Paul Gillespie

"For the Irish Times columnist, see Paul Gillespie (columnist)"

Paul Allen Gillespie (September 18, 1920 - August 11, 1970) was a Major League Baseball catcher for the Chicago Cubs in 1942, 1944, and 1945. A native of Sugar Valley, Georgia, he stood 6'3" and weighed 195 lbs.

Gillespie is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II. He may be most well-known for being a key reserve on the last Chicago Cubs team to win a National League pennant (1945). That was his best season, as he got into 75 games and hit .288 with 3 home runs, 25 runs batted in, and 12 runs scored. He played great defense, making just 2 errors in 45 appearances at catcher. Playing in three out of seven games of the 1945 World Series, he went 0-for-6.

Other notable accomplishments for Gillespie include hitting a home run in his first major league at bat. This took place against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds on September 11, 1942. [http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats5.shtml] He also hit a home run in his final major league at bat: September 29, 1945 against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field. [http://baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats18.shtml] Gillespie, along with John Miller (1966-1969) are the only two players in major league history to do both.

His career totals for 89 games include a .283 batting average (58-for-205), 6 HR, 31 RBI, 17 runs scored, a .358 on base percentage, and a .405 slugging percentage. In 56 appearances as a catcher his fielding percentage was .978, which was exactly the league's average during the time he played.

Gillespie died at the age of 49 in Anniston, Alabama.

ee also

*Home run in first at-bat
*Home run in final at-bat

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/gillepa01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Pgillp103.htm Retrosheet]

Paul Gilbert Gillespie is the author of "Weapons of Choice"