Gus Zernial

Gus Zernial
Zernial with Philadelphia.
Outfielder
Born: June 27, 1923(1923-06-27) Beaumont, Texas
Died: January 20, 2011(2011-01-20) (aged 87) Clovis, California
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 19, 1949 for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
September 25, 1959 for the Detroit Tigers
Career statistics
Batting average	.265
Home runs	237
Runs batted in	776
Teams
Chicago White Sox (1949–1951) Philadelphia / Kansas City Athletics (1951–1957) Detroit Tigers (1958–1959)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star selection (1953)

Gus Edward Zernial (June 27, 1923 – January 20, 2011) was a Major League Baseball left-fielder and right-handed batter who played for the Chicago White Sox (1949–51), Philadelphia Athletics (1951–54), Kansas City Athletics (1955–57) and Detroit Tigers (1958–59). He was billed as the "New Joe DiMaggio."

Nicknamed "Ozark Ike" after the popular comic strip character, Zernial was one of the most feared sluggers in the 1950s, joining hall of famers Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Larry Doby in the American League, for most home runs in the decade.

After he hit 29 homers for the White Sox in 1950, Zernial was sent to the Athletics in a trade that brought Minnie Miñoso to Chicago in 1951. That year Zernial led the league in home runs (33), runs batted in (129), extra base hits (68), and 17 assists in the outfield. In 1952 he hit 29 homers with 100 RBI, 42 and 108 in 1953.

Zernial was the first Major Leaguer to hit four home runs in the month of October during the regular season, which he accomplished during a doubleheader on October 1, 1950. In 1985, Ron Kittle would become the second player to do this.

Zernial and Al Zarilla and 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 and played left and right field, respectively, as part of a White Sox outfield unit in four games before Zernial was traded to the Philadelphia A's at the end of April.

An aggressive fielder, Zernial twice broke his collarbone while making a diving catch (1949 and 1954). He finished his career in Detroit, primarily as a pinch hitter, hitting .323 with 10 home runs in his new role.

Gus Zernial was a career .265 hitter (1093-for-4131) with 237 home runs, 776 RBI, 572 runs, 159 doubles, 22 triples, and 15 stolen bases in 1234 games.

Zernial is featured in one of the most unusual baseball cards of all-time. His 1952 Topps card shows Zernial holding a bat that has five baseballs attached to it.

Before being called up to the major leagues, Zernial played in the Pacific Coast League, the highly successful minor league circuit. In the HBO series When It Was a Game, Zernial states that he took a pay cut to come to the majors.

Zernial has the second most home runs of all time among players whose last name begins with the letter Z. His 237 are second only to Todd Zeile who finished his career with 253.

Zernial was diagnosed with cancer in 1990.

Mr. Zernial died at a Fresno hospice care center from the effects of congestive heart failure, said his daughter, Lisa Pearlstein.

"When my dad passed away he had his entire family around him," Pearlstein said. "For the past year he'd been in and out of the hospital quite a bit. But he fought the whole way."

When the Oakland Athletics played the Philadelphia Phillies for the first time in interleague play in June 2003 at Veterans Stadium, the Phillies invited former-Philadelphia A's Eddie Joost and Zernial to the games and recognized them prior to the first game.

Zernial recently served as a good-will ambassador with the Fresno Grizzlies (SF Giants PCL affiliate).

See also

• List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
• List of Major League Baseball home run champions
• List of Major League Baseball RBI champions

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• Baseball Library
• - Zernial's 1952 Topps baseball card

Preceded by Al Rosen	American League Home Run Champion 1951	Succeeded by Larry Doby
Preceded by Walt Dropo & Vern Stephens	American League RBI Champion 1951	Succeeded by Al Rosen