Jeoff Long
Encyclopedia
Jeoffrey Keith Long is a retired American
professional baseball
player. Although he began his career as a pitcher
, Long struggled on the mound during his first two minor league
seasons and converted to first baseman
in his third season to take advantage of his powerful bat. He reached Major League Baseball
at the age of 21, and spent part of the season and all of as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals
and Chicago White Sox
.
Long threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 200 pounds (90.7 kg). He signed with the Cardinals in 1959 after graduating from high school in Erlanger, Kentucky
. As a pitcher in his first two years in the low minors, he compiled a record of two wins and 14 defeats in 45 games, but successfully changed positions in 1961 and the following year he swatted 30 home runs for the Tulsa Oilers
of the Class AA Texas League
.
The Cardinals recalled him in July 1963 and he made five appearances as a pinch hitter
for them that season, garnering one hit
. The following year, he served as a pinch hitter and substitute first baseman and right fielder
for the 1964 Redbirds through the first week of July. He collected four hits, including a double
and his only MLB homer, against the Milwaukee Braves
during a weekend series in May, but was restricted to pinch hitting after May 29. The Cardinals then sold his contract to the White Sox on July 7 to make room for rookie
Mike Shannon
. Eight days later, Long, playing left field, slipped and hurt his knee on a wet field at Fenway Park
. The injury affected his play in 1964 — he would start only two more times for the White Sox — and restricted him to only 46 minor league games played
in 1965. In an attempt to rehabilitate the knee, Long lost three full seasons (1966–1968) and he retired after a brief 1969 minor league comeback attempt. All told, he appeared in 56 Major League games and collected 16 hits.
After leaving baseball, Long joined the family business, the Cincinnati Drum Service.
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. Although he began his career as a 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...
, Long struggled on the mound during his first two minor league
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...
seasons and converted to first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
in his third season to take advantage of his powerful bat. He reached 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...
at the age of 21, and spent part of the season and all of as a member of the 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...
and 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...
.
Long threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) tall and weighed 200 pounds (90.7 kg). He signed with the Cardinals in 1959 after graduating from high school in Erlanger, Kentucky
Erlanger, Kentucky
Erlanger is a city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 16,676 at the 2000 census.- Geography :Erlanger is located at ....
. As a pitcher in his first two years in the low minors, he compiled a record of two wins and 14 defeats in 45 games, but successfully changed positions in 1961 and the following year he swatted 30 home runs for the Tulsa Oilers
Tulsa Oilers (baseball)
The Tulsa Oilers, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, were a minor league baseball team that existed on-and-off in multiple leagues from 1905 to 1976. For most of their history, they played at Oiler Park, which opened on July 11, 1934, and was located on the Tulsa County Fairgrounds at 15th Street and...
of the Class AA Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
.
The Cardinals recalled him in July 1963 and he made five appearances as a 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 them that season, garnering one 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....
. The following year, he served as a pinch hitter and substitute first baseman and right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
for the 1964 Redbirds through the first week of July. He collected four hits, including a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and his only MLB homer, against the Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
during a weekend series in May, but was restricted to pinch hitting after May 29. The Cardinals then sold his contract to the White Sox on July 7 to make room for rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
Mike Shannon
Mike Shannon
Thomas Michael Shannon is an American-born former Major League Baseball player and current radio sportscaster.Shannon is a radio broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was raised in St. Louis, Missouri and played with the Cardinals during some of the team's most successful years...
. Eight days later, Long, playing left field, slipped and hurt his knee on a wet field at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. The injury affected his play in 1964 — he would start only two more times for the White Sox — and restricted him to only 46 minor league games played
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
in 1965. In an attempt to rehabilitate the knee, Long lost three full seasons (1966–1968) and he retired after a brief 1969 minor league comeback attempt. All told, he appeared in 56 Major League games and collected 16 hits.
After leaving baseball, Long joined the family business, the Cincinnati Drum Service.
External links
- Career record and playing statistics from Baseball Reference
- http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&pid=8395&bid=2242Costello, Rory, Jeoff Long, SABRSociety for American Baseball ResearchThe Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
Baseball Biography Project]