Basinski was born in Buffalo, New York, on November 4, 1922. His father, Walter, a U.S. Navy veteran, was a machinist.[2] He graduated from East High School in Buffalo.[3] Basinski attended the University of Buffalo where he lettered in tennis and cross country (they had no baseball team). In 1943 Basinski earned a degree in mechanical engineering and went to work for the Curtiss-Wright Company in Buffalo.[2]
Pro baseballedit
The Brooklyn Dodgers scouted him at a 1943 semi-pro game in Buffalo and signed him to a contract that included a $5,000 signing bonus. Listed at 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), 172 lb (78 kg), Basinski batted and threw right-handed. He made his major league debut on May 20, 1944, on the road against the Cincinnati Reds. Starting at shortstop and batting eighth, he went 1–4, with his first hit a fifth-inning triple off Bob Katz, and later scoring on a single by Frenchy Bordagaray in a 6–1 win.[4] He played in 39 games that year with 120 plate appearances, batting .257 with 4 doubles, a triple and 9 runs batted in.[5]
In 1945 he played in 108 games with 262 plate appearances, batting .262 with 9 doubles and 4 triples. When many players returned from the war in 1945, he was sent to the minor leagues.[6] In December 1946 he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1947 he played in 56 games with 182 plate appearances. He batted .199 but hit the first 4 home runs of his career to go along with 33 runs batted in.[5]
Basinski began practicing the violin at an early age and even held a chair with the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra. His mother was a pianist.[6] His nicknames were "The Fiddler" as well as "The Professor" (he wore glasses).[6] After retiring from baseball, Basinski remained in the Portland area with his wife and two sons, working for Consolidated Freightways for 31 years as an account manager.[1] He retired in 1991 in Milwaukie, Oregon.[2] In later life, he resided in a care facility in Gladstone, Oregon.[6]
His son, Jeff, was a coach, athletic director and assistant principal during his 29 years with Forest Grove School District in Washington County, Oregon. Jeff died suddenly in 2011, and the Basinski Center gym was named in his honor in 2013.[1][7] Basinski died at a care facility in Gladstone on January 8, 2022, at the age of 99.[8][9]
^ abcSwindler, Samantha (April 19, 2017). "Finding a connection to Portland Beaver legend Eddie Basinski (Column)". The Oregonian/OregonLive. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
^Cleve, Craig Allen (October 15, 2004). "8. Eddie Basinski". Hardball on the Home Front: Major League Replacement Players of World War II. McFarland. ISBN978-0-7864-1897-8. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
^"Brooklyn Dodgers at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, May 20, 1944". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. May 20, 1944. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
^ ab"Eddie Basinski Stats". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
^ abcdTarapacki, Thomas (April 27, 2018). "Eddie Basinski was one-of-a-kind". The Am-Pol Eagle. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
^Itel, Dan (January 10, 2019). "Forest Grove High School's new athletic facility honors Jeff Basinski, former athletic director". Oregon Live. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
^Goldstein, Richard (January 14, 2022). "Eddie Basinski, Who Played Both the Infield and the Fiddle, Dies at 99". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 15, 2022.
^Swindler, Samantha (January 10, 2022). "Eddie Basinski, the violin-playing second baseman for the Portland Beavers, has died at age 99". Oregon Live. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
Eddie Basinski at Baseball Almanac
Eddie Basinski at Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)
Anecdote about him
January 01, 1970
eddie, basinski, edwin, frank, basinski, november, 1922, january, 2022, american, professional, baseball, infielder, played, major, league, baseball, brooklyn, dodgers, pittsburgh, pirates, shortstop, second, basemanborn, 1922, november, 1922buffalo, york, die. Edwin Frank Basinski November 4 1922 January 8 2022 was an American professional baseball infielder He played in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates 1 Eddie BasinskiShortstop Second basemanBorn 1922 11 04 November 4 1922Buffalo New York U S Died January 8 2022 2022 01 08 aged 99 Gladstone Oregon U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutMay 20 1944 for the Brooklyn DodgersLast MLB appearanceJuly 4 1947 for the Pittsburgh PiratesMLB statisticsBatting average 244Home runs4Runs batted in59TeamsBrooklyn Dodgers 1944 1945 Pittsburgh Pirates 1947 Contents 1 Early life 2 Pro baseball 3 Personal life and death 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editBasinski was born in Buffalo New York on November 4 1922 His father Walter a U S Navy veteran was a machinist 2 He graduated from East High School in Buffalo 3 Basinski attended the University of Buffalo where he lettered in tennis and cross country they had no baseball team In 1943 Basinski earned a degree in mechanical engineering and went to work for the Curtiss Wright Company in Buffalo 2 Pro baseball editThe Brooklyn Dodgers scouted him at a 1943 semi pro game in Buffalo and signed him to a contract that included a 5 000 signing bonus Listed at 6 ft 1 in 1 85 m 172 lb 78 kg Basinski batted and threw right handed He made his major league debut on May 20 1944 on the road against the Cincinnati Reds Starting at shortstop and batting eighth he went 1 4 with his first hit a fifth inning triple off Bob Katz and later scoring on a single by Frenchy Bordagaray in a 6 1 win 4 He played in 39 games that year with 120 plate appearances batting 257 with 4 doubles a triple and 9 runs batted in 5 In 1945 he played in 108 games with 262 plate appearances batting 262 with 9 doubles and 4 triples When many players returned from the war in 1945 he was sent to the minor leagues 6 In December 1946 he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates In 1947 he played in 56 games with 182 plate appearances He batted 199 but hit the first 4 home runs of his career to go along with 33 runs batted in 5 In addition to his major league career Basinski played with six different minor league clubs between 1944 and 1959 as well as for the Patriotas de Venezuela of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League during the 1951 1952 season Basinski is a member of the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame as well as the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his lengthy career with the Portland Beavers over 10 seasons He was the oldest living former player of the Brooklyn Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates Following the death of Eddie Robinson in October 2021 he became the second oldest living major leaguer behind George Elder citation needed Personal life and death editBasinski began practicing the violin at an early age and even held a chair with the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra His mother was a pianist 6 His nicknames were The Fiddler as well as The Professor he wore glasses 6 After retiring from baseball Basinski remained in the Portland area with his wife and two sons working for Consolidated Freightways for 31 years as an account manager 1 He retired in 1991 in Milwaukie Oregon 2 In later life he resided in a care facility in Gladstone Oregon 6 His son Jeff was a coach athletic director and assistant principal during his 29 years with Forest Grove School District in Washington County Oregon Jeff died suddenly in 2011 and the Basinski Center gym was named in his honor in 2013 1 7 Basinski died at a care facility in Gladstone on January 8 2022 at the age of 99 8 9 See also editVan Lingle Mungo song References edit a b c Swindler Samantha April 19 2017 Finding a connection to Portland Beaver legend Eddie Basinski Column The Oregonian OregonLive Retrieved April 19 2017 a b c Rudman Steve Eskenazi Dave Armour Mark Eddie Basinski sabr org Society for American Baseball Research Retrieved January 16 2022 Cleve Craig Allen October 15 2004 8 Eddie Basinski Hardball on the Home Front Major League Replacement Players of World War II McFarland ISBN 978 0 7864 1897 8 Retrieved September 14 2022 Brooklyn Dodgers at Cincinnati Reds Box Score May 20 1944 baseball reference com sports reference com May 20 1944 Retrieved January 16 2022 a b Eddie Basinski Stats baseball reference com sports reference com Retrieved January 16 2022 a b c d Tarapacki Thomas April 27 2018 Eddie Basinski was one of a kind The Am Pol Eagle Retrieved January 16 2022 Itel Dan January 10 2019 Forest Grove High School s new athletic facility honors Jeff Basinski former athletic director Oregon Live Retrieved January 16 2022 Goldstein Richard January 14 2022 Eddie Basinski Who Played Both the Infield and the Fiddle Dies at 99 The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved January 15 2022 Swindler Samantha January 10 2022 Eddie Basinski the violin playing second baseman for the Portland Beavers has died at age 99 Oregon Live Retrieved January 10 2022 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or ESPN or Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet Eddie Basinski at Baseball Almanac Eddie Basinski at Pura Pelota Venezuelan Professional Baseball League Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame Anecdote about him Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eddie Basinski amp oldid 1216986141, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
