Eddie Gaedel
 

Eddie Gaedel

Eddie Gaedel
Eddie Gaedel
Eddie Gaedel (right) in his only plate appearance.
St. Louis Browns — No. ⅛
Born: June 8, 1925
Died: June 18, 1961 (aged 36)
Batted: Right Threw: Left
MLB debut
August 19, 1951
for the St. Louis Browns
Final game
August 19, 1951
for the St. Louis Browns
Career statistics
Batting average     .000
Home runs     0
Runs batted in     0
Teams
Career highlights and awards
  • Shortest player in Major League Baseball History

Edward Carl "Eddie" Gaedel (June 8, 1925 – June 18, 1961), born in Chicago, Illinois, was an American dwarf who became famous for participating in a Major League Baseball game.

Gaedel gained immortality in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday, August 19, 1951. Weighing just 65 pounds (29.5 kg), and 3 feet 7 inches (1.09 m) tall, he became the shortest player in the history of the major leagues. He stood 3 feet 4 inches (1.02 m) shorter than Jon Rauch, whose height of 6'11" (2.11 m) made him the tallest person to play in a Major League Game. He was secretly signed by the St. Louis Browns and put in uniform (complete with elf slippers & the number "⅛" on the back) as a publicity stunt by maverick Browns owner and showman Bill Veeck.

Gaedel popped out of a papier-mache cake between games of a doubleheader to celebrate the American League's 50th anniversary, and as a Falstaff Brewery promotion. Falstaff, and the fans, had been promised a "festival of surprises" by Veeck. Before the second game got underway, the press agreed that the "midget-in-a-cake" appearance had not been up to Veeck's usual promotional standard. Falstaff personnel, who had been promised national publicity for their participation, were particularly dissatisfied. Keeping the surprise he had in store for the second game to himself, Veeck just meekly apologized.

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