A Glimpse of Fame: Brilliant but Fleeting Major League Careers

by Dennis Snelling

Overview

Ron Necciai once struck out 27 hitters in a nine-inning minor league game. Floyd Giebell beat Bob Feller to clinch the 1940 American League pennant for the Detroit Tigers. John Paciorek had three hits in three at bats in his big league debut—and never played another game in the majors.

These three players and twelve other talented men (Bill Koski, Ed Sanicki, Joe Stanka, Bill Rohr, Al Autry, Joe Brovia, John Leovich, Bert Shepard, Doug Clarey, Marshall Mauldin, Bernie Williams, and Frank Leja) reached the top of their profession only to sink back into obscurity. Through interviews with all the players and extensive research, their stories are told. Major and minor league year-by-year statistics for each player are included.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780786477494
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	02/11/2014
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	268
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Dennis Snelling is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research and the Pacific Coast League Historical Society. He lives in Rocklin, California. (Visit www.dennissnelling.com.)

Table of Contents

The Lineup Card

Acknowledgments
Introduction

Bill Koski: Pitcher, 1951 Pittsburgh Pirates
The role of luck, fate, and circumstance in a player’s career
Ed Sanicki: Outfielder, 1949, 1951 Philadelphia Phillies
Four straight 100 RBI seasons in the minors, his first three big league hits are homers
Joe Stanka: Pitcher, 1959 Chicago White Sox
An American wins the Most Valuable Player award in Japan
Bill Rohr: Pitcher, 1967 Boston Red Sox; 1968 Cleveland Indians
One Pitch away from a no-hitter in his big league debut
Al Autry: Pitcher, 1976 Atlanta Braves
The only major league pitcher in the last 57 years to win in his only appearance
Joe Brovia: Outfielder, 1955 Cincinnati Reds
One of the Pacific Coast League’s most feared hitters gets his chance at the age of
John Leovich: Catcher, 1941 Philadelphia Athletics
The best part of baseball is friendship
Bert Shepard: Pitcher, 1945 Washington Senators
An ex-fighter pilot becomes the only one-legged player in the history of major league baseball
Ron Necciai: Pitcher, 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates
The kid who struck out 27 times in one game
Doug Clarey: Second Baseman, 1976 St. Louis Cardinals
His only major league hit is an extra-inning game-winning home
Marshall Mauldin: Third Baseman, 1934 Chicago White Sox
Leaving behind a legacy for future generations
Floyd Giebell: Pitcher, 1939–41 Detroit Tigers
The man who out-pitched Bob Feller to clinch the 1940 American League pennant
Bernie Williams: Outfielder, 1970–72 San Francisco Giants; 1974 San Diego Padres
Touted as Willie May’s successor, eventually traded with Willie McCovey
John Paciorek: Outfielder, 1963 Houston Colt .45s
Three for three in his only major league game
Frank Leja: First Baseman, 1954–55 New York Yankees; 1962 Los Angeles Angels
The life and struggles of a “bonus baby”

Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Snelling...has a feel for these baseball footnotes and relates their stories with compassion and wit...excellent”—Booklist; “an intriguing collection of character studies of players who had brilliant but fleeting major league careers”—The Yankees Bookshelf; “remind us both that anyone who reaches the level of major league baseball is extremely talented and that every player is an important part of the history of the game”—The SABR Bulletin; “his interviews reveal both the high points and disappointments”—Library Journal; “profiles in detail 15 players who had their 15 minutes of fame before vanishing in athletic obscurity”—Houston Post.

From the Publisher

remind us both that anyone who reaches the level of major league baseball is extremely talented and that every player is an important part of the history of the game

The SABR Bulletin

an intriguing collection of character studies of players who had brilliant but fleeting major league careers

The Yankees Bookshelf

Snelling...has a feel for these baseball footnotes and relates their stories with compassion and wit...excellent

Booklist

Snelling, a member of the Society for American Baseball Research, surveys the short careers of promising pitchers Ron Necciai and Bill Koski, hitting hopefuls Frank Leja and Joe Brovia, and 11 other potential big league stars. His interviews reveal both the high points and disappointments of the players' baseball lives, plus their later career adjustments. The players offer judgments--both fond and otherwise--on managers and coaches. Similar to Michael Fedo's One Shining Season ( LJ 2/15/91);for large sports collections.-- Morey Berger, St. Joseph's Hosp. Medical Lib., Tucson

Library Journal