Originally Posted by Mark17
Frank Saucier was the best hitter in 3 different minor leagues, but due to war service commitments, injuries, and a preference to get into the oil business, his ML career lasted just 14 games in 1951, and he achieved just one major league hit.
At Wichita Falls in 1949, he won the league batting title with a .446 average, then the highest-ever mark in the history of Organized Baseball. He had 141 hits in 316-at bats, earning him the Hillerich & Bradsby Silver Slugger Award as the minor leagues’ top hitter.
But, of course, he's best remembered as the guy who was pulled for pinch-hitter Eddie Gaedel.
Anyway, his 1951 road uniform (St. Louis Browns) was at auction with REA last year and again at Grey Flannel this year, where I was the winning bidder. While reading about the man who had worn that very shirt 70 years ago, I was stunned to learn he is still alive! So I wrote him a brief note and included a color image of the jersey, with close-up of his name stitched into the tail. Today I received his response.
Interestingly, he kept the original letter I sent, with the color images, and returned his reply on a black & white copy of my letter. I like to think he wanted to keep that color picture of his old shirt, and got a kick out of seeing it again, 70 years later.
Below are pics of the jersey and his response. His locker was next to Satchel Paige's, and while he didn't mention it, since his lone hit, a double, was in Cleveland on August 7, 1951, he was wearing this shirt at the time.
|