Gaedel 2009

    

  

 
  

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

 


  
 

    

Founded in 1998, Gaedel is going into its 12th season.  Steve Lorch is the defending champ, his second title.

Gaedel expanded to 12 teams for the 2001 season and owners competed in three divisions (Pete Gray, Moonlight Graham, Bert Shepard) with names in the Gaedel theme.  The loop contracted to 10 teams for the 2009 campaign.

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.

 

  

  
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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.