Gus Zernial
Encyclopedia
Gus Edward Zernial was a Major League Baseball
left-fielder and right-handed batter who played for the Chicago White Sox
(1949–51), Philadelphia Athletics
(1951–54), Kansas City Athletics
(1955–57) and Detroit Tigers
(1958–59). He was billed as the "New Joe DiMaggio
."
Nicknamed "Ozark Ike
" after the popular comic strip character, Zernial was one of the most feared sluggers in the 1950s, joining hall of famers Mickey Mantle
, Yogi Berra
and Larry Doby
in the American League
, for most home run
s in the decade.
After he hit 29 homers for the White Sox in , Zernial was sent to the Athletics in a trade that brought Minnie Miñoso to Chicago in . That year Zernial led the league in home runs (33), runs batted in (129), extra base hit
s (68), and 17 assists
in the outfield. In he hit 29 homers with 100 RBI, 42 and 108 in .
Zernial was the first Major Leaguer to hit four home runs in the month of October during the regular season, which he accomplished during a doubleheader on October 1, 1950. In 1985, Ron Kittle
would become the second player to do this.
Zernial and Al Zarilla
and teamed up in April to become the only players whose last names started with "Z" to play together in the same outfield. Zernial and Zarilla and played left and right field, respectively, as part of a White Sox outfield unit in four games before Zernial was traded to the Philadelphia A's at the end of April.
An aggressive fielder, Zernial twice broke his collarbone while making a diving catch (1949 and 1954). He finished his career in Detroit, primarily as a pinch hitter, hitting .323 with 10 home runs in his new role.
Gus Zernial was a career .265 hitter (1093-for-4131) with 237 home runs, 776 RBI, 572 runs, 159 doubles
, 22 triples
, and 15 stolen base
s in 1234 games.
Zernial is featured in one of the most unusual baseball cards of all-time. His 1952 Topps
card shows Zernial holding a bat that has five baseballs attached to it.
Before being called up to the major leagues, Zernial played in the Pacific Coast League
, the highly successful minor league circuit. In the HBO series When It Was a Game, Zernial states that he took a pay cut to come to the majors.
Zernial has the second most home runs of all time among players whose last name begins with the letter Z. His 237 are second only to Todd Zeile
who finished his career with 253.
Zernial was diagnosed with cancer in 1990.
Mr. Zernial died at a Fresno hospice care center from the effects of congestive heart failure, said his daughter, Lisa Pearlstein.
"When my dad passed away he had his entire family around him," Pearlstein said. "For the past year he'd been in and out of the hospital quite a bit. But he fought the whole way."
When the Oakland Athletics played the Philadelphia Phillies
for the first time in interleague play in June 2003
at Veterans Stadium
, the Phillies invited former-Philadelphia A's Eddie Joost
and Zernial to the games and recognized them prior to the first game.
Zernial recently served as a good-will ambassador with the Fresno Grizzlies
(SF Giants PCL affiliate).
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
left-fielder and right-handed batter who played for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(1949–51), Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1951–54), Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1955–57) and Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1958–59). He was billed as the "New Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
."
Nicknamed "Ozark Ike
Ozark Ike
Ozark Ike was a newspaper comic strip about dumb but likable Ozark Ike McBatt, a youth from a rural area in the mountains. The strip was created by Rufus A. Gotto while he was serving in the Navy during World War II in Washington, D.C...
" after the popular comic strip character, Zernial was one of the most feared sluggers in the 1950s, joining hall of famers Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
, Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
and Larry Doby
Larry Doby
Lawrence Eugene "Larry" Doby was an American professional baseball player in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball....
in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, for most home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in the decade.
After he hit 29 homers for the White Sox in , Zernial was sent to the Athletics in a trade that brought Minnie Miñoso to Chicago in . That year Zernial led the league in home runs (33), runs batted in (129), extra base hit
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
s (68), and 17 assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
in the outfield. In he hit 29 homers with 100 RBI, 42 and 108 in .
Zernial was the first Major Leaguer to hit four home runs in the month of October during the regular season, which he accomplished during a doubleheader on October 1, 1950. In 1985, Ron Kittle
Ron Kittle
Ronald Dale Kittle is a former left fielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball who was known mostly for his home run power, being named the 1983 AL Rookie of the Year...
would become the second player to do this.
Zernial and Al Zarilla
Al Zarilla
Allen Lee Zarilla was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Browns , Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox . Zarilla batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
and teamed up in April to become the only players whose last names started with "Z" to play together in the same outfield. Zernial and Zarilla and played left and right field, respectively, as part of a White Sox outfield unit in four games before Zernial was traded to the Philadelphia A's at the end of April.
An aggressive fielder, Zernial twice broke his collarbone while making a diving catch (1949 and 1954). He finished his career in Detroit, primarily as a pinch hitter, hitting .323 with 10 home runs in his new role.
Gus Zernial was a career .265 hitter (1093-for-4131) with 237 home runs, 776 RBI, 572 runs, 159 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 22 triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and 15 stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s in 1234 games.
Zernial is featured in one of the most unusual baseball cards of all-time. His 1952 Topps
Topps
The Topps Company, Inc., manufactures chewing gum, candy and collectibles. Based in New York, New York, Topps is best known as a leading producer of baseball cards, football cards, basketball cards, hockey cards and other sports and non-sports themed trading cards.-Company history:Topps itself was...
card shows Zernial holding a bat that has five baseballs attached to it.
Before being called up to the major leagues, Zernial played in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
, the highly successful minor league circuit. In the HBO series When It Was a Game, Zernial states that he took a pay cut to come to the majors.
Zernial has the second most home runs of all time among players whose last name begins with the letter Z. His 237 are second only to Todd Zeile
Todd Zeile
Todd Edward Zeile is a former catcher, third baseman, and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1989 to . After graduating from UCLA, where he played as a catcher, Zeile played for 11 Major League teams during his career: the St...
who finished his career with 253.
Zernial was diagnosed with cancer in 1990.
Mr. Zernial died at a Fresno hospice care center from the effects of congestive heart failure, said his daughter, Lisa Pearlstein.
"When my dad passed away he had his entire family around him," Pearlstein said. "For the past year he'd been in and out of the hospital quite a bit. But he fought the whole way."
When the Oakland Athletics played the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for the first time in interleague play in June 2003
2003 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies season was the 121st season in the history of the franchise. The Phillies finished in third-place in the National League East, 15 games behind the Atlanta Braves, and five games behind the 2003 World Series champion Florida Marlins, who were the NL's wild-card winner...
at Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
, the Phillies invited former-Philadelphia A's Eddie Joost
Eddie Joost
Edwin David Joost was a shortstop and manager in American Major League Baseball. In 1954, Joost became the third and last manager in the 54-year history of the Philadelphia Athletics. Under Joost, the A's finished last in the American League and lost over 100 games...
and Zernial to the games and recognized them prior to the first game.
Zernial recently served as a good-will ambassador with the Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
(SF Giants PCL affiliate).
See also
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- List of Major League Baseball home run champions
- List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
