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John Paciorek
John Paciorek
John Paciorek
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John Francis Paciorek (/pəˈtʃɔːrɪk/; born February 11, 1945) is an American former professional baseball player. He attended high school in Michigan, and was signed by the Houston Colt .45s while playing for the school's baseball team. After a season in the minor leagues, he was promoted to the Colt .45's active roster, and played in one game at the end of the 1963 Houston Colt .45s season. In that game, he had three hits and two walks. However, injuries cut his career short; he missed most of 1964 and 1965 due to surgery, and retired after playing parts of four more seasons in the minors. He returned to school, graduated from the University of Houston, and became a physical education teacher after retiring.

Key Information

Paciorek is rare among Major League Baseball players in having a perfect batting average of 1.000. He is the only player to achieve this distinction with more than two at bats.[1] His two brothers, Jim Paciorek and Tom Paciorek, also played in the major leagues.

Early life

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Paciorek was born in Detroit on February 11, 1945. His father was a factory worker in Plymouth, Michigan. He was the oldest of eight children; two of his brothers, Tom and Jim, went on to have MLB careers as well. He attended St. Ladislaus High School in Hamtramck, Michigan, and was named to the varsity baseball team as a freshman. During his high school career, he focused on strength building to achieve his dream of being a baseball player. By the time he graduated, he had gone from 119 pounds (54 kg) to 200 pounds (91 kg), and was an all-state three-sport star in baseball, football, and basketball. Paciorek also played on Detroit's team in the National Amateur Baseball Federation; he was named most valuable player during the annual tournament in 1962.[2] While he was still in high school, Houston general manager Paul Richards convinced Paciorek to sign with the Colt .45s; the two agreed to a $45,000 contract.[3]

Baseball career

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In late 1962, Paciorek attended an instructional league put on by Houston, which led to him becoming part of the team's spring training roster as one of 63 invited players.[4] During exhibition play, he "hit everything in sight", and had a batting average of over .300.[5] After spring training ended, he began his professional career with the Modesto Colts of the California League and played in 78 games for the team with a .219 batting average and 15 doubles.[6] Late in the season, he injured his back and shoulder; he was diagnosed with a sciatic nerve injury, and was told to rest.[5] Shortly afterward, however, Houston brought Paciorek and seven other rookies onto the major league roster to play in the season finale on September 29. (Two days earlier, the Colts had started an all-rookie lineup; to date, the only time an MLB club has attempted this. The starting pitcher for Houston that day was 17-year-old Jay Dahl, marking his only big-league appearance.)

Paciorek, who was the starting right fielder, began the day with a walk in the second inning. He then had a single in the fourth inning, which drove in Rusty Staub and Bob Aspromonte. After singling and again bringing home Aspromonte in the fifth, Paciorek had a walk in the sixth, and ended the day with a leadoff single in the eighth.[7] In total, he went to the plate five times and hit three singles and had two walks, scoring four runs en route to a 13–4 Houston victory over the New York Mets.[3] He had a perfect major league career batting average and on-base percentage of 1.000 as a result of his performance that day, something no one else with as many plate appearances as Paciorek has done.[8]

Thanks in part to his performance in the final game of Houston's season, Paciorek was invited to spring training for Houston in 1964. His performances included a bases-loaded triple against the Mets.[9] However, his poor play on both offense and defense late in spring training led to him being cut despite being nearly a lock to make the roster.[5][10] He spent part of the year on the Durham Bulls and Statesville Colts, where he had a .135 batting average in 49 combined games.[6] Partway through the year, he had spinal fusion surgery, which caused Paciorek to miss the rest of the 1964 season, as well as all of 1965.[3]

Paciorek returned to the Houston organization in 1966, and split the season with the Batavia Trojans and Salisbury Astros, where he hit .193 in 77 combined games. The following year, he played for the Asheville Tourists and Cocoa Astros, had a .104 average in 32 games, and was released at season's end.[6] He was given a second chance to return to the major leagues when the Cleveland Indians, who were scouting his brother Tom at the University of Houston, signed him to a minor league contract with a spring training invitation.[3] He spent 1968 with the Single-A Reno Silver Sox and the Rock Hill Indians, and hit .268 with 20 home runs in 95 total games; his 17 home runs with Reno led the team.[6] Paciorek was promoted the following year to the Double-A Waterbury Indians and played in 29 games with them, but tore his achilles tendon during warm-ups, which led to his release and the end of his professional career.[3]

Post-baseball career

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After his baseball career ended, Paciorek returned to school and earned a degree in physical education from the University of Houston, a degree that he began to pursue while recovering from back surgery. While acquiring his degree, he became a Christian Scientist and married Linda Cupp. After graduating from college, he spent several years as an instructor at a Jewish community center, then became a physical education teacher after inquiring about a Christian Science Monitor advertisement for a teaching position at Clairbourn School in San Gabriel, California.[3] Linda died of breast cancer in 1987, and Paciorek married Karen Purdy two years later. Paciorek has four sons and four daughters. His nephew, Joey Paciorek, played in the Milwaukee Brewers minor league organization,[11] and his sons, Pete and Mack, had minor league careers as well.[3] While watching his son in training camp, Paciorek became an author after watching what he felt was improper instruction given to the players. He has since written two books, Plato & Socrates, Baseball's Wisest Fans and The Principle of Baseball, and All There is to Know About Hitting.[3]

Two of his brothers, Jim Paciorek and Tom Paciorek, also played in the Major Leagues.[12]

References

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Further reading

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John Paciorek

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from Grokipedia
John Paciorek (born February 11, 1945) is an American former professional baseball player best known for his single (MLB) appearance on September 29, 1963, with the Colt .45s, in which he recorded a perfect 1.000 with three hits in three at-bats, two walks, three runs batted in, and four runs scored. Born in , , as John Francis Paciorek, he was a highly touted prospect signed by the Colt .45s in 1962 after starring at St. Ladislaus High School. His signing included a scholarship to the , which he later attended. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 200 pounds, Paciorek batted and threw right-handed, primarily playing outfield and first base during his minor league career. His MLB debut came in the final game of the 1963 season against the at , where he started in right field and contributed significantly to a 13-4 Houston victory, including three singles. Paciorek's promising career was derailed by chronic back injuries shortly after his debut; he underwent surgery in 1964 and continued playing in the minors until 1968, but never returned to the majors. He holds the distinction of the highest career in MLB history among players with at least three plate appearances, earning him the nickname "The One Game Wonder." Part of a family, he is the brother of MLB outfielders (an 18-season veteran) and Jim Paciorek (one season with the Milwaukee Brewers), as well as the uncle of Joey Paciorek. After retiring from , Paciorek became a teacher in .

Early Life and Background

Family and Childhood

John Paciorek was born on February 11, 1945, in , . He grew up in a working-class family of Polish heritage in a predominantly Polish-American neighborhood on the city's east side. As one of twelve children, Paciorek helped shoulder responsibilities in a modest household where resources were limited. His father worked as a factory tool-and-die maker in nearby , instilling in his sons a strong work ethic amid the industrial backdrop of post-World War II . The family emphasized physical activity and athletics as outlets for energy and discipline, with Paciorek and his siblings engaging in various sports from a young age. Several of his younger brothers, including Tom, Jim, Mike, and Bobby, pursued baseball; Tom and Jim would later play in . During , Paciorek experienced significant physical development, growing from 119 pounds as a young teenager to 200 pounds by his later high school years, which fueled his emerging athletic potential. This transformation, supported by family encouragement and basic training routines, laid the groundwork for his early interest in like .

High School Athletics and Recruitment

John Paciorek attended St. Ladislaus High School in , where he emerged as a standout in multiple . Growing up in an athletic family with brothers who also pursued , Paciorek was motivated to excel from an early age. By his senior year, he had transformed physically, growing from 119 pounds as a freshman to 6 feet 2 inches and 200 pounds, which enhanced his performance across , football, and . He earned All-State honors in all three sports, showcasing versatility as a in football, a in , and a in . In , Paciorek demonstrated exceptional hitting prowess, batting .543 with 10 home runs and 33 runs batted in during his senior season, while also leading his team with strong fielding in . His football skills drew scholarship offers from major programs including , , and Michigan State, highlighting his speed and arm strength as a . On the , he was an All-State selection known for his quickness and scoring ability, often leading his team in points as a sophomore and easily dunking despite the era's lower hoops. These accomplishments solidified his reputation as a multi-sport phenom. Paciorek's talents attracted intense scouting interest, with representatives from the Colt .45s observing him closely during summer games after his junior year, where his team won the 1962 National Amateur Baseball Federation championship. In 1963, while still in high school, general manager Paul Richards secured his signing for a $45,000 bonus, a substantial sum that reflected the team's high expectations for his 6-foot-2 frame, speed, and offensive upside. This deal also included provisions for college education, positioning Paciorek as one of the top amateur prospects of the time.

Baseball Career

Major League Debut

John Paciorek, who had signed with the Colt .45s in 1962 for a then-record $45,000 bonus as one of the top amateur prospects in the country, made his debut on September 29, 1963, during the final game of the season against the at in . Batting seventh as a , Paciorek entered the game amid high expectations, with Paul Richards praising him beforehand as "a real pleasure to watch" and predicting he "could become one of the really great power hitters and all-around players in baseball." In five plate appearances, Paciorek went 3-for-3 with two walks, three RBIs, and four runs scored, contributing significantly to the Colt .45s' 13-4 victory. His first plate appearance in the second resulted in a walk, after which he scored on John Bateman's triple; in the fourth, he delivered a two-run single and later scored on Pete Runnels' ; a single in the fifth led to another run on Bob Lillis' hit; he walked again in the sixth and scored on Lillis' single; and he capped his day with a single in the eighth. Paciorek's flawless performance drew immediate media notice, with The New York Times observing that he "doesn’t yet know what it is like to make an out in the big leagues." At just 18 years old, his debut solidified his reputation as a promising talent, though it would prove to be his only Major League game.

Minor League Experience

Following his brief major league debut with the Houston Colt .45s in 1963, Paciorek returned to the as part of the organization's developmental system. In 1963, Paciorek played for the Modesto Reds of the Class A , Houston's affiliate, appearing in 78 games with a .219 , nine home runs, and 49 RBIs. His performance included a .345 , drawing 52 walks while striking out 94 times in 274 at-bats. Paciorek split the 1964 season between two Class A teams affiliated with : the of the and the Statesville Owls of the Western Carolinas League. Across 49 games and 148 at-bats, he batted .135 with four s and 13 RBIs, though he drew 30 walks for a .291 . He continued in 's Class A affiliates in 1966 and 1967. In 1966, Paciorek divided time between the co-op Batavia Trojans of the New York-Penn League and the Houston-affiliated Salisbury Senators of the Western Carolinas League, hitting .193 with six s and 41 RBIs in 77 games. The following year, with the and Cocoa Astros—both Class A Houston teams in the Carolina and State Leagues, respectively—he managed a .104 average, one , and two RBIs in just 32 games and 67 at-bats. Paciorek's performance rebounded somewhat in 1968 after signing with the Cleveland Indians organization, where he played for two Class A affiliates: the Reno Silver Sox of the and the Rock Hill Indians of the Western Carolinas League. In 95 games, he batted .268 with a career-high 20 home runs and 73 RBIs, posting a .543 . In his final professional season, 1969, Paciorek appeared in 29 games for the Cleveland-affiliated Waterbury Athletics of the Double-A Eastern League, batting .213 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 89 at-bats.

Injuries and Career End

Paciorek encountered his first major health setback in 1963 while playing in the Colt .45s' system, suffering from a injury that caused intense and required rest, though he played through discomfort leading up to his major league debut. The condition stemmed from a pinched due to spinal curvature, and despite initial rest, the pain persisted and intensified after the season. By in 1964, the back issues had worsened significantly, with Paciorek batting just .135 in 49 games before seeking treatment. Diagnosed with a 40-degree curvature of the spine, he underwent in July 1964 to fuse three lower vertebrae (L3, L4, and L5), a procedure that halted his growth at age 19 and sidelined him for the rest of 1964 and all of 1965. Paciorek later reflected that the , performed while he was still developing physically, was ill-advised and contributed to long-term limitations. Paciorek attempted a comeback in 1966 with Class A affiliates of the Colt .45s, but the left his back chronically tight, leading to recurring arm injuries and pulled hamstrings that hampered his mobility and swing. These lingering effects manifested in diminished performance, as evidenced by his batting average of .193 that year across 77 games. In 1969, after bouncing between organizations and showing brief improvement in 1968 with a .268 average in Class A, Paciorek was promoted to Double-A Waterbury in the Indians system, where he appeared in 29 games before tearing his during warm-ups, severely limiting his speed and power. The cumulative toll of these injuries, including chronic issues from the back and the latest , prompted medical evaluations that deemed him unable to sustain professional play. He officially retired in 1970 at age 25, ending his on-field career after multiple unsuccessful attempts to regain his pre-injury form.

Post-Baseball Life and Legacy

Education and Teaching Career

Following the end of his professional baseball career due to chronic back injuries, John Paciorek enrolled at the , where he began taking classes funded by a from his contract with the Houston Colt .45s. He completed a degree in there in the late , leveraging his athletic background to transition into education. Paciorek's teaching career began in Texas with his first role at the in , where he instructed shortly after graduation. He later relocated to and spent over four decades as a at Clairbourn School, a private institution in San Gabriel, continuing in that position well into the . Throughout his tenure, he emphasized practical skills and in his classes, drawing on his brief but memorable major league experience to inspire students. In addition to teaching, Paciorek served as a longtime coach at Clairbourn School, guiding youth teams for more than 40 years and focusing on fundamental techniques in hitting, fielding, and throwing to build well-rounded athletes. Known as "Coach Paciorek," he earned recognition as a dedicated mentor for his patient approach and positive influence on students, helping many develop lifelong interests in and . His contributions were highlighted in media profiles, such as a 2015 segment that praised his role as an exemplary educator.

Writing and Baseball Philosophy

After retiring from professional baseball, John Paciorek channeled his experiences into writing, producing works that blend practical instruction with philosophical insights into the sport. His book The Principle of Baseball: All There Is to Know About Hitting and More, published by Balboa Press in 2012, offers a detailed guide to hitting techniques, emphasizing mechanical precision and mental preparation derived from his own brief major league exposure. In it, Paciorek argues that success in batting stems from simplifying fundamentals to achieve repeatable, efficient swings, drawing on biomechanical principles to help players overcome common errors. Complementing this, his unpublished manuscript Plato & Socrates: Baseball's Wisest Fans explores the intellectual and emotional dimensions of fandom, using classical philosophy to examine how spectators engage with baseball as a metaphor for life's uncertainties and triumphs. Central to Paciorek's philosophy is "Paciorek's Principle of Perfect Practice," a concept he developed to promote simplicity and mental focus in . This principle advocates for scientifically precise mechanics in batting, throwing, and fielding, reducing complex actions to essential, repeatable steps that build and confidence without overcomplication. Rooted in his personal journey, it underscores the idea that perfection in practice—through deliberate, error-free repetition—fosters peak performance, even for those facing physical limitations like his career-ending back injury. Paciorek presents this as a shift, prioritizing internal over external accolades to sustain long-term proficiency in the sport. Through his website, johnpaciorek.com, Paciorek shares extensive essays and reflections on the mindset, including nearly 200 pieces under the "Paciorek's Principle of Perfect Practice" section, where he discusses themes of heroism, , and resilience. He continues to post reflections as of 2024. These writings often reflect on his one-game major league career in , interpreting his statistical anomalies—a 1.000 and 1.000 —as a philosophical emblem of "perfect" imperfection, symbolizing untapped potential interrupted by fate. He has also contributed guest posts and articles to forums, extending his ideas on mental fortitude to broader audiences, though formal engagements remain limited in documented records.

Personal Life and Family

John Paciorek was first married to Linda Cupp, whom he met during his college years; the couple raised several children together before her death from in 1987. Two years later, in 1989, Paciorek married Karen Purdy, with whom he continued to build his family life. Paciorek is the father of four sons and four daughters. Among his sons are Pete Paciorek and Mack Paciorek, both of whom pursued careers in the . The family's deep connection to has served as a personal motivation for Paciorek throughout his life. Paciorek hails from an extended family with strong ties to ; his younger brothers, Jim Paciorek and , both appeared in , with Tom enjoying an 18-season career across multiple teams. He is also the uncle to Joey Paciorek, son of Jim, who played briefly in the Milwaukee Brewers' system. In his later years, as of 2025, Paciorek has reflected on the enduring health challenges from his early athletic endeavors, including chronic that necessitated surgery, emphasizing the importance of balanced physical activity to avoid long-term repercussions.

References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/news/john-paciorek-s-perfect-baseball-career
  2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/paciojo01.shtml
  3. https://www.mlb.com/player/john-paciorek-120156
  4. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pacior001joh
  5. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/John_Paciorek
  6. https://www.pgf.cc/2015/07/08/educator-coach-and-mentor-now-a-special-footnote-in-mlb-history/
  7. https://vault.si.com/vault/2012/07/09/the-perfect-game
  8. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pe-teacher-john-paciorek-perfect-mlb-record/
  9. https://ballnine.com/2021/12/17/batting-1-000/
  10. https://www.salisburypost.com/2020/10/04/sport-legend-john-paciorek/
  11. https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/september-29-1963-fleeting-fame-and-enduring-memories-for-houstons-john-paciorek-jim-umbricht/
  12. https://astrosdaily.com/history/1963/game196309290.html
  13. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-31-sp-288-story.html
  14. https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/houston-astros-history-remembering-john-paciorek
  15. https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/mlb-player-puts-heart-and-soul-into-teaching-after-injuries-end-his-career-4287445
  16. https://www.peteacheredu.org/2016/04/one-game-wonder-mlb-star-turned-p-e-teacher/
  17. https://www.balboapress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/381523-The-Principle-of-Baseball
  18. http://www.johnpaciorek.com/?page_id=4
  19. http://www.johnpaciorek.com/?p=284
  20. http://www.johnpaciorek.com/?p=581
  21. http://www.johnpaciorek.com/
  22. http://www.johnpaciorek.com/?p=2375
  23. https://www.facebook.com/groups/62332155049/posts/10160927214570050/
  24. https://www.astrosdaily.com/column/10809260117fan.html
  25. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pacior001pet
  26. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=pacior001mac
  27. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Tom_Paciorek
  28. https://www.milb.com/player/joey-paciorek-519100
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