Gene Desautels
Gene Desautels | |
---|---|
Catcher | |
Born: Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. | June 13, 1907|
Died: November 5, 1994 Flint, Michigan, U.S. | (aged 87)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
June 22, 1930, for the Detroit Tigers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 22, 1946, for the Philadelphia Athletics | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .233 |
Home runs | 3 |
Runs batted in | 187 |
Teams | |
Eugene Abraham "Red" Desautels (June 13, 1907 – November 5, 1994) was an American
Playing career
Born in
Desautels came back to the major leagues in
As a member of the Indians, Desautels played as a reserve catcher behind Rollie Hemsley.[2] At the beginning of the 1943 season, Indians' manager, Lou Boudreau, named Desautels as the Indians starting catcher, but by the middle of the year he was replaced by Buddy Rosar, who was hitting above .300.[4][5] He entered the United States Marine Corps in February 1944 and was discharged in July 1945 at the age of 38, losing two years from his baseball career.[2] He rejoined the Indians in August 1945 but, saw little playing time and was released in September of that year.[2][3] He was hired by Connie Mack to play for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1946, where he once again played as a reserve catcher behind Buddy Rosar.[2] Desautels retired as a player at the end of the 1946 season, at the age of 39.[1]
Joe Cronin, the former American League President, was once asked if he had ever seen a player win an argument or an umpire change his decision. Cronin said, "Gene Desautels, then a rookie, young catcher with Detroit, was a cocky young fellow and was giving umpire Cal Hubbard a hard time. On a play at second, Desautels slid in and Hubbard called him out as he peered through a cloud of dust. I think Hubbard was hoping Desautels would complain so he could throw him out of the game, too. Desautels said sweetly, 'You can't call me out.' Hubbard blustered, 'Oh no? Why not?' 'Because,' Desautels said, 'I'm sitting on the ball.'"[2][6][7]
Career statistics
In a thirteen-year major league career, Desautels compiled a major league career
Managing career
Following his playing retirement, Desautels managed the
Desautels died in Flint, Michigan, at the age of 87.[2][14]
References
- ^ a b c d Gene Desautels at Baseball Reference
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Gene Desautels at the SABR Baseball Biography Project , by Bill Nowlin, Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ a b Gene Desautels Trades and Transactions at Baseball Almanac
- ^ "Gene Desautels Gets First Call". Ottawa Citizen. Associated Press. 3 April 1943. p. 11. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ^ "Indians Drop In Standings But Not Their Hitters". Painesville Telegraph. 15 June 1943. p. 7. Retrieved 19 June 2011.
- ISSN 0005-609X
- ISSN 0005-609X
- ^ Career Leaders for Fielding Percentage as Catchers at Baseball Reference
- ^ 1937 American League Fielding Leaders at Baseball Reference
- ^ "Career Fielding Leaders". The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- ^ a b Gene Desautels minor league manager record at Baseball Reference
- ISSN 0005-609X
- ^ "Holy Cross Athletics Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2007-08-14. Retrieved 2007-08-17.
- ISSN 0005-609X
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs
- Gene Desautels at the SABR Baseball Biography Project , by Bill Nowlin, Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- Gene Desautels - Baseballbiography.com
- Retrosheet
- Sons of Sam Horn
- Baseball in Wartime
- Holy Cross Athletics Hall of Fame Archived 2007-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
- Gene Desautels at Find a Grave