work at the ballpark again. On May 26, 1959, a helicopter landed at Comiskey Park. Gaedel and three other dwarfs dressed as spacemen came out. They gave "ray guns" to two White Sox players.
On April 19, 1961, Veeck hired several dwarfs, including Gaedel, as vendors. He said it was because fans complained about blocked views.
Gaedel's Death
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On June 18, 1961, Gaedel was 36 years old and unemployed. He was at a bowling alley in Chicago. After an incident, his mother found him dead in his bed. A coroner's inquest found that he had a heart attack. Bob Cain, the pitcher who faced Gaedel, was the only Major League Baseball person at the funeral. Gaedel was buried at Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery in Illinois. His tombstone shows his family name might have been Gaedele.
Gaedel's Lasting Impact
Gaedel is one of only five Major League players who got a walk in their only time at bat and never played in the field. The others were Dutch Schirick (1914), Bill Batsch (1916), Joe Cobb (1918), and Kevin Melillo (2007). All five players were pinch-hitters for pitchers. Their teams all lost those games.
Gaedel's one-day career has been featured on ESPN and MLB Network. He is mentioned in the song "Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey, and the Duke)" by Terry Cashman. His at-bat was named the No. 1 "Unusual and Unforgettable Moment" in baseball history by the Sporting News in 1999.
In 1994, Bill Veeck's son, Mike Veeck, owned the minor league St. Paul Saints team. He brought Bob Cain to the park. Cain "reenacted" the at-bat by pitching to the 10-year-old son of the Saints manager.
Because it is so rare, Gaedel's autograph now sells for more than Babe Ruth's.
Gaedel's grandnephew, Kyle Gaedele, was chosen in the 2011 MLB Draft. He played minor league baseball up to the Double-A level.
