Mike Palagyi

Mike Palagyi
Pitcher
Born: July 4, 1917
Conneaut, Ohio
Died: November 21, 2013 (aged 96)
Conneaut, Ohio
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 18, 1939 for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
August 18, 1939 for the Washington Senators
Career statistics
Win–loss record 0–0
Earned run average infinite
Strikeouts 0
Teams

Michael Raymond Palagyi (July 4, 1917 – November 21, 2013)[1] was a Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched for the Washington Senators. He is in a group of nearly 1500 players who have appeared in exactly one Major League game. At the time of his death, he was the oldest of those one-game players.

Early life

Palagyi was one of ten children born to Joseph and Anna Palagyi.[2]

Career

Standing 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and weighing 185 pounds (84 kg), Palagyi made his major league pitching debut August 18, 1939 for the Washington Senators as a relief pitcher in a game against the Boston Red Sox.[3] During the game, he faced three future Hall of Fame members: Ted Williams, Joe Cronin and Jimmy Foxx.[4] He hit Foxx with a pitch and walked Williams, Cronin and a fourth batter (Doc Cramer).[4][5] 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".[4]

After leaving baseball, Palagyi served during World War II.[6] Palagyi lived in Conneaut until his death in 2013.

Distinctions

Since Palagyi allowed three earned runs without retiring a batter, his career earned run average (ERA) is infinite. He is one of at least 19 pitchers with an infinite ERA.[7]

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

References

  1. ↑ Michael R. Palagyi - Obituary
  2. ↑ "Northeast Ohio Obituaries". Star Beacon. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
  3. ↑ "1939 Washington Senators". BaseballLibrary.com. Retrieved 2007-12-14.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Margolick, David (1999-04-04). "New Season for Stars and One-Game Wonders". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-14.
  5. ↑ Retrosheet.org – Boston Red Sox 6, Washington Senators 2. Game Played on Friday, August 18, 1939 (D) at Griffith Stadium
  6. ↑ Shpigel, Ben. "THOSE WHO SERVED". TheDeadBallEra.com. Retrieved 2007-12-14.
  7. ↑ Shpigel, Ben (2007-02-28). "A Debut to Remember, and One to Forget". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-14.

External links