Mike Palagyi

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Mike Palagyi
Pitcher
Born: July 4, 1917 (1917-07-04) (age 90)
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 18, 1939
for the Washington Senators
Final game
August 18, 1939
for the Washington Senators
Career statistics
Innings pitched     0
Walks     3
Earned Run Average     infinite
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Michael Raymond Palagyi (born July 4, 1917) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, who pitched for the Washington Senators. He is in a small group of players who have appeared in exactly one Major League game. He was born in Conneaut, Ohio.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Palagyi was one of nine children born to Joseph and Anna Palagyi.[1]

[edit] Career

Palagyi, a 6-feet, 2-inch, 185-pound pitcher, made his major league debut on August 18, 1939 for the Washington Senators as a relief pitcher in a game against the Boston Red Sox.[2] During the game, he faced three future Hall of Fame members: Ted Williams, Joe Cronin and Jimmy Foxx.[3] He hit Foxx with a pitch and walked Williams, Cronin and a fourth batter.[3] Three of those runners would score. The Senators would change pitchers before Palagyi was able to retire a batter. The Senators would lose the game, but Palagyi did not receive credit for the loss in that game. He would never play in another major league game. In an interview for Richard Tellis's book, Once Around the Bases, Palagyi said that he "threw but 2 strikes out of 15 pitches -- a very short big league career".[3]

After leaving baseball, Palagyi served during World War II.[4] As of 2005, Palagyi still lived in Conneaut.

[edit] Distinctions

Since Palagyi allowed three earned runs without retiring a batter, his career Earned run average is infinite. He is one of at least 19 pitchers with an infinite Earned Run Average.[5]

Palagyi and Mark Wagner are the only major-league players born in Conneaut. Both players pitched in exactly one game in relief. However, Wagner appeared in other games as a shortstop.

Palagyi is recognized as one of the oldest living Major League Baseball players.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Northeast Ohio Obituaries. Star Beacon. Retrieved on 2007-12-19.
  2. ^ 1939 Washington Senators. BaseballLibrary.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
  3. ^ a b c Margolick, David (1999-04-04). New Season for Stars and One-Game Wonders. New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
  4. ^ Shpigel, Ben. THOSE WHO SERVED. TheDeadBallEra.com. Retrieved on 2007-12-14.
  5. ^ Shpigel, Ben (2007-02-28). A Debut to Remember, and One to Forget. New York Times. Retrieved on 2007-12-14.