Fred Van Dusen

Frederick William Van Dusen (born July 31, 1937 in Jackson Heights, New York) is a former Major League Baseball player. Van Dusen played for Philadelphia Phillies in the 1955 season. He played just one game in his career, having one plate appearance, and getting hit by a pitch.

An outfielder by trade, Van Dusen was signed by the Phillies in August 1955 as a bonus baby, meaning he had to be kept on the Phillies' 40-man roster for two years. During his first month with the team, he appeared just once, pinch hitting in the second game of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Braves. In the 9th inning, with the Phillies down 9-1, he pinch hit for pitcher Lynn Lovenguth against Humberto Robinson and was hit by a pitch.

While Van Dusen never appeared in another major league game, he did continue to play in the Phillies minor league organization until 1961 before retiring. Only one other player to date has been hit with a pitch in his first and only plate appearance without taking the field: Adam Greenberg of the 2005 Chicago Cubs. As of 2011, Greenberg was still active (playing professionally for the independent Bridgeport Bluefish), which may mean Van Dusen may someday be the sole record holder once again.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)