Mike Gazella
| Mike Gazella | |
|---|---|
 Gazella, circa 1928 | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: October 13, 1895 Olyphant, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
| Died: September 11, 1978 (aged 82) Odessa, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 2, 1923, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 30, 1928, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .241 |
| Hits | 85 |
| Runs batted in | 32 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Michael Gazella (October 13, 1895 – September 11, 1978) was an American major league baseball player who played for the New York Yankees on several championship teams in the 1920s.[1]
Born in Olyphant, Pennsylvania,[2] Gazella played football as well as baseball at Lafayette College and Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.[3] In 1923, he was signed by New York and played in eight games for the Yankees that season. Consigned to the minor leagues in 1924 and 1925, he played for teams in Minneapolis and Atlanta before rejoining New York in the 1926 season as a utility infielder, usually playing third base.
The Yankees played in the World Series every year Gazella was on the team, winning three. However, Gazella played in only the 1926 Series, in which the Yankees lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.
After retiring, Gazella managed the Ponca City Angels[4] of the Western Association and the Moline Plowboys of the Three-I League, as well as scouted for the Yankees.
Gazella died in an automobile accident in Odessa, Texas on September 11, 1978.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Smelser, Marshall (1993). The Life That Ruth Built: A Biography. University of Nebraska Press. p. 328. ISBN 0-8032-9218-X.
- ^ Kashatus, William C. (2002). Diamonds in the Coalfields: 21 Remarkable Baseball Players, Managers, and Umpires from Northeast Pennsylvania. McFarland & Company. p. 97. ISBN 0-7864-1176-7.
- ^ Beverage, Richard E. (2005). The Hollywood Stars. Arcadia Publishing. p. 30. ISBN 0-7385-3056-5.
- ^ Cleve, Craig Allen (2004). Hardball on the Home Front: Major League Replacement Players of World War II. McFarland & Company. p. 39. ISBN 0-7864-1897-4.
- ^ "Former Yankee 1927 Team Member Dies". The Daily Herald. Provo, Utah. September 12, 1978. p. 4. Retrieved May 24, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Interview with Michael Gazella conducted by Eugene Murdock on June 6, 1978, in Odessa, Texas.
- Mike Gazella at Find a Grave
- 1895 births
- 1978 deaths
- Atlanta Crackers players
- People from Olyphant, Pennsylvania
- Baseball players from Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
- Hollywood Stars players
- Lafayette Leopards baseball players
- Lafayette Leopards football players
- Los Angeles Angels (minor league) players
- Major League Baseball infielders
- Mansfield Mounties baseball players
- Minneapolis Millers (baseball) players
- Moline Plowboys players
- New York Yankees players
- New York Yankees scouts
- Players of American football from Pennsylvania
- Ponca City Angels players
- Road incident deaths in Texas