John Ganzel

Infobox MLB retired
name=John Ganzel
position=First Baseman


bgcolor1=black
bgcolor2=black
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
birthdate=birth date|1874|4|7
city-state|Kalamazoo|Michigan
deathdate=death date and age|1959|1|14|1874|4|7
city-state|Orlando|Florida
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=April 21
debutyear=1898
debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
finaldate=September 30
finalyear=1908
finalteam=Cincinnati Reds
stat1label=Batting average
stat2label=Hits
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat1value=.251
stat2value=682
stat3value=336
teams=
*Pittsburgh Pirates (1898)
*Chicago Orphans (1900)
*New York Giants (1901)
*New York Highlanders (1903-1904)
*Cincinnati Reds (1907-1908)
highlights=
*Led NL in triples in 1907

John Henry Ganzel (April 7 1874 - January 14 1959) was an American first baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. Ganzel batted and threw right-handed. He played with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1898), Chicago Cubs (1900), New York Giants (1902) New York Highlanders (1903-1904) and the Cincinnati Reds (1907-1908). Ganzel managed the Reds in 1908 and the Federal League's Brooklyn Tip-Tops in by|1915. He hit the first ever Yankee home run on May 11, by|1903.cite book |title=A Yankees Century, A Celebration of the First Hundred Years of Baseball's Greatest Team|author=Harvey Frommer|publisher=The Berkley Publishing Group|isbn=0-425-18617-2|pages=392] A native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Ganzel came from a family of baseball men. His brother, Charlie, was a catcher who played with the Whitecaps, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Wolverines and Boston Beaneaters during 14 seasons, and his nephew Babe Ganzel was an outfielder for the Washington Senators. Two brothers and two nephews also played in the minor leagues.

In a seven-season career, Ganzel was a .251 hitter with 18 home runs and 336 runs batted in during 747 games played. As a manager, he posted a 90-99 record for a .476 winning percentage.

Following his major league career, Ganzel managed several minor league clubs. In 1938 he headed the Orlando franchise of the Florida State League and was active with the club until his retirement in 1952.

Ganzel died in Orlando, Florida at the age of 84.

Highlights

*Led National League first basemen in putouts (1,421), fielding percentage (.986) and total chances (1,519) in 1901
*Led American League first basemen in fielding percentage (.988) and total chances (1,497) in 1903
*Led National League in triples (16) and fielding percentage (.990) in 1907
*While managing in the International League he was, at one time, the highest paid minor league manager, earning $7,000 and a part of the profits.

ee also

*List of Major League Baseball triples champions

References

External links

*baseball-reference|id=g/ganzejo01
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/G/Ganzel_John.stm BaseballLibrary]
* [http://thedeadballera.com/Obits/Ganzel.John.Obit.html The Deadball Era]