Jerry Schoonmaker

Jerry Schoonmaker
Outfielder
Born: December 14, 1933 (1933-12-14) (age 77) Seymour, Missouri
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 11, 1955 for the Washington Senators
Last MLB appearance
September 29, 1957 for the Washington Senators
Career statistics
Batting average	.130
Home runs	1
Runs batted in	4
Teams
Washington Senators (1955; 1957)

Jerald Lee Schoonmaker (born December 14, 1933, at Seymour, Missouri) is a retired American professional baseball player. An outfielder, Schoonmaker was signed to a $30,000 bonus contract by the Washington Senators of Major League Baseball in 1955 after a standout career at the University of Missouri. However, his career was hampered by the Bonus Rule, which compelled him to spend his first two years as a professional on the Washington roster. Then, after his only minor league season, he sustained a career-ending eye injury in December 1958.

Schoonmaker threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) and weighed 190 pounds (86 kg). A three-sport (baseball, basketball and football) athlete in his hometown of Lebanon, Missouri, Schoonmaker batted close to .400 in his junior season at Missouri (when the Tigers won the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship) and captained the baseball team during his senior season. After signing with Washington, he appeared in 20 games for the Senators in 1955, batting 46 times; then, after spending 1956 serving in the U.S. military, he spent his mandatory second year, 1957, on the Senator roster, playing in 30 contests but registering only 23 at bats.

In 1958, Washington was finally permitted to send Schoonmaker to the minor leagues for much-needed experience, but he batted only .222 in 139 games, most of them with the Charlotte Hornets of the Class A Sally League.^[1] That offseason, he underwent surgery after an errant sliver of metal injured his left eye while he was working at a construction job.^[2] His vision compromised, he retired from professional baseball at the age of 25.

All told, Schoonmaker registered nine hits in 69 MLB at bats, including one double, triple and one home run.^[3]

References

1. ^ Minor league statistics, from Baseball Reference
2. ^ Jefferson City, MO, Post-Tribune, December 18, 1958
3. ^ Major League Statistics from Baseball Reference

See also

• List of baseball players who went directly to the major leagues

Persondata
Name	Schoonmaker, Jerry
Alternative names
Short description	American baseball player
Date of birth	December 14, 1933
Place of birth	Seymour, Missouri
Date of death
Place of death