Jerry Schoonmaker
Encyclopedia
Jerald Lee Schoonmaker is a retired American
professional baseball
player. An outfielder
, Schoonmaker was signed to a $30,000 bonus contract by the Washington Senators
of Major League Baseball
in after a standout career at the University of Missouri
. However, his career was hampered by the Bonus Rule
, which compelled him to spend his first two years as a professional on the Washington roster. Then, after his only minor league
season, he sustained a career-ending eye injury in December 1958.
Schoonmaker threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 11 in (1.8 m) and weighed 190 pounds (86.2 kg). A three-sport (baseball
, basketball
and football
) athlete in his hometown of Lebanon, Missouri
, Schoonmaker batted
close to .400 in his junior season at Missouri (when the Tigers won the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
) and captained the baseball team during his senior season. After signing with Washington, he appeared in 20 games for the Senators in 1955
, batting
46 times; then, after spending 1956 serving in the U.S. military, he spent his mandatory second year, 1957
, on the Senator roster, playing in 30 contests but registering only 23 at bats.
In 1958, Washington was finally permitted to send Schoonmaker to the minor leagues for much-needed experience, but he batted only .222 in 139 games, most of them with the Charlotte Hornets
of the Class A Sally League
. That offseason, he underwent surgery after an errant sliver of metal injured his left eye while he was working at a construction job. His vision compromised, he retired from professional baseball at the age of 25.
All told, Schoonmaker registered nine hits
in 69 MLB at bats, including one double
, triple
and one home run
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. An outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
, Schoonmaker was signed to a $30,000 bonus contract by the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
of Major League Baseball
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...
in after a standout career at the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. However, his career was hampered by the Bonus Rule
Bonus Rule
The Bonus Rule was a rule instituted by Major League Baseball in 1947 that prevented teams from assigning certain players to farm clubs. The rule stipulated that when a Major league team signed a player to a contract in excess of $4,000 , the Major League team was required to keep that player on...
, which compelled him to spend his first two years as a professional on the Washington roster. Then, after his only minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
season, he sustained a career-ending eye injury in December 1958.
Schoonmaker threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 in 11 in (1.8 m) and weighed 190 pounds (86.2 kg). A three-sport (baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
) athlete in his hometown of Lebanon, Missouri
Lebanon, Missouri
Lebanon is a city in Laclede County, Missouri, United States. The estimated population in July 2009 was 14,292. The population was 12,155 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Laclede County. The Lebanon Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Laclede County.-Geography:Lebanon is located at...
, Schoonmaker batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
close to .400 in his junior season at Missouri (when the Tigers won the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
) and captained the baseball team during his senior season. After signing with Washington, he appeared in 20 games for the Senators in 1955
1955 Washington Senators season
The 1955 Washington Senators season was a season in American baseball. The team won 53 games, lost 101, and finished in eighth place in the American League...
, batting
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
46 times; then, after spending 1956 serving in the U.S. military, he spent his mandatory second year, 1957
1957 Washington Senators season
The Washington Senators won 55 games, lost 99, and finished in eighth place in the American League. They were managed by Chuck Dressen and Cookie Lavagetto and played home games at Griffith Stadium.- Notable transactions :...
, on the Senator roster, playing in 30 contests but registering only 23 at bats.
In 1958, Washington was finally permitted to send Schoonmaker to the minor leagues for much-needed experience, but he batted only .222 in 139 games, most of them with the Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets (baseball)
The Charlotte Hornets was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club was originally founded in 1901, and lasted in some form until 1973, capturing 11 league titles during its history...
of the Class A Sally League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
. That offseason, he underwent surgery after an errant sliver of metal injured his left eye while he was working at a construction job. His vision compromised, he retired from professional baseball at the age of 25.
All told, Schoonmaker registered nine hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 69 MLB at bats, including one double
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....
, triple
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 one 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...
.
See also
- List of baseball players who went directly to the major leagues