William McKinley Batsch (May 18, 1892 – December 31, 1963) was an American Major League Baseball player who pinch hit in one game for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1916. Batsch is one of only five players to walk in his only major league plate appearance and never play the field, the most famous of which is Eddie Gaedel.
The pride of Mingo Junction, Ohio, Batsch attended Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia. By 1916, Batsch, a right-handed outfielder, was with the "Pittsburgh Collegians" (presumably the University of Pittsburgh team) when the Pirates took a flyer on him. On September 9, 1916, the hometown Pirates were down 3–0 in the bottom of the eighth to the Chicago Cubs when Batsch came on to bat for pitcher Erv Kantlehner. Drawing a base on balls on a 3-2 pitch from Chicago hurler Hippo Vaughn, Batsch went to second on a ground out by Hooks Warner. When the next batter, Max Carey bounced one down to third baseman Rollie Zeider, Batsch rounded third when Zeider bobbled the ball and made a low throw to first. Fritz Mollwitz then rifled the ball to catcher Jimmy Archer, who tagged Batsch out at the plate, ending the 24-year-old's lone MLB appearance.[1] (And presumably Batsch's only appearance in a pro baseball game, as he is not listed as having played in the minors.)
^Doyle, Charles J. "Chicago Blanks Pirates Twice; Doyle Breaks Ankle", Pittsburgh Gazette, September 10, 1916, third section, page two.
External linksedit
Baseball Reference.com
April 11, 2024
bill, batsch, william, mckinley, batsch, 1892, december, 1963, american, major, league, baseball, player, pinch, game, pittsburgh, pirates, 1916, batsch, only, five, players, walk, only, major, league, plate, appearance, never, play, field, most, famous, which. William McKinley Batsch May 18 1892 December 31 1963 was an American Major League Baseball player who pinch hit in one game for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1916 Batsch is one of only five players to walk in his only major league plate appearance and never play the field the most famous of which is Eddie Gaedel Bill BatschPinch hitterBorn 1892 05 18 May 18 1892Mingo Junction OhioDied December 31 1963 1963 12 31 aged 71 Canton OhioBatted RightThrew RightMLB debutSeptember 9 1916 for the Pittsburgh PiratesLast MLB appearanceSeptember 9 1916 for the Pittsburgh PiratesMLB statisticsGames played1Plate appearances1Base on balls1TeamsPittsburgh Pirates 1916 Career editThe pride of Mingo Junction Ohio Batsch attended Bethany College in Bethany West Virginia By 1916 Batsch a right handed outfielder was with the Pittsburgh Collegians presumably the University of Pittsburgh team when the Pirates took a flyer on him On September 9 1916 the hometown Pirates were down 3 0 in the bottom of the eighth to the Chicago Cubs when Batsch came on to bat for pitcher Erv Kantlehner Drawing a base on balls on a 3 2 pitch from Chicago hurler Hippo Vaughn Batsch went to second on a ground out by Hooks Warner When the next batter Max Carey bounced one down to third baseman Rollie Zeider Batsch rounded third when Zeider bobbled the ball and made a low throw to first Fritz Mollwitz then rifled the ball to catcher Jimmy Archer who tagged Batsch out at the plate ending the 24 year old s lone MLB appearance 1 And presumably Batsch s only appearance in a pro baseball game as he is not listed as having played in the minors Bill Batsch died on New Year s Eve 1963 in Canton Ohio References edit Doyle Charles J Chicago Blanks Pirates Twice Doyle Breaks Ankle Pittsburgh Gazette September 10 1916 third section page two External links editBaseball Reference com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Batsch amp oldid 1116246068, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
