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Gus Zernial
Gus Edward Zernial (June 27, 1923 – January 20, 2011) was an American professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball, most notably for the Philadelphia Athletics with whom he remained when they moved west and became the Kansas City Athletics in 1955.
Nicknamed "Ozark Ike" after the popular comic strip character, Zernial was one of the most prolific power hitters of the 1950s, joining Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Larry Doby in the American League (AL) for most home runs in the decade. In 1951, he led the AL in home runs and all of Major League Baseball in runs batted in; and he was an All-Star in 1953. At one time he shared the record for most home runs by an MLB pinch hitter.
Zernial was born on June 27, 1923, in Beaumont, Texas. He was one of ten children. He attended Beaumont High School, graduating in 1942, where he was nicknamed "Dutch". He was on the baseball, basketball, football and track teams, with basketball being his most noteworthy sport. He played first base on the baseball team, and also in semi pro baseball.
In 1942, Zernial played 95 games of Minor League Baseball (MiLB) with the Class D Waycroft Bears of the Georgia–Florida League. He had a .286 batting average, with three home runs. He did not play in he minor leagues again until 1946.
He entered the United States Navy in October 1942, at 6 ft (1.83 m) 179 lb (81.2 kg), and was in the service for three years during World War II. He served as an Armed Guard radio technician on liberty ships and tankers. When he left the Navy three years later, he was 6 ft 2½ in (1.89 m) 220 lb (99.8 kg).
Zernial returned to MiLB play in 1946 with the Class C Burlington Bees of the Carolina League. He hit .333, with 41 home runs, 29 doubles, 111 runs batted in (RBI), 114 runs scored and a .649 slugging percentage. He led the Carolina League in home runs and slugging percentage, was fourth in batting average, and eighth in RBIs. His 41 home runs set a league record.
On November 1, 1946, the Cleveland Indians selected Zernial in the Rule 5 major league draft from Atlanta of the Double-A Southern Association. Atlanta owned his contract while he played for Burlington. Cleveland optioned him to the Triple-A Baltimore Orioles of the International League, but he was only there a short time in 1947. In late April, Cleveland sold Zernial's contract rights to the Chicago White Sox. In 1947, he played for the Triple-A Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), a Chicago White Sox affiliate. He had a .344 batting average with 12 home runs, 77 RBIs, 61 runs and a .919 OPS (on base plus slugging). His .344 batting average was fourth best in the PCL that season.
Before the start of the 1948 season, he tore muscles in his right leg during training camp. He returned to the Stars in 1948, batting .322 in 186 games played. He led the PCL in RBIs, was second in runs scored, third in home runs and sixth in slugging percentage. He had two home runs and five RBIs during a single inning of a game that season. While playing for the Stars he received the nickname "Ozark Ike", after a well known comic strip character, which would follow him throughout his career.
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Gus Zernial
Gus Edward Zernial (June 27, 1923 – January 20, 2011) was an American professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball, most notably for the Philadelphia Athletics with whom he remained when they moved west and became the Kansas City Athletics in 1955.
Nicknamed "Ozark Ike" after the popular comic strip character, Zernial was one of the most prolific power hitters of the 1950s, joining Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Larry Doby in the American League (AL) for most home runs in the decade. In 1951, he led the AL in home runs and all of Major League Baseball in runs batted in; and he was an All-Star in 1953. At one time he shared the record for most home runs by an MLB pinch hitter.
Zernial was born on June 27, 1923, in Beaumont, Texas. He was one of ten children. He attended Beaumont High School, graduating in 1942, where he was nicknamed "Dutch". He was on the baseball, basketball, football and track teams, with basketball being his most noteworthy sport. He played first base on the baseball team, and also in semi pro baseball.
In 1942, Zernial played 95 games of Minor League Baseball (MiLB) with the Class D Waycroft Bears of the Georgia–Florida League. He had a .286 batting average, with three home runs. He did not play in he minor leagues again until 1946.
He entered the United States Navy in October 1942, at 6 ft (1.83 m) 179 lb (81.2 kg), and was in the service for three years during World War II. He served as an Armed Guard radio technician on liberty ships and tankers. When he left the Navy three years later, he was 6 ft 2½ in (1.89 m) 220 lb (99.8 kg).
Zernial returned to MiLB play in 1946 with the Class C Burlington Bees of the Carolina League. He hit .333, with 41 home runs, 29 doubles, 111 runs batted in (RBI), 114 runs scored and a .649 slugging percentage. He led the Carolina League in home runs and slugging percentage, was fourth in batting average, and eighth in RBIs. His 41 home runs set a league record.
On November 1, 1946, the Cleveland Indians selected Zernial in the Rule 5 major league draft from Atlanta of the Double-A Southern Association. Atlanta owned his contract while he played for Burlington. Cleveland optioned him to the Triple-A Baltimore Orioles of the International League, but he was only there a short time in 1947. In late April, Cleveland sold Zernial's contract rights to the Chicago White Sox. In 1947, he played for the Triple-A Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), a Chicago White Sox affiliate. He had a .344 batting average with 12 home runs, 77 RBIs, 61 runs and a .919 OPS (on base plus slugging). His .344 batting average was fourth best in the PCL that season.
Before the start of the 1948 season, he tore muscles in his right leg during training camp. He returned to the Stars in 1948, batting .322 in 186 games played. He led the PCL in RBIs, was second in runs scored, third in home runs and sixth in slugging percentage. He had two home runs and five RBIs during a single inning of a game that season. While playing for the Stars he received the nickname "Ozark Ike", after a well known comic strip character, which would follow him throughout his career.
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