Paul Gillespie
| Paul Gillespie | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Catcher | |||
| Born: September 18, 1920 Sugar Valley, Georgia |
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| Died: Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day Anniston, Alabama |
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| MLB debut | |||
| September 11, 1942, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| September 30, 1945, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .283 | ||
| Home runs | 6 | ||
| Runs batted in | 31 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Paul Allen Gillespie (September 18, 1920 – August 11, 1970) was a Major League Baseball catcher for the Chicago Cubs in 1942, 1944, and 1945. A native of Sugar Valley, Georgia, he stood 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and weighed 195 lbs.
Gillespie is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II. He may be best known for being a key reserve on the last Chicago Cubs team to win a National League pennant (1945). That was his best season, as he got into 75 games and hit .288 with 3 home runs, 25 runs batted in, and 12 runs scored. He played great defense, making just 2 errors in 45 appearances at catcher. Playing in three out of seven games of the 1945 World Series, he went 0-for-6.
Other notable accomplishments for Gillespie include hitting a home run in his first major league at bat. This took place against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds on September 11, 1942. [1] He also hit a home run in his final major league at bat: September 29, 1945 against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field.[2] Gillespie, along with John Miller (1966–1969) are the only two players in major league history to do both.
His career totals for 89 games include a .283 batting average (58-for-205), 6 HR, 31 RBI, 17 runs scored, a .358 on-base percentage, and a .405 slugging percentage. In 56 appearances as a catcher his fielding percentage was .978, which was exactly the league's average during the time he played.
Gillespie died at the age of 49 in Anniston, Alabama.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players with a home run in their first major league at bat
- List of Major League Baseball players with a home run in their final major league at bat
References
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- Pages with reference errors
- Age error
- 1920 births
- 1970 deaths
- Chicago Cubs players
- Major League Baseball catchers
- Baseball players from Georgia (U.S. state)
- Brownsville Charros players
- Lake Charles Skippers players
- Elmira Pioneers players
- Salina Millers players
- Oklahoma City Indians players
- Gadsden Pilots players
- Knoxville Smokies players
- Tulsa Oilers (baseball) players
- Nashville Volunteers players
- Oakland Oaks (baseball) players
- Los Angeles Angels (minor league) players
- Macon Peaches players
