Paul Gillespie
Encyclopedia
For the Irish Times columnist, see Paul Gillespie (columnist)
Paul Allen Gillespie (September 18, 1920 - August 11, 1970) was a Major League Baseball
catcher
for the Chicago Cubs
in 1942, 1944, and 1945. A native of Sugar Valley, Georgia
, he stood 6'3" and weighed 195 lbs.
Gillespie is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II
. He may be most well-known for being a key reserve on the last Chicago Cubs team to win a National League
pennant (1945). That was his best season, as he got into 75 games and hit .288 with 3 home runs, 25 runs batted in, and 12 runs scored. He played great defense, making just 2 errors
in 45 appearances at catcher. Playing in three out of seven games of the 1945 World Series
, he went 0-for-6.
Other notable accomplishments for Gillespie include hitting a home run in his first major league at bat
. This took place against the New York Giants
at the Polo Grounds
on September 11, 1942. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats5.shtml He also hit a home run in his final major league at bat: September 29, 1945 against the Pittsburgh Pirates
at Forbes Field
.http://baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats18.shtml Gillespie, along with John Miller (1966–1969) are the only two players in major league history to do both.
His career totals for 89 games include a .283 batting average
(58-for-205), 6 HR, 31 RBI, 17 runs scored
, a .358 on base percentage
, and a .405 slugging percentage. In 56 appearances as a catcher his fielding percentage
was .978, which was exactly the league's average during the time he played.
Gillespie died at the age of 49 in Anniston, Alabama
.
Paul Gillespie (columnist)
Paul Gillespie is a foreign editor and columnist for the newspaper The Irish Times. Gillespie writes a regular World View column on Saturdays focusing on international news, monetary economics and geopolitics.-References:...
Paul Allen Gillespie (September 18, 1920 - August 11, 1970) was a 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...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in 1942, 1944, and 1945. A native of Sugar Valley, Georgia
Sugar Valley, Georgia
Sugar Valley is a very small unincorporated community in Gordon County, Georgia, United States, northwest of Calhoun and east of Horn Mountain Ridge. Georgia Highway 136 runs through the center of the town.-Geography:...
, he stood 6'3" and weighed 195 lbs.
Gillespie is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues 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...
. He may be most well-known for being a key reserve on the last Chicago Cubs team to win a National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
pennant (1945). That was his best season, as he got into 75 games and hit .288 with 3 home runs, 25 runs batted in, and 12 runs scored. He played great defense, making just 2 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in 45 appearances at catcher. Playing in three out of seven games of the 1945 World Series
1945 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 3, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 2:Thursday, October 4, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan-Game 3:Friday, October 5, 1945 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan...
, he went 0-for-6.
Other notable accomplishments for Gillespie include hitting a home run in his first major league at bat
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...
. This took place against the New York Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
at the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
on September 11, 1942. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats5.shtml He also hit a home run in his final major league at bat: September 29, 1945 against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
at Forbes Field
Forbes Field
Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1971. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League franchise...
.http://baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats18.shtml Gillespie, along with John Miller (1966–1969) are the only two players in major league history to do both.
His career totals for 89 games include a .283 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 :...
(58-for-205), 6 HR, 31 RBI, 17 runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, a .358 on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
, and a .405 slugging percentage. In 56 appearances as a catcher his fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
was .978, which was exactly the league's average during the time he played.
Gillespie died at the age of 49 in Anniston, Alabama
Anniston, Alabama
Anniston is a city in Calhoun County in the state of Alabama, United States.As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 24,276. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 23,741...
.