Alex George (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Alex Thomas M. George is a retired American
professional baseball
player. He appeared in five Major League Baseball
games as a shortstop
and pinch hitter
for the Kansas City Athletics
during the season. George batted left-handed
, threw right-handed, stood 5 in 11 in (1.8 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77.1 kg).
He was signed by the Athletics during their first season in Kansas City out of Rockhurst
, a local Jesuit high school. All of his Major League appearances took place before his 17th birthday — making him the second youngest non-pitcher
to debut in MLB since . He struck out
in his first Major League plate appearance
against relief pitcher
Al Papai
of the Chicago White Sox
, but four days later, on September 20, playing as the A's starting shortstop, he collected his only big league hit
, a bunt single
off Duke Maas
of the Detroit Tigers
.
Sent to the minor leagues
in 1956 for more experience, George never returned to the Majors. His playing career extended through 1963, mostly in the Kansas City system, where he played second base and outfield
as well as shortstop and reached double figures in home runs four times in eight seasons.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. He appeared in five Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
games as a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
for the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
during the season. George batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
, threw right-handed, stood 5 in 11 in (1.8 m) tall and weighed 170 pounds (77.1 kg).
He was signed by the Athletics during their first season in Kansas City out of Rockhurst
Rockhurst High School
Rockhurst High School is a private, Roman Catholic, Jesuit, preparatory school for boys located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, on the Missouri-Kansas border along State Line Road....
, a local Jesuit high school. All of his Major League appearances took place before his 17th birthday — making him the second youngest non-pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
to debut in MLB since . He struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
in his first Major League plate appearance
Plate appearance
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance each time he completes a turn batting. A player completes a turn batting when: He strikes out or is declared out before reaching first base; or He reaches first base safely or is awarded first base ; or He hits a fair ball which...
against relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
Al Papai
Al Papai
Alfred Thomas Papai was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played between the and seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals , St. Louis Browns , Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox . Listed at 6' 3", 185 lb., Papai batted and threw right-handed...
of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, but four days later, on September 20, playing as the A's starting shortstop, he collected his only big league hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, a bunt single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
off Duke Maas
Duke Maas
Duane Fredrick Maas is a former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher over parts of 7 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees He was chosen by the Los Angeles Angels in the American League expansion draft prior to the 1961 season, but never played for...
of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Sent to the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
in 1956 for more experience, George never returned to the Majors. His playing career extended through 1963, mostly in the Kansas City system, where he played second base and outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
as well as shortstop and reached double figures in home runs four times in eight seasons.