Mike Pasquella
Encyclopedia
Michael John "Mike" Pasquella (November 7, 1898 – April 5, 1965), nicknamed "Toney", was a professional baseball
player for one season. In 1919, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies
and St. Louis Cardinals
of Major League Baseball
National League
. He was officially listed as standing 5 in 11 in (180.34 cm) and weighing 167 pounds (75.7 kg).
. He attended college at Villanova University
, one of 48 players to attend that school.
Pasquella appeared for three teams during the 1919 season: two major league clubs and one in the minor leagues. As a minor leaguer, Pasquella played in 46 games for the Waco Navigators
of the Texas League
as a backup at first base
to Roy Leslie
. In the field, he recorded a .991 fielding percentage
, making 444 putout
s, 17 assists
, and 4 errors
. As a hitter, Pasquella batted .202 with seven doubles
and a home run
. When he played in the major leagues, he appeared first for the Philadelphia Phillies
, playing in one game against the Chicago Cubs
on July 9. He replaced Fred Luderus
at first base—with Gene Packard
in between as a pinch hitter
—and notched his first major league hit
in his debut at-bat. On July 31, Pasquella was playing for the St. Louis Cardinals
against the Phillies, where Packard earned the victory for Philadelphia. Pasquella pinch-hit for pitcher Bill Sherdell, going hitless in his only Cardinals at-bat.
After playing, Pasquella worked as a minor league manager
for three teams. He skippered the Crisfield Crabbers of the Eastern Shore League (ESL) in the 1926 and 1927 seasons, followed by the ESL's Easton Farmers in 1928, and the Greenville Tobacconists of the Eastern Carolina League
in 1929; he returned to the Crabbers in 1937 for his final managerial job.
Pasquella died on April 5, 1965, in Bridgeport, Connecticut
, and was buried in St. Michael Cemetery in the neighboring town of Stratford
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player for one season. In 1919, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
and St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. He was officially listed as standing 5 in 11 in (180.34 cm) and weighing 167 pounds (75.7 kg).
Biography
Pasquella was born "Michael John Pasquariello" on November 7, 1898, in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He attended college at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
, one of 48 players to attend that school.
Pasquella appeared for three teams during the 1919 season: two major league clubs and one in the minor leagues. As a minor leaguer, Pasquella played in 46 games for the Waco Navigators
Waco Navigators
The Waco Navigators were a Texas League baseball team based in Waco, Texas, USA that played from 1906 to 1919. They played their home games at Katy Park....
of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
as a backup at first base
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
to Roy Leslie
Roy Leslie
Roy Reid Leslie was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He played during three different major league seasons for three different teams, including a stint as the regular first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies in ....
. In the field, he recorded a .991 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
, making 444 putout
Putout
In baseball statistics, a putout is given to a defensive player who records an out by one of the following methods:* Tagging a runner with the ball when he is not touching a base...
s, 17 assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
, and 4 errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
. As a hitter, Pasquella batted .202 with seven doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and a home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
. When he played in the major leagues, he appeared first for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, playing in one game against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
on July 9. He replaced Fred Luderus
Fred Luderus
Frederick William Luderus , is a former professional baseball player who played first base in the Major Leagues from 1909-1920. He would play for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs.Luderus was a member of the 1915 Phillies team that won the National League pennant...
at first base—with Gene Packard
Gene Packard
Eugene Milo Packard , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1912–19. He played for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Packers, St...
in between as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
—and notched his first major league hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in his debut at-bat. On July 31, Pasquella was playing for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
against the Phillies, where Packard earned the victory for Philadelphia. Pasquella pinch-hit for pitcher Bill Sherdell, going hitless in his only Cardinals at-bat.
After playing, Pasquella worked as a minor league manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
for three teams. He skippered the Crisfield Crabbers of the Eastern Shore League (ESL) in the 1926 and 1927 seasons, followed by the ESL's Easton Farmers in 1928, and the Greenville Tobacconists of the Eastern Carolina League
Eastern Carolina League
The Eastern Carolina League was a minor league baseball affiliation which operated in the Eastern part of North Carolina. The league had two distinct periods of operation: 1908-1910 and a revival of the league in 1928-1929. It was classified as a "D" league....
in 1929; he returned to the Crabbers in 1937 for his final managerial job.
Pasquella died on April 5, 1965, in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, and was buried in St. Michael Cemetery in the neighboring town of Stratford
Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
.