# Eddie Gaedel question (3'7"-tall baseball player) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 22, 2017, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931 "2017-09-22T01:26:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/1 "2017-09-22T01:26:50Z")
Long-time baseball fans have certainly heard the story of [Eddie Gaedel](https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/fa5574c8), a 3’7" midget who pinch hit for the St. Louis Browns in 1951, drawing a walk in his only plate appearance. He signed a contract the same weekend that he entered his game, meaning that the American League had not had time to review his contract. The league voided his contract shortly afterward, claiming that he was making a mockery of the game. Nowadays, the league reviews contracts in a more expedient manner. My question is, what would prevent a similar stunt from happening again today? Did the league impose a minimum height for its players? Or is it just not worth a team’s while to sign a one-dimensional player whose only function would be to draw a base on balls in a pinch-hitting appearance? In my opinion, it would be silly to use a roster spot and pay such a player a major league salary, but some executive may disagree. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/2 "2017-09-22T01:38:40Z")
I believe the “mockery of the game” would still apply. Just a guess here but I doubt Bill Veeck (as in wreck) ever expected Eddie to last beyond the one at-bat. It was a stunt, pure and simple. Just an aside, from the link. > [@](#): > > On June 18, 1961 Gaedel, unemployed, got drunk at a bowling alley. As usual, he became combative with either some fellow patrons or others he came across on his route home. He was followed home and beaten. His mother found him lying in bed, dead. He had bruises about his knees and on the left side of his face. An inquest discovered that he had a heart attack, which was obviously brought on by the beating. He had just turned 36 years old. **Pitcher Bob Cain, saying he felt obligated, was the only person from baseball to attend the funeral.** Gaedel was interred at Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum in Cook County, Illinois. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/3 "2017-09-22T01:47:55Z")
I’m pretty sure the commissioner would simply not approve the contract. Minnie Minoso broke into Major League baseball in 1949. He played until 1964 before moving to the Mexican League. He came back as coach for the White Sox and played in a game or two in 1976 getting a hit after age 50. He played in another game in 1980 becoming the second player to appear in 5 different decades. In 1990, the White Sox signed him to a contract in an attempt to get him to be the only player to ever appear in 6 decades. He would have been 64 and 10 months or so. Commisioner Vincent wouldn’t approve the contract. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/4 "2017-09-22T01:59:50Z")
If such a player were approved, and if he really did draw a walk every at-bat, he would be the greatest batter in the entire history of the game, past and future. Absolutely that’d be worth it, especially in the AL where you could put him on DH and not care about his lack of fielding. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/5 "2017-09-22T02:14:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > If such a player were approved, and if he really did draw a walk every at-bat, he would be the greatest batter in the entire history of the game, past and future. Absolutely that’d be worth it, especially in the AL where you could put him on DH and not care about his lack of fielding. Only once per game. There’s no way he could run the bases effectively. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/6 "2017-09-22T02:16:31Z")
If his being 3’7" was a mockery of the game, why wasn’t Randy Johnson a mockery of the game? Or is there a minimum height for playing baseball? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/7 "2017-09-22T02:50:23Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > If his being 3’7" was a mockery of the game, why wasn’t Randy Johnson a mockery of the game? Or is there a minimum height for playing baseball? Gaedal couldn’t hit, couldn’t run, couldn’t field. A single walk and he’s out for a pinch-runner. Randy Johnson was as complete a player as is expected of a pitcher. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/8 "2017-09-22T02:52:03Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > If his being 3’7" was a mockery of the game, why wasn’t Randy Johnson a mockery of the game? Or is there a minimum height for playing baseball? Because it was an obvious publicity stunt. He had never played baseball in his life at any pro level before that one time. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/9 "2017-09-22T03:10:58Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Only once per game. There’s no way he could run the bases effectively. You bring him in when the bases are loaded. If he’s good for a run every plate appearance, that’s not too shabby, even if it’s only one PA max per game. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/10 "2017-09-22T03:42:57Z")
Not a publicity stunt per se, but Charlie O. Finley’s A’s had [Herb Washington](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/washihe01.shtml), a “designated runner,” in 1974 and 1975. Washington was a star sprinter, and had been a champion at the University of Michigan, and held several world records. He hadn’t played baseball since high school, and Finley didn’t expect him to do anything except run, so he was truly a one-dimensional player. He played in 105 games, and wound up stealing 31 bases, but he never had an official plate appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/11 "2017-09-22T05:25:36Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Only once per game. There’s no way he could run the bases effectively. I’d have loved to see someone try to tag him out but he just tumbles between his legs to get on base safely. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/12 "2017-09-22T05:35:28Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > If his being 3’7" was a mockery of the game, why wasn’t Randy Johnson a mockery of the game? Or is there a minimum height for playing baseball? You’re kidding, right? Johnson is as far from being a mockery as you can get. Five time Cy Young award winner, World Series co-MVP, oldest pitcher to throw a perfect game, Hall of Famer. 22 years in the majors. Holds the career record for strikeouts by a southpaw. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/13 "2017-09-22T13:26:25Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > You bring him in when the bases are loaded. If he’s good for a run every plate appearance, that’s not too shabby, even if it’s only one PA max per game. Even if it was a guaranteed walk, that means you also lose a starting player for the rest of the game, so you need a replacement fielder/pinch runner ready to go. Are bases-loaded situations really common enough, and the guaranteed run vs a regular player at bat valuable enough, to give up a dedicated roster spot plus loss of a starter for half the game? And, I wonder how guaranteed the walk is. Surely, some pitchers, throwing “fast” balls (without trying to get speed at all) could hit the shorter target 3 out of 7 times a moderate amount of time? It’s not like the Gaedel is going to be able to hit even the juiciest home-run-derby meatball of a pitch (contact, maybe, but with all the fielders on the infield, no chance of a base hit). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/14 "2017-09-22T14:17:39Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > It’s not like the Gaedel is going to be able to hit even the juiciest home-run-derby meatball of a pitch (contact, maybe, but with all the fielders on the infield, no chance of a base hit). Especially with the [mighty piece of lumber](http://www.blooddirtandangels.com/wp-content/uploads/ao_blood/2012/04/Gaedel.jpg) he wields. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/15 "2017-09-22T17:08:18Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Even if it was a guaranteed walk, that means you also lose a starting player for the rest of the game, so you need a replacement fielder/pinch runner ready to go. Are bases-loaded situations really common enough, and the guaranteed run vs a regular player at bat valuable enough, to give up a dedicated roster spot plus loss of a starter for half the game? > > And, I wonder how guaranteed the walk is. Surely, some pitchers, throwing “fast” balls (without trying to get speed at all) could hit the shorter target 3 out of 7 times a moderate amount of time? It’s not like the Gaedel is going to be able to hit even the juiciest home-run-derby meatball of a pitch (contact, maybe, but with all the fielders on the infield, no chance of a base hit). I recall reading somewhere (maybe it was Veeck’s memoir, maybe somewhere else) that for the first couple of pitches Cain was actually trying to pitch to Gaedel. As **running coach** ’s photo shows, catcher Bob Cerf was on his knees, to get low enough to catch a Gaedel-size strike. Cain did end up throwing the ball way over Gaedel’s head. And **Ponch8’s** cite suggests that a pitcher could throw a strike against him. > [@](#): > > On September 6, a few weeks after his initial at-bat, Gaedel again strode to the plate for a fee during an amateur game in Sycamore, Illinois. He took two quick called strikes, berating the umpire for both. The pitcher balked and threw another pitch which Gaedel swung at and missed. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/16 "2017-09-22T20:12:37Z")
Baseball roster rules are substantially more complex now than they were in 1951. Even if the Commissioner of Baseball was a big fan of people with dwarfism, a roster spot is a valuable resource. A team can have only 40 people in the organization permitted to play major league ball (and that includes anyone on the short disabled lists) so to sign an Eddie Gaedel would require releasing a player of actual value though the expenditure of the 40-man-roster spot. A major league pitcher could certainly throw strikes to a dwarf if he wasn’t laughing really hard. There’s nothing automatic about this out. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/17 "2017-09-22T20:12:49Z")
Again working off of the probably-unfounded assumption that he’d always walk, I’m not so sure that he actually would need a pinch-runner. Once he’s on base, one of a few things would happen: If the next batter also walks, he advances just like anyone else. If the next batter gets a homer, he scores just like anyone else. If the next batter hits an easily-caught fly or strikes out, then it doesn’t matter what Gaedel does. Only if the next batter gets a base hit would he need to run, and then you’re still basically advancing everyone ahead of him by two bases at the cost of one out. Plus, of course, if he really would be a guaranteed walk, then it wouldn’t be too hard to fill an entire lineup with players that short, and just keep on walking in runs for as long as you’d like. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/18 "2017-09-22T21:21:55Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Plus, of course, if he really would be a guaranteed walk, then it wouldn’t be too hard to fill an entire lineup with players that short, and just keep on walking in runs for as long as you’d like. And this argument should end the matter. It’s always reported that the pitcher walked him on four pitches but the whole thing was a big joke and the pitcher was probably being a good sport and playing along. I read one account where he actually rolled one of the balls to the catcher for laughs. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/19 "2017-09-22T21:25:20Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Plus, of course, if he really would be a guaranteed walk, then it wouldn’t be too hard to fill an entire lineup with players that short, and just keep on walking in runs for as long as you’d like. That might work for away games. You bat first and just keep walking in runs until the other side runs out of pitchers. But what about home games? An entire lineup of players under 4’ tall isn’t going to be much on defense and you have to take the field first at home. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931/20 "2017-09-22T21:44:03Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > . . . to sign an Eddie Gaedel would require releasing a \*\*player of actual value \*\* . . . Did the Browns have any of those? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eddie-gaedel-question-37-tall-baseball-player/796931.md?page=2)