Each year, since 2014, Baseball Roundtable has announced a John Paciorek Award (JPA) honoree. The JPA recognizes players who have had short, sometimes very short, major-league careers, but whose accomplishments, nonetheless, deserve recognition. Past winners have included: a player whose every MLB hit (three in nine career at bats) was a home run; a player who had only one MLB at bat, but earned a World Series ring and a Purple Heart; a player who had just two home runs in 61 MLB at bats, but is also one of just two players in MLB history to homer in their first and final official appearances in a major-league batter’s box; a war hero who pitched in the majors on one leg; and more. There are links to the bios of past honorees later in this post. By the way, I usually announced the JPA Award in early April, but being cooped up by the recent winter weather gave me time (and the inclination) to consider this in January.
(Note: Information on John Paciorek’s career – the inspiration for the JPA – can be found at the end of this post. Paciorek’s day in the sun constitutes arguably the best one-game MLB career ever.)
Photo: Wknight94, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commonshoto:
This year’s John Paciorek Award honoree is Australian-born third baseman Glenn Williams, who had a 13-game major-league career – all in June of 2005 and all with the Minnesota Twins. Over his 13-games in “The Show,” Williams hit a robust .425 and collected at least one hit in every game he played.
More Baseball Roundtable #InBaseballWeCountEverything
Glenn Williams holds the MLB record for the longest MLB career for a player who was never held hitless in any MLB game he appeared in.
Included in that 13-game hitting streak were three games in which Williams made just one plate appearance – twice as a pinch hitter and once after entering a game at third base in the tenth inning. That extra-inning single-plate-appearance contest (June 17) is probably the highlight of William career (after his first-ever MLB appearance, of course). On June 17, after entering a 4-4 game (at third bases) in the top of tenth inning (Padres versus Twins in Minnesota), Williams came to bat with no outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eleventh frame. He broke the tie with a game-winning, walk-off single to left field.
For those who like a little more detail, Williams hit .360 (9-for-25) from the left side and .533 (8-for-15) from the right-handed batters’ box. He hit .455 at home (10-for-22) and .389 on the road (7-for-18). He batted in the second, sixth, eighth and ninth spots in the order and hit .364 or better in all four lineup spots. While he only had three RBI, he hit .556 with runners in scoring position (5-for-9) and .500 with runners in scoring position and two out (2-for-4).
Now for a bit of background.
Williams was born in Gosford, Australia, to a family with a passion for baseball – Glenn’s father Gary had been deeply involved in the development of baseball in Australia and the switch-hitting Glenn followed in his footsteps, eventually playing for the Australian Junior National Team in 1992 and signing with the Braves as a 16-year-old in 1993 (for a reported $925,000 bonus).
Williams started his professional career (rookie-level) in the Braves’ system in 1994. Between 1994 and 1999, he worked his way up Double-A, but struggled along the way. Over six seasons in the Braves’ system, Williams hit .222-40-195 in 476 games. More troubling, perhaps, was the fact that he walked just 140 times versus 507 strikeouts. The Braves released Williams (who was coming off shoulder surgery) during 1994 Spring Training. Three days later, Williams signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. He fared better in four seasons (2000-2004 in the Toronto system, hitting .260-65-292 over 507 games. In 2004, at 27-years-old and already in his 11th professional season, Williams had a solid year at Triple-A Syracuse, hitting .264-23-79 in 117 games – and showing improvement in his walk-to-strikeout ratio (34 walks/79 whiffs). Still, in October, he was granted free agency by the Blue Jays and, in December, signed with the Twins.
The Twins sent Williams to Triple-A Rochester, where he sparkled – hitting .303-5-22 in 48 games before being called up to Minnesota. In his MLB debut, on June 7, he delivered a sixth-inning, two-out pinch-hit single on the first MLB pitch he ever saw. That single helped continue what would eventually be a three-run inning, tying the game at five apiece. From there, Williams’ MLB career lasted 21 days – during which, as noted earlier, he got into 13 games, hit safely in all of them and put up a .425 average. Then, Williams suffered a shoulder injury diving back to first base on a pick-off play – ending his season. The injury required surgery and Williams never returned to the major leagues.
Williams did play two more seasons in the Twins’ minor-league system – both at Triple-A Rochester – hitting .245, with 19 home runs and 93 RBI in 229 games.
Glenn Williams was a member of the Australian team that won a Silver Medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics. He also was a member of the 2000 Australian Olympic baseball squad.
There is no doubt that baseball is in Williams’ blood. His first job after retiring as a player was as a coach at the MLB academy in Australia. He has also worked a as General Manager of Australia’s entry in the World Baseball Classic and manager of the Sydney Blue Sox of the Australian Baseball League. In 2021, Williams became the Chief Executive Officer of Baseball Australia.
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball Australia; Glenn Williams Interview, TwinsTrivia.com.
____________________________________
Here’s a look at – and links to – past JPA Award honorees:
2014 – Brian Scott Dallimore
In his first start (not his first game) for the 2004 Giants, Dallimore had two singles, a Grand Slam (his first MLB hit and only MLB home run), a walk and a hit by pitch. For the full JPA take on Dallimore’s 27- game MLB career, click here.
2015 – Roy Gleason
Gleason played in just eight MLB games, had a double in his only MLB at bat – but also earned a World Series ring (1963) and a Purple Heart. Ultimately, he was the only ballplayer with MLB experience to serve on the front lines in Vietnam. For the full JPA take on Gleason, click here. Note: Gleason’s life is detailed in the book “Lost in the Sun – Roy Gleason’s Odyssey from the Outfield to the Battlefield.”
2016 – John Allen Miller
Miller played just 32 MLB games (during the 1966 and 1969 seasons), taking the field (at 1B/LF/3B/2B) for the Yankees and Dodgers. Miller collected ten hits in 61 MLB at bats (.164 average) and hit just two home runs – but he made those long balls count – becoming one of just two players in MLB history to homer in their first and final official appearances in a major-league batter’s box. For more on Miller, click here.
2017 – Chris Saenz
RHP Chris Saenz’ big day came on April 24, 2004 – when he was called up from Double-A Huntsville (where he was 1-1, 3.86) to make a spot start against the Saint Louis Cardinals, whose powerful lineup included the likes of Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds and Reggie Sanders. The rookie went six innings, giving up just two hits, three walks and no runs, while fanning seven. Two days after this debut, he was on his way back to Huntsville, where he suffered an elbow injury and never returned to the majors. Statistics before 1900 can be sketchy, but baseball-reference.com shows that Saenz is the only pitcher to complete a one-game MLB career of at least five innings pitched, without giving up a single run (earned or unearned). For more details on this JPA honoree, click here.
2018 – Keith McDonald
McDonald’s MLB career (Cardinals 2000-2001) covered just eight games and 11 plate appearances (nine at bats) and three hits – but he made them count. All of McDonald’s safeties were home runs – making him the only MLB player with more than one career hit who can look back on major league career in which his every hit was a home run. .For the full story, click here.
2019 – Harley Hisner
Hisner’s MLB tenure encompassed the day of September 30, 1951. That’s when the 24-year-old righty faced the New York Yankees – and a lineup that included five future Hall of Famers: Mickey Mantle in RF; Joe DiMaggio in CF; Phil Rizzuto at SS; Johnny Mize at 1B; and Yogi Berra behind the plate. In his very first MLB inning, Hisner faced five batters, four of them future Hall of Famers, and gave up two singles and no runs. His place in history? One of those singles was Joe DiMaggio’s last MLB safety. For more on Hisner and his ongoing involvement in and love of the game (he went on to earn the Northeast Indiana Baseball Association Colin Lister Award for “dedication to the game of baseball and its historic legacy,” click here.
2020 – Bert Shepard
Shepard set aside his baseball mound dreams in 1943 – after four minor-league seasons – to enlist in the U.S. Army, where he became a P-38 Lightning fighter pilot. Shepard was shot down on his 34th combat mission and, while a prisoner of war, his wounds resulted in the amputation of his right leg below the knee. Upon his release (a prisoner exchange), Shepard did not surrender his dreams and fought his way back to the major leagues. He made one major-league appearance (for the Washington Senators), pitching 5 1/3 innings of three-hit, one-run ball. While Shepard’s MLB career consisted of that sole appearance, he did continue to pitch, coach and manage in minor leagues – and his story proved an inspiration for disabled veterans. For more of Bert Shepard story, click here.
2021 – Henry Schmidt
Henry Martin Schmidt didn’t make it to the big leagues until eight seasons after his professional (minor-league) debut. In fact, he was just two months shy of his 30th birthday when he first took the major-league mound. Why did it take so long? Simple answer – location. He had considerable difficulty “locating” his pitches. While it took a long time for Schmidt to make it to the major leagues, it didn’t take him long to leave MLB. He lasted just one season – and is the only pitcher in MLB history who was a 20-game winner in his only major league season. Why was his MLB career so short? Simple answer – location. He did not care for the geographic “location” of major-league baseball. For more on Henry Schmidt’s unusual career, click here.
2022 – Karl Spooner
Southpaw Spooner holds a share of the record for strikeouts in an MLB debut (15) and also threw complete-game shutouts in each of his first two starts. After earning a late September (1954) call-up (to the Dodgers), the 23-year-old rookie was thrown right into the fire – starting on September 26 against the league-leading and Dodger chief rival Giants. In the first frame, it looked like it might be a short game for Spooner. It took him 32 pitches to get out of the inning (17 strikes – 15 balls). He gave up a single and two walks, but escaped unscored upon. Settling down, Spooner went on to pitch a complete-game, three-hit, three-walk, fifteen strikeout shutout, as the Dodgers won 3-0. Four days later (September 26), Spooner made second MLB appearance – a start against the Pirates (in Brooklyn). In this one, he threw another complete-game shutout – giving up four hits and fanning 12 in a 1-0 win. His 27 strikeouts in his first two appearances also remain an MLB record. A shoulder injury suffered in 1955 Spring Training cut Spooner’s career short. He didn’t get his first start of the 1955 season until May 15 and finished the season, his last in the major leagues, 8-6, 3.65 in 29 games (14 starts). Spooner pitched for three more seasons in the minors, but never recaptured 1954 glory. For the full Karl Spooner story, click here.
—–INSPIRATION FOR THE JPA—–
John Paciorek – signed out of Saint Ladislaus High School in Hamtramck, Michigan (where he had starred in football, basketball and baseball) – appeared in his first major-league game on the final day of the 1963 season (September 29) at the age of 18. The 6’ 1”, 200-pound outfielder had spent the 1963 season with Class-A Modesto Colts. The Colts’ parent club, the Houston Colt .45s (that was the current Astros’ franchise name back then), was suffering through a difficult season. The team was 65-96 going into that final game. Looking to the future, Houston had, in fact, fielded an all-rookie lineup (average age 19) on September 27. Youth was still being served two days later when John Paciorek started his first MLB game. The results were surprising – and worthy of recognition.
Playing right field and batting seventh in a 13-4 win over the NY Mets, Paciorek ended up with three hits and two walks in five plate appearances, with four runs scored and three runs batted in. Perhaps equally surprising is that it was not only Paciorek’s first major-league appearance, it was to be his only MLB appearance. Back pain the following spring, followed by surgery (he played 49 minor league games in 1964 and missed all of the 1965 season), put an end to his MLB playing days. (Paciorek did play in four more minor-league seasons.) Still, you will find John Paciorek in the Baseball Encyclopedia and his is arguably the greatest one-game MLB career ever. Among one-gamers, he holds the record for times on base and runs scored, and shares the record for batting average, on base percentage and RBIs.
Paciorek, by the way, went on to become a high school teacher and multi-sport coach and is the author of the books (Plato and Socrates – Baseball’s Wisest Fans; The Principles of Baseball: And All There Is To Know About Hitting; and If I Knew Then What I Know Now. You also can enjoy Paciorek’s prose (and expertise) at his blog “Paciorek’s Principles of Perfect Practice” by clicking here. You can find out even more about Paciorek in Steven Wagner’s 2015 book Perfect: The Rise and Fall of John Paciorek, Baseball’s Greatest One-Game Wonder.
A final note. John Paciorek’s insight into the national pastime should come as no surprise. Paciorek comes from a true “baseball family.” He was the first born of eight siblings and was followed to the big leagues by younger brothers Jim and Tom Paciorek. (Like John, Jim’s MLB career was short – 48 games for the Brewers in 1987. Brother Tom, however, achieved a .282 average over an 18-season MLB career.
Baseball Roundtable – Blogging Baseball Since 2012.
Baseball Roundtable is on the Feedspot list of the Top 100 Baseball Blogs. To see the full list, click here.
Baseball Roundtable is also on the Anytime Baseball Supply Top 66 Baseball Sites list. For the full list, click here.
I tweet (on X) baseball @DavidBaseballRT
Follow Baseball Roundtable’s Facebook Page here. More baseball commentary; blog post notifications.
Member: Society for American Baseball Research (SABR); Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; The Baseball Reliquary.
