Norm Zauchin
Encyclopedia
Norbert Henry Zauchin was a first baseman
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Boston Red Sox
(1951, 1955–1957) and Washington Senators
(1958–1959). He batted and threw right-handed. A native of Royal Oak, Michigan
, Zauchin started his professional career in 1950 with the Double-A
Birmingham Barons
, where he set a Rickwood Field
field record with 35 home run
s. But he is best remembered for driving in 10 runs during a Major League game.
In a six-season career, Zauchin was a .233 hitter with 50 home runs and 159 RBI
in 346 games
. His most productive season came in 1955
, when he hit .239 with 27 home runs for the Red Sox and finished third in American League Rookie of the Year
voting, behind Herb Score
and Billy Klaus
. Zauchin played in 130 games and led AL first basemen in fielding percentage
(.995). On May 27, 1955, Zauchin collected 10 RBI with three home runs and a double
in the first five innings of a 16-0 victory over Washington.
Before the 1958 season, Zauchin was traded with Albie Pearson
to the Senators for Pete Runnels
. Runnels went on to win two batting titles for Boston, in 1960 and 1962, and just miss another by six points in 1958. Zauchin retired in 1959. Zauchin died in Birmingham, Alabama
, after a long illness. He was 69 years old.
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 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...
who played for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1951, 1955–1957) and Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
(1958–1959). He batted and threw right-handed. A native of Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak, Michigan
Royal Oak is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 57,236. It should not be confused with Royal Oak Charter Township, a separate community located nearby....
, Zauchin started his professional career in 1950 with the Double-A
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...
Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
, where he set a Rickwood Field
Rickwood Field
Rickwood FieldFacility StatisticsLocation1137 2nd Avenue WestBirmingham, AlabamaBroke GroundSpring 1910Cost$75,000OpenedAugust 18, 1910SurfaceGrassOwnerCity of BirminghamTenantsBirmingham Barons 1910-1961...
field record with 35 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...
s. But he is best remembered for driving in 10 runs during a Major League game.
In a six-season career, Zauchin was a .233 hitter with 50 home runs and 159 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in 346 games
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,...
. His most productive season came in 1955
1955 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Brooklyn Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Johnny Podres, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at County Stadium: National League, 6-5 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce...
, when he hit .239 with 27 home runs for the Red Sox and finished third in American League Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
voting, behind Herb Score
Herb Score
Herbert Jude Score was a Major League Baseball pitcher and announcer.-Athletic career:Score came up as a rookie in with the Cleveland Indians...
and Billy Klaus
Billy Klaus
William Joseph Klaus was a shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the Boston & Milwaukee Braves , Boston Red Sox , Baltimore Orioles , Washington Senators and Philadelphia Phillies . He played the end of the 1963 season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons...
. Zauchin played in 130 games and led AL first basemen in fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
(.995). On May 27, 1955, Zauchin collected 10 RBI with three home runs and 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....
in the first five innings of a 16-0 victory over Washington.
Before the 1958 season, Zauchin was traded with Albie Pearson
Albie Pearson
Albert Gregory Pearson is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Washington Senators , Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles/California Angels . One of the smallest MLB players of his era, he stood tall, weighed , and batted and threw left-handed...
to the Senators for Pete Runnels
Pete Runnels
James Edward "Pete" Runnels was a Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Washington Senators , Boston Red Sox and Houston Colt .45s . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed....
. Runnels went on to win two batting titles for Boston, in 1960 and 1962, and just miss another by six points in 1958. Zauchin retired in 1959. Zauchin died in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, after a long illness. He was 69 years old.