Andy Oyler
Encyclopedia
Andrew Paul Oyler (May 5, 1880 to October 24, 1970) was a Major League Baseball
third baseman
. He was born in Newville, Pennsylvania
and attended Washington & Jefferson College
. He played professionally for the Baltimore Orioles
in the . In 27 professional games that year, he had 77 at-bats with 17 hits and one home run.
He batted and threw right-handed. He was small in stature and was an excellent fielder, but not a good hitter. Even so, he was difficult to pitch to, since he would crouch "pretzel-like" in the batter's box to make his strike zone
smaller. He died in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania
.
describing the shortest home run
in baseball history. Maxwell described a baseball game where Oyler, as a shortstop for the Minneapolis Millers
, was crouched in the batters' box in the bottom of the 9th and ducked to avoid a pitch thrown at his head. The ball hit off of Oyler's bat, which was still resting on his shoulder, and became stuck in the mud in front of home plate
. Oyler was able to complete an inside the park home run before any opposing players were able to find the ball. Maxwell's article indicated that the story was originally told by WWRL
radio station in Woodside, New York. This story was repeated by sportswriter Bill Bryson, Sr.
in Baseball Digest in 1958. Another version of the story, as told by Halsey Hall
, had Oyler chopping at a low pitch and sticking the ball into the mud 5 1/2 feet from home plate.
Baseball historian Stew Thornley
is skeptical of the story of Oyler's home run, pointing out that no contemporary news reports described the incident. Other modern reference sources recount the story without caveat.
The story was the subject of a book of baseball lore by Michael G. Bryson called The Twenty-Four-Inch Home Run
. It was also the inspiration for the children's book, Mudball by Matt Tavares
, which won the 2005 Parents' Choice Awards Gold Award
. In the "Author's Note" Tavares describes the story of Oyler's home run as being folklore
.
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...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
. He was born in Newville, Pennsylvania
Newville, Pennsylvania
Newville is a borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania near Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The population was 1,367 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area.Newville is served by the Big Spring School District....
and attended Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
. He played professionally for the Baltimore Orioles
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in the . In 27 professional games that year, he had 77 at-bats with 17 hits and one home run.
He batted and threw right-handed. He was small in stature and was an excellent fielder, but not a good hitter. Even so, he was difficult to pitch to, since he would crouch "pretzel-like" in the batter's box to make his strike zone
Strike zone
In baseball, the strike zone is a conceptual right pentagonal prism over home plate which defines the boundaries through which a pitch must pass in order to count as a strike when the batter does not swing.-Definition:...
smaller. He died in East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania
East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania
East Pennsboro Township is a township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 18,254 at the 2000 census. In 1990 the township had a population of 16,588. East Pennsboro is the second largest municipality in Cumberland County. The township is located along the...
.
Shortest home run in history
In 1953, sportswriter Jocko Maxwell published an article in Baseball DigestBaseball Digest
Baseball Digest is a baseball magazine resource, published in Evanston, Illinois by Lakeside Publishing Company. It is the oldest and longest-running baseball magazine in the United States....
describing the shortest home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in baseball history. Maxwell described a baseball game where Oyler, as a shortstop for the Minneapolis Millers
Minneapolis Millers
The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, until 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League.The team played first in Athletic Park and later Nicollet Park.The name Minneapolis...
, was crouched in the batters' box in the bottom of the 9th and ducked to avoid a pitch thrown at his head. The ball hit off of Oyler's bat, which was still resting on his shoulder, and became stuck in the mud in front of home plate
Home Plate
Home Plate is the fifth album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1975 .-Track listing:#"What Do You Want the Boy to Do?" – 3:19#"Good Enough" – 2:56#"Run Like a Thief" – 3:02...
. Oyler was able to complete an inside the park home run before any opposing players were able to find the ball. Maxwell's article indicated that the story was originally told by WWRL
WWRL
WWRL is a radio station in New York City, broadcasting at 1600 kHz AM owned by Access.1 Communications. Since September 1, 2006, its format has been progressive talk radio...
radio station in Woodside, New York. This story was repeated by sportswriter Bill Bryson, Sr.
Bill Bryson, Sr.
William Eugene Bryson was a sports journalist for the Des Moines Register for 50 years. He married Agnes Mary McGuire and had three children: Michael, William, and Mary Elizabeth...
in Baseball Digest in 1958. Another version of the story, as told by Halsey Hall
Halsey Hall
Halsey Hall was a sports reporter and announcer in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area from the 1920s to 1970s....
, had Oyler chopping at a low pitch and sticking the ball into the mud 5 1/2 feet from home plate.
Baseball historian Stew Thornley
Stew Thornley
Stew Thornley is an author of books on sports history, particularly in his home state. He has been an official scorer and online gamecaster for the Minnesota Twins.-References:...
is skeptical of the story of Oyler's home run, pointing out that no contemporary news reports described the incident. Other modern reference sources recount the story without caveat.
The story was the subject of a book of baseball lore by Michael G. Bryson called The Twenty-Four-Inch Home Run
The Twenty-Four-Inch Home Run
The Twenty-Four-Inch Home Run: And Other Outlandish, Incredible But True Events in Baseball History is a book about baseball lore written by sportswriter Michael G. Bryson...
. It was also the inspiration for the children's book, Mudball by Matt Tavares
Matt Tavares
Matthew Manuel Tavares is an American author and illustrator of picture books for children. He attended Bates College, and now lives in Maine with his wife and two daughters....
, which won the 2005 Parents' Choice Awards Gold Award
Parents' Choice Award
The Parents' Choice Award is an award presented by the non-profit Parents' Choice Foundation to recognize "the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels." It is considered a "prestigious" award among children's products, and has been...
. In the "Author's Note" Tavares describes the story of Oyler's home run as being folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
.