John Ganzel
| John Ganzel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First baseman / Manager | |
| Born: April 7, 1874 Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S. | |
| Died: January 14, 1959 (aged 84) Orlando, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 21, 1898, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 30, 1908, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .251 |
| Home runs | 18 |
| Runs batted in | 336 |
| Win–loss record | 90–99 |
| Winning % | .476 |
| Teams | |
| |
John Henry Ganzel (April 7, 1874 – January 14, 1959) was an American first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. Ganzel batted and threw right-handed. He played with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1898), Chicago Cubs (1900), New York Giants (1902) New York Highlanders (1903–1904) and the Cincinnati Reds (1907–1908). Ganzel managed the Reds in 1908 and the Federal League's Brooklyn Tip-Tops in 1915. He hit the first ever Yankee home run on May 11, 1903.[1]
A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Ganzel came from a family of baseball men. His brother, Charlie, was a catcher who played with the St. Paul Saints, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Wolverines and Boston Beaneaters during 14 seasons, and his nephew Babe Ganzel was an outfielder for the Washington Senators. Two brothers and two nephews also played in the minor leagues.
In a seven-season career, Ganzel was a .251 hitter with 18 home runs and 336 runs batted in during 747 games played. As a manager, he posted a 90–99 record for a .476 winning percentage.
Following his major league career, Ganzel managed several minor league clubs. In 1938 he headed the Orlando franchise of the Florida State League and was active with the club until his retirement in 1952.
Ganzel died at the age 84 of a sudden heart attack at a friend's house in Orlando, Florida on January 14, 1959.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Harvey Frommer (2002). A Yankees Century, A Celebration of the First Hundred Years of Baseball's Greatest Team. The Berkley Publishing Group. p. 392. ISBN 0-425-18617-2.
- ^ Wadsworth, Charlie (January 15, 1959). "Mr. Baseball, John Ganzel, Dies at 84". The Orlando Sentinel. pp. 1A, 3A. Retrieved March 26, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
[edit]
Media related to John Ganzel at Wikimedia Commons
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- The Deadball Era
- Chicago Orphans players
- Cincinnati Reds managers
- Cincinnati Reds players
- Brooklyn Tip-Tops managers
- Major League Baseball first basemen
- Baseball players from Kalamazoo, Michigan
- New York Giants (baseball) players
- New York Highlanders players
- Baseball players from Orlando, Florida
- Pittsburgh Pirates players
- 19th-century baseball players
- 1874 births
- 1959 deaths
- Minor league baseball managers
- New Castle Salamanders players
- Grand Rapids Bob-o-links players
- Detroit Tigers (Western League) players
- Kansas City Blues (baseball) players
- Louisville Colonels (minor league) players
- Grand Rapids Orphans players
- Grand Rapids Wolverines players
- Rochester Bronchos players
- Rochester Hustlers players
- Newburgh Dutchmen players
- Newburgh Hillclimbers players
- Poughkeepsie Honey Bugs players
- Major League Baseball player-managers
- Kansas City Blues (baseball) managers
- Baseball coaches from Michigan