Jim Delsing
Encyclopedia
James Henry Delsing was an American
Major League Baseball
outfielder
who is most remembered for having been the pinch runner for 3 inch-tall Eddie Gaedel
on August 19, . His other claim-to-fame is that he was replaced as Detroit center fielder by Al Kaline
.
His first professional contract was at the age of 16 in 1942 with Green Bay in the Wisconsin State League
; he would spend five seasons in the minor leagues. During his career, which spanned 822 games over 10 seasons, he played for the Chicago White Sox
, New York Yankees
, St. Louis Browns
(whom he was playing for when he pinch ran for Gaedel), Detroit Tigers
, and Kansas City Athletics
. His best year with the bat was in 1953, when he hit .288 with 11 home runs.
His career statistics include a batting average
of .255, with 40 home run
s and 286 runs batted in
.
After he retired he worked 30 years for the St. Louis Review. His son, Jay
, is a professional golfer, and his grandson Taylor Twellman
, was MVP of Major League Soccer
in 2005. He was once quoted as saying, "Maris may have hit 61, but I'm the one who ran for a midget".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
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...
who is most remembered for having been the pinch runner for 3 inch-tall Eddie Gaedel
Eddie Gaedel
Edward Carl Gaedel was an American with dwarfism who became famous for participating in a Major League Baseball game....
on August 19, . His other claim-to-fame is that he was replaced as Detroit center fielder by Al Kaline
Al Kaline
Albert William "Al" Kaline is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Kaline played his entire 22-year baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. Kaline still works for the Tigers as a front office official. Because of his lengthy career and...
.
His first professional contract was at the age of 16 in 1942 with Green Bay in the Wisconsin State League
Wisconsin State League
There was a class D league called the Wisconsin State League which began in 1905. In 1908 it changed its name to the Wisconsin-Illinois League. Another Wisconsin State League began in 1940, shut down for World War II from 1943 through 1945, then operated from 1946 through 1953...
; he would spend five seasons in the minor leagues. During his career, which spanned 822 games over 10 seasons, he 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...
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(whom he was playing for when he pinch ran for Gaedel), 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...
, and 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....
. His best year with the bat was in 1953, when he hit .288 with 11 home runs.
His career statistics include a batting average
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 :...
of .255, with 40 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 and 286 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
.
After he retired he worked 30 years for the St. Louis Review. His son, Jay
Jay Delsing
Jay Delsing is an American professional golfer.Delsing was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He played college golf at UCLA with Corey Pavin, Steve Pate, Tom Pernice, Jr., and Duffy Waldorf. He graduated from UCLA in 1983 with a degree in Economics.At the end of 2007, he led all active PGA Tour...
, is a professional golfer, and his grandson Taylor Twellman
Taylor Twellman
Taylor Twellman is a retired American soccer player who currently works as a television analyst for the Philadelphia Union and ESPN soccer.-Youth and College:Taylor was raised in St...
, was MVP of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
in 2005. He was once quoted as saying, "Maris may have hit 61, but I'm the one who ran for a midget".