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Bill Veeck was known as a showman who pushed the envelope with his promotions and publicity stunts. Perhaps his most famous stunt was the signing of 3’7″ Eddie Gaedel.

The diminutive Gaedel walked in his only Major League plate appearance on August 19, 1951. He was immediately replaced by pinch runner Jim Delsing.

Here Veeck signs a 3×5 card with the specifics of Gaedel’s one-day big league career.

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Imagine the surprise on the face of pitcher Bob Cain when 3’7″ Eddie Gaedel stepped to the plate with bat in hand. Working with a minute strike zone, Cain walked Gaedel on four pitches.

Cain embraced the moment. Later in life Cain sent out Christmas cards much like the autographed one above. When Gaedel died, Cain was the only baseball man at his funeral.

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Mostly remembered for the day he pitched to Eddie Gaedel, Bob Cain was a five-year big league veteran who pitched in 140 Major League games.

Here is a 3×5 card signed by Cain in which he adds the notation, “I pitched to Eddie Gaedel”. A willing signer through the mail, Cain went 37-44 with 8 saves in 140 big league appearances.

He died in 1997.

 

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Frank Saucier could barely lift his arm the day that Eddie Gaedel played his lone Major League game. Nevertheless, Saucier’s name was penciled in batting lead off and playing right field. After an uneventful top of the first, Saucier was due to bat first for the Browns. It was then that Gaedel gained his fame, walking on four pitches from Bob Cain.

Saucier has signed this index card adding the notation, “Frank Saucier, the injured player for whom Eddie Gaedel pinch hit, Aug 18, 1951”. S

Saucier was an outstanding hitter in the minor leagues and owner of the highest batting average in pro baseball when he hit .446 for Wichita Falls in 1949. The minor league success did not translate to the big league level as he played just one year and batted 1-for-14 for the 1951 St. Louis Browns.

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After Gaedel walked Browns’ manager Zack Taylor lifted the 3’7″ player and replaced him with Jim Delsing. Here Delsing has autographed an index card and added the notation, “Pinch Runner for Eddie Gaedel”. Delsing enjoyed a ten-year career as an outfielder for five teams. He passed away in 2006.

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Jim Delsing was involved in another meaningful baseball moment on June 25, 1953. He was the starting centerfielder for the Detroit Tigers. Late in the game he got lifted in favor of 18-year old Al Kaline who made his MLB debut.

Shown here is a 1951 Bowman reprint baseball card autographed by Delsing , the pinch runner for Eddie Gaedel. Delsing’s professional baseball career ran from 1942-1960 with ten seasons in the Major Leagues. His final career big league numbers include a .255 average, 40 homers, and 286 runs batted in.