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Eddie Gaedel: The Smallest Player in Baseball History

Eddie Gaedel: The Smallest Player in Baseball History

Update: 2025-08-21
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On August 19, 1951, 26 year old Eddie Gaedel stepped up to plate during a major league baseball game. He would promptly take a walk on four straight pitches - then be replaced at first base by another player. Eddie Gaedel never played another game. The reason - he was only 3’7” tall. This is the story of Eddie Gaedel - the smallest person to ever play Major League Baseball.




Sources


https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Eddie-Gaedel/


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Gaedel




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Eddie Gaedel: The Smallest Player in Baseball History

Eddie Gaedel: The Smallest Player in Baseball History

Matt and McKinley Breen