Gus Zernial

Infobox MLB retired
name=Gus Zernial
position=Outfielder


bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1923|6|27
city-state|Beaumont|Texas
deathdate=
debutdate=April 19
debutyear=by|1949
debutteam=Chicago White Sox
finaldate=September 25
finalyear=by|1959
finalteam=Detroit Tigers
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.265
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=237
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=776
teams=
* Chicago White Sox (by|1949-by|1951)
* Philadelphia / Kansas City Athletics (by|1951-by|1957)
* Detroit Tigers (by|1958-by|1959)
highlights=
* All-Star selection (1953)

Gus Edward Zernial (born June 27, 1923 in Beaumont, Texas) is a former 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 by|1950, Zernial was sent to the Athletics in a trade that brought Minnie Miñoso to Chicago in by|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 by|1952 he hit 29 homers with 100 RBI, 42 and 108 in by|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 by|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 was diagnosed with cancer in 1990.

ee also

* Top 500 home run hitters of all time
* List of Major League Baseball home run champions
* List of Major League Baseball RBI champions
* Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game

External links

* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/Z/Zernial_Gus.stm Baseball Library]