Eddie Miksis
Encyclopedia
Edward Thomas Miksis was an American
Major League Baseball
player. Born in Burlington, New Jersey
, he stood 6' 0" and weighed 185 lbs. Miksis was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers
in 1944 and on June 17, 1944, at the age of 17, he debuted in the Majors and went on to have a 14 year career as a right-handed hitting and throwing utility infielder with the Dodgers (1944–51), Chicago Cubs
(1951–56), St. Louis Cardinals
(1957), Baltimore Orioles
(1957–58) and Cincinnati Reds
(1958). Miksis hit .236 for his career and played all four infield position plus the outfield. Only in five of his fourteen seasons did he play in more than 100 games. Miksis served in the Navy for almost two years during the end of World War II
.
He played in both the 1947 and 1949 World Series
with the Dodgers, both against the New York Yankees
. Miksis batted .273 in eight World Series games.
In Game 4 of the 1947 World Series
against the New York Yankees
, when Bill Bevens
was attempting to complete the first no-hitter in the history of the World Series, Miksis pinch ran for an injured Pete Reiser
with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. He scored from first base with the winning run on the Dodgers' only hit of the game, Cookie Lavagetto
's pinch hit double.
In June of , with the Dodgers leading the National League
by 14½ games, Miksis was traded to the Chicago Cubs. His main claim to fame as a Cub was lending his glove to Ernie Banks
in Banks' first-ever major league game. Miksis played his final major league game on September 28, 1958, at the age of 32, with the Cincinnati Reds.
Miksis died on April 8, 2005, at the age of 78, in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
player. Born in Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington, New Jersey
Burlington is a city in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States and a suburb of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 9,920....
, he stood 6' 0" and weighed 185 lbs. Miksis was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in 1944 and on June 17, 1944, at the age of 17, he debuted in the Majors and went on to have a 14 year career as a right-handed hitting and throwing utility infielder with the Dodgers (1944–51), Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1951–56), St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(1957), Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
(1957–58) and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(1958). Miksis hit .236 for his career and played all four infield position plus the outfield. Only in five of his fourteen seasons did he play in more than 100 games. Miksis served in the Navy for almost two years during the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
He played in both the 1947 and 1949 World Series
1949 World Series
The 1949 World Series featured the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning in five games for their second defeat of the Dodgers in three years, and the twelfth championship in team history...
with the Dodgers, both against the New York Yankees
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...
. Miksis batted .273 in eight World Series games.
In Game 4 of the 1947 World Series
1947 World Series
The 1947 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning the Series in seven games for their first title since , and the eleventh championship in team history...
against the New York Yankees
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...
, when Bill Bevens
Bill Bevens
Floyd Clifford "Bill" Bevens was a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He stood 6' 3" and weighed 210 lb. Bevens was signed by the New York Yankees at the age of 20 in , and spent seven seasons in the minor leagues, where he threw two no-hitters for the Wenatchee Chiefs...
was attempting to complete the first no-hitter in the history of the World Series, Miksis pinch ran for an injured Pete Reiser
Pete Reiser
Harold Patrick "Pete" Reiser , nicknamed "Pistol Pete," was an outfielder in Major League Baseball during the 1940s and early 1950s. He played primarily for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and later for the Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians.-Early career:A native of St...
with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. He scored from first base with the winning run on the Dodgers' only hit of the game, Cookie Lavagetto
Cookie Lavagetto
Harry Arthur "Cookie" Lavagetto was a third baseman, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball. He is most widely known as the pinch hitter whose double ruined Bill Bevens' no-hitter in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series and gave his Brooklyn Dodgers a breathtaking victory over the New...
's pinch hit double.
In June of , with the Dodgers leading the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
by 14½ games, Miksis was traded to the Chicago Cubs. His main claim to fame as a Cub was lending his glove to Ernie Banks
Ernie Banks
Ernest "Ernie" Banks , nicknamed "Mr. Cub", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and first baseman. He played his entire 19-year baseball career with the Chicago Cubs . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.-High school years:Banks was a letterman and standout in football,...
in Banks' first-ever major league game. Miksis played his final major league game on September 28, 1958, at the age of 32, with the Cincinnati Reds.
Miksis died on April 8, 2005, at the age of 78, in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon Valley is a village, as well as a suburban mailing address located in Lower Moreland Township, Upper Moreland and Abington Township all in Montgomery County, and in a small section of Upper Southampton Township in Bucks County, Pennsylvania bordering the Fox Chase section of...
.
External links
- Eddie Miksis at Find a GraveFind A GraveFind a Grave is a commercial website providing free access and input to an online database of cemetery records. It was founded in 1998 as a DBA and incorporated in 2000.-History:...