Eddie Gaedel -- Midget ballplayer (1 Viewer)

[DaVinci]

If you're the visiting team, why not have all midgets in your starting lineup? They'd just walk in run after run like a midget conga line.

 

[apalmer]

Let's say it was a speed demon guy that can't hit on his own. That could result in a player that has more runs and stolen bases then hits and walks. Would be awesome.

Matt Alexander. From 1978 to 1981 with the Pirates, he had 27 at bats, 12 hits, 0 walks, 30 SB and 36 Runs scored (1 of which was scored running backwards from third). Before that he played for Charlie Finley's A's for 3 years: 12 hits, 5 walks, 56 runs and 63 SB.

 

[Kal El]

I heard a story about this guy that before he went to bat, he was told there was a sniper on him that would shoot him if he swung the bat. I'm not at all sure the story is true, but I have no issue with little people playing sports, as long as they're not gimmick players.

 

[elguapo07]

Let's say it was a speed demon guy that can't hit on his own. That could result in a player that has more runs and stolen bases then hits and walks. Would be awesome.

See Washington, Herb

 

[Guest]

Most starting pitchers would probably strike him out on 4 pitches. No danger of a base hit, or even bunting on. The pitchers don't have to try to paint the corners.

I almost like the strategy later in the game to lead off an inning.

 

[Fariq]

Gaedel also dressed as a space alien during a White Sox stunt several years later.

 

[Fariq]

Most starting pitchers would probably strike him out on 4 pitches. No danger of a base hit, or even bunting on. The pitchers don't have to try to paint the corners.

I almost like the strategy later in the game to lead off an inning.

If a midget ever got hit with a 90+ mph pitch, he'd probably drop dead.

 

[Politician Spock]

Most starting pitchers would probably strike him out on 4 pitches. No danger of a base hit, or even bunting on. The pitchers don't have to try to paint the corners.

I almost like the strategy later in the game to lead off an inning.

If a midget ever got hit with a 90+ mph pitch, he'd probably drop land dead.

Fixed that for you.

He's landing at least 10 feet behind the ump, easily.

 

[Politician Spock]

Let's say it was a speed demon guy that can't hit on his own. That could result in a player that has more runs and stolen bases then hits and walks. Would be awesome.

See Washington, Herb

And Matt Alexander.

36 career hits, 18 career walks.

103 career stolen bases, 111 career runs.

 

[Sarnoff]

Yeah, if the pitcher knows he's going to be walking the midget, might as well bean him instead.

 

[TLEF316]

They can't really wrestle.

 

[Fennis]

If the visiting team started their midget in attempt to begin the game with a walk, I would use my midget as the starting pitcher.

 

[NREC34]

I never realized Gaedel was murdered. Sorry to hear that.

 

[GregR]

If it ever became an issue, they could just institute a minimum strike zone size.

 

[QuizGuy66]

He better be fast or he's going to have to be pinch ran for everytime, which makes him too invaluable to carry on a roster.

That's the intent. Read the article.

But that's useless. How many teams can afford to roster a guy that can't play defense, can't run the bases, and can't drive in runs?

The Mets seemed to be meeting payroll, so there's at least one

-QG

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

He better be fast or he's going to have to be pinch ran for everytime, which makes him too invaluable to carry on a roster.

That's the intent. Read the article.

But that's useless. How many teams can afford to roster a guy that can't play defense, can't run the bases, and can't drive in runs?

How many of the last rostered guys can theoretically be worth half a run per game?

True. You think the pitchers could throw batting practice type pitches and consistently get them in the zone?

http://lewis.armscontrolwonk.com/files/2013/08/Gaedel2.jpg

Letters-to-knees strike zone on this guy is maybe a foot. No margin for error.

The plate is just 17" wide and they can stay over that just fine. This little dude better be able to hit heat down the middle.

 

[Tom Servo]

Let's say it was a speed demon guy that can't hit on his own. That could result in a player that has more runs and stolen bases then hits and walks. Would be awesome.

See Washington, Herb

Another Charlie Finley experiment. Gotta be able to play the field.

 

[Fat Nick]

On a similar note, I've always wondered why an NHL team hasn't put the time into train and develop a 500 pound sumo wrestler as a goalie. They're athletic. They're 3-4 times the size of some of the smaller goalies the NHL has had in the past.

It's the same reason that you don't see sumo wrestlers in football (e.g., as defensive/offensive linemen)... they do not have the cardiovascular conditioning to hold up over long periods of time. I've heard multiple NFL GMs all say the same thing. It's been tried in the past.

I don't think NHL goalies need exceptional cardio...at least one of this mold wouldn't. He literally would just sit in the crease. It looks like the best candidate just died...RIP.

But seriously, Manuel Uribe was like 6'4", and probably had a body at least 3' in diameter in most places, maybe more. A standard hockey goal is 6' x 4'. If you could teach that guy to do a split wearing pads, and with his huge body in the middle, he'd basically only have to cover the extreme top-shelf.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Having a midget start every game at DH, get his walk, and then make way for the regular DH as a PR would be some pretty awesome shtick. I wonder what kind of WAR that would result in.

 

[TLEF316]

according to a quick Google search, lead off base runners who end up on first score 38% of the time. For simplicity purposes, lets say the average MLB leadoff hitter has an OBP of .400. Hypothetical midget drawing a walk every AB has OBP of 1.000, making him 2.5 more likely to get on base in his one at bat.

Over the course of 162 games, this leads to 97.5 extra times on base. If Hypothetical midget (or the runner replacing him once he walks) scores on 38% of those extra opportunities, that's 37 extra runs created over the course of an entire season (roughly 1 run every 4 and a half games)

Unfortunately, this assumes that average MLB leadoff hitter only gets to first in every one of his AB's. (which we know isn't the case) The impact of hypo-midget goes down once we factor in the possibility of regular guy getting extra base hits. (thus increasing the chance that he scores beyond 38%). The average MLB team has 33% of their hits go for extra bases.

Of course, this could all just be MOP pizza math. If that's the case, please disregard.

 

[QuizGuy66]

How does midget lineup compare to robo-punter?

-QG

 

[Raider Nation]

How does midget lineup compare to robo-punter?

-QG

They don't quite measure up.

-RN