The Pinch Runner

Jim Delsing was a pro ball player for 10 years. Born in November 1925 from Rudolph, Wisconsin, Delsing began his career in 1948 with the White Sox. In 1949 he played for the New York Yankees who went on to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers to win the world series. Delsing was known for for being a line drive hitter and having a good eye, often walking more than striking out.  

In 1951 Jim Delsing was playing for the St. Louis Browns. The owner of the team Bill Veeck, had always seen baseball as entertainment and brought a carnival-like element to his ball clubs. Veeck would stage morning games during WWII for the workers coming off the graveyard shift. He allowed the fans to determine the teams strategy with voting cards. He even sold mirrors to the fans to shine sun light into hitters eyes, and rigged the fences so they could be moved in and out to his teams advantage.  

On August 18th 1951, in between games of a double header against the Tigers, a seven foot birthday cake was rolled out onto the field to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the American League. As a surprise to the fans 3 foot 7 inch stage performer Eddie Gaedel emerged from the cake wearing a Browns uniform with the number 1/8 and slippers that looked like elf's shoes. After entertaining the crowd it was time for game two of the double header to start. Walking up to the plate in the bottom of the first inning to lead off for the Browns was no other than performer Eddie Gaedel, who had secretly signed a contract with Bill Veeck prior to the game. The umpire overruled the objection by the Tigers head coach Red Rolf and allowed Gaedel to bat.

At bat, Gaedel's strike zone was a whopping one inch to an inch and a half tall. Tigers pitcher Bob Cain walked Gaedel in four straight pitches. After reaching first base Jim Delsing was sent in to pinch run.  Gaedel left the field with a standing ovation and that day Jim Delsing unexpectedly made baseball history, but not in a way anyone expected. After the game Delsing was quoted to have said "As long as they remember you, A lot of people say Maris hit sixty one home runs, but I'm the only one who ran for a midget."

When asked what advice would you give for a youngster who wanted to play baseball someday, Delsing replied, My advice is play, play, play and practice your skills. Learn your weak points, correct them, and just practice and improve all the parts of your game. Become a full player, being able to be a good runner, fielder, hitter, and a good thinker. My best wishes.