Gaedel 2008

    

  

 
  

In the Hall of Fame
Eddie Gaedel's uniform in the Hall of Fame

 


  
 

    

Founded in 1998, Gaedel is going into its 11th season.  Tim Tasker is the defending champ (his 5th title in 10 years).

Gaedel expanded to 12 teams for the 2001 season and owners now compete in three divisions (Pete Gray, Moonlight Graham, Bert Shepard) with names in the Gaedel theme.

It's a perpetual league with teams allowed to protect 13 players (plus 4 rookies) from year to year.  

ESPN story on Gaedel. Aug 2001
Short on size, long on history 
  

         Eddie Gaedel

Eddie Gaedel  Edward Carl Gaedel (guh-DELL) was the centrepiece of  Bill Veeck's (Veeck as in Wreck he would say) best remembered stunt.

It was August 19th, 1951.  The second game of a twinbill -- St. Louis Browns against Detroit Tigers.

 

  

  
NL Results to 1998 Final Stats 1999-2007
NL Results to 1998 Results, 1998-2007
NL Results to 1998 Leaders, 1998-2007
 NL Results to 1998 1st Round Picks
NL Leaders to 1998 Managers/Rules
NL Managers/Rules Draft 2001-2008
NL Rosters Rosters
NL Supplementary Drafts Supplemental Drafts
NL Trades Trades
NL Info from 1998 Gaedel Archives 1998-2007
  
      Jay-Dell Mah 

 


Bottom of the first, the Browns sent up a pinch hitter -- a 26 year old rookie -- 3' 7", 65 pound Eddie Gaedel.  Eddie -- in a borrowed uniform (made for the son of one of the owners) -- and a toy bat, faced Detroit lefthander Bob Cain.  Cain threw four pitches to the crouching Gaedel.  Four balls. 

It's said that Veeck had told Gaedel that he had a sniper in the stands and he would fire if Eddie swung at a pitch.  Gaedel was replaced by a pinch runnner. It was his only appearance in the major leagues.

Gaedel died in 1961. 

The uniform -- number 1/8 -- is in the Hall of Fame.