Mike Palagyi
Encyclopedia
Michael Raymond Palagyi (born July 4, 1917) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
, who pitched for the Washington Senators
. He is in a relatively small group of nearly 1500 players who have appeared in exactly one Major League game. He is currently the oldest of those one-game players. He was born in Conneaut, Ohio
.
as a relief pitcher in a game against the Boston Red Sox
. During the game, he faced three future Hall of Fame members: Ted Williams
, Joe Cronin
and Jimmy Foxx. He hit Foxx with a pitch and walked Williams, Cronin and a fourth batter. Three of those runners would score. The Senators would change pitchers before Palagyi was able to retire a batter. The Senators would lose the game, but Palagyi did not receive credit for the loss in that game. He would never play in another major league game. In an interview for Richard Tellis's book, Once Around the Bases, Palagyi said that he "threw but 2 strikes out of 15 pitches -- a very short big league career".
After leaving baseball, Palagyi served during World War II
. As of 2005, Palagyi still lived in Conneaut.
is infinite. He is one of at least 19 pitchers with an infinite Earned Run Average.
Palagyi and Mark Wagner are the only major-league players born in Conneaut. Both players pitched in exactly one game in relief. However, Wagner appeared in other games as a shortstop.
Palagyi is recognized as one of the oldest living Major League Baseball players.
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...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, who pitched for 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...
. He is in a relatively small group of nearly 1500 players who have appeared in exactly one Major League game. He is currently the oldest of those one-game players. He was born in Conneaut, Ohio
Conneaut, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,485 people, 5,038 households, and 3,410 families residing in the city. The population density was 473.4 people per square mile . There were 5,710 housing units at an average density of 216.5 per square mile...
.
Career
Palagyi, a 6-feet, 2-inch, 185-pound pitcher, made his major league debut on August 18, for the Washington SenatorsMinnesota 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...
as a relief pitcher in a game against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. During the game, he faced three future Hall of Fame members: Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
, Joe Cronin
Joe Cronin
Joseph Edward Cronin was a Major League Baseball shortstop and manager.During a 20-year playing career, he played from 1926–45 for three different teams, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Cronin was a major league manager from 1933–47...
and Jimmy Foxx. He hit Foxx with a pitch and walked Williams, Cronin and a fourth batter. Three of those runners would score. The Senators would change pitchers before Palagyi was able to retire a batter. The Senators would lose the game, but Palagyi did not receive credit for the loss in that game. He would never play in another major league game. In an interview for Richard Tellis's book, Once Around the Bases, Palagyi said that he "threw but 2 strikes out of 15 pitches -- a very short big league career".
After leaving baseball, Palagyi served during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. As of 2005, Palagyi still lived in Conneaut.
Distinctions
Since Palagyi allowed three earned runs without retiring a batter, his career Earned run averageEarned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
is infinite. He is one of at least 19 pitchers with an infinite Earned Run Average.
Palagyi and Mark Wagner are the only major-league players born in Conneaut. Both players pitched in exactly one game in relief. However, Wagner appeared in other games as a shortstop.
Palagyi is recognized as one of the oldest living Major League Baseball players.