| Gus Zernial | |
|---|---|
 Zernial with Philadelphia | |
| Left fielder | |
| Born:(1923-06-27)June 27, 1923 Beaumont, Texas, U.S. | |
| Died: January 20, 2011(2011-01-20) (aged 87) Fresno, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 19, 1949, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 25, 1959, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .265 |
| Home runs | 237 |
| Runs batted in | 776 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Gus Edward Zernial (June 27, 1923 – January 20, 2011)[1] was an American professionalbaseball player. He played as anoutfielder inMajor League Baseball, most notably for thePhiladelphia Athletics with whom he remained when they moved west and became theKansas City Athletics in 1955.[2]
Nicknamed "Ozark Ike" after the popular comic strip character, Zernial was one of the most prolific powerhitters of the 1950s, joiningHall of FamersMickey Mantle,Yogi Berra andLarry Doby in theAmerican League for mosthome runs in the decade.[2]
Before being called up to the major leagues, Zernial played in thePacific Coast League, the highly successfulminor league circuit. In theHBO seriesWhen It Was a Game, Zernial states that he took a pay cut to come to the majors.
After he hit 29 homers for the White Sox in 1950, Zernial was sent to the Athletics in a trade that broughtMinnie Miñoso to Chicago in 1951. That year Zernial led the league in home runs (33),runs batted in (129),extra base hits (68), and outfieldassists (17). In 1952 he hit 29 homers with 100 RBIs, and in 1953 he hit 42 home runs with 108 RBIs.
Zernial was the first major leaguer to hit four home runs in the month of October during the regular season, since 1900, which he accomplished during a doubleheader on October 1, 1950.Ron Kittle would become the second player to do this in 1985.
Zernial andAl Zarilla teamed up in April 1951 to become the only players whose last names started with "Z" to play together in the same outfield. Zernial and Zarilla played left and right field, respectively, as part of a White Sox outfield unit in four games before Zernial was traded to thePhiladelphia A's at the end of April.
Sal Maglie, former star pitcher for theNew York Giants, wrote that Zernial had a "pretty big"strike zone, due to his stand-up posture when he was at the plate.[3]
An aggressive fielder, Zernial twice (1949 and 1954) broke his collarbone while making diving catches. He finished his career in Detroit, primarily as apinch hitter, hitting .323 with 10 home runs in his new role.
Zernial was a career .265 hitter (1093-for-4131) with 237 home runs, 776 RBI, 572runs, 159doubles, 22triples, 15stolen bases and 383bases on balls in 1234 games.
Zernial is featured in one of the most unusual baseball cards of all time. His 1952Topps card shows Zernial holding a bat that has six baseballs attached to it.[4] This photo recognized that he had tied an American League record by hitting six home runs in three consecutive games from May 13–16, 1951. The day after the picture was taken, he hit his seventh home run in a fourth consecutive game.
Zernial has the third most home runs of all time among players whose last name begins with the letter Z. His 237 are third only toTodd Zeile who finished his career with 253 andRyan Zimmerman who finished his career with 284.[5]
Zernial was the first player to hit threehome runs in the final game of a season, a record equalled byDick Allen in 1968 andEvan Longoria andDan Johnson in 2012.[6]
In a postscript to his acclaim noted above as the "new DiMaggio", Zernial figured, coincidentally, inJoe DiMaggio meeting his legendary future wifeMarilyn Monroe. The "handsome" young Zernial was chosen to pose with rising star Monroe in a movie-studio publicity shot. DiMaggio was so struck by Marilyn in the photo, as well as so envious of Zernial's opportunity, that he asked the rival outfielder how to reach Marilyn.[7]
When the Oakland Athletics played thePhiladelphia Phillies for the first time in interleague play inJune 2003 atVeterans Stadium, the Phillies invited former Philadelphia A'sEddie Joost and Zernial to the games and recognized them prior to the first game.[8]
Zernial was diagnosed with cancer in 1990. He died on January 20, 2011, from complications related to congestive heart failure.[9]
