Gaedel 2023

Eddie Gaedel
Eddie Gaedel
3'7", 65 lbs

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

 

Vlad Guerrero Jr.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The second game of a twinbill -- St. Louis Browns against Detroit Tigers. 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 left-hander 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 runner. It was his only appearance in the major leagues.

Gaedel died in 1961. 

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

Founded in 1998, Gaedel is going into its 26th season. 

Michael & Jon's RMT Taxsavers led the league with 98 regular season win in 2021, but dropped the playoff final to Jay-Dell Mah's Ebbets Fielders in a seven-game championship final. Fielders rebounded from a 3-1 game deficit in the semi-finals to take three in a row to win a spot in the final.

The Taxsavers were in the final again in 2022 but lost out to pennant winning Victor Kerr's Victorious Nine.

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 15 players (plus 4 rookies) from year to year.

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

August 19, 1951

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.