answersLogoWhite

0

On August 19, 1951, at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis the St. Louis Browns were playing a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.

In between games a 3 foot 7 inch, 65 pound midget named Eddie Gaedel jumped out of a 7 foot cake wearing a St. Louis Browns uniform with the number 1/8 as part of a promotional stunt to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the American League and the Falstaff Brewing Company, the radio sponsor of the Browns.

The story does not end here, in the bottom of the first inning Eddie Gaedel was sent in to pinch hit for Frank Saucier and after much debate the Browns manager produced a contract that was signed and filed two days earlier, but since it was a weekend the contract was not yet reviewed and voided by the league before the game, Eddie Gaedel was allowed to play.

The mighty Eddie Gaedel, the world's smallest baseball player, stepped up to bat, with a toy bat, and crouched, leaving a monsterous 1 1/2 inch strike zone.

Bob Cain was on the mound for the Detroit Tigers and after a laughing fit, got down to business and pitched to Eddie Gaedel.

  • Pitch 1: Ball - high

  • Pitch 2: Ball - high

  • Pitch 3: Ball - high

  • Pitch 4: Ball - high

The world's smallest baseball player walked on four straight pitches in his first and only at bat in his first and only baseball game.

After reaching base Jim Delsing was sent in as a pinch runner, but the Browns lost the game anyways.

After the stunt Major League Baseball made it mandatory that a contract must be approved by the league before the player can play.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?