The Pecan Park Eagle

Dick Gernert
Born: September 28, 1928
Died: November 30, 2017

Sad news tonight. Another of the few surviving players from the original 1961 player draft has passed away. First baseman-outfielder  Dick Gernert is dead at age 89.

Thanks to reader, colleague, and frequent Eagle contributor Paul Rogers, former Dean of the SMU Law School, baseball author, and a SABR activist in all things baseball in North Texas, here’s a link to the Gernert obituary:

http://www.readingeagle.com/sports/article/dick-gernert-89-passes-away-had-long-career-in-baseball

Paul, we can’t thank you enough for your early advisory in this matter.

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Dick Gernert (BR/TR) played eight seasons (1952-59) for the Boston Red Sox as a 6’3″ firat baseman-outfielder and then finished his 11-total MLB years with short stints for the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, and Houston Colt .45s (1960-1962).

Gernert’s Houston Connection

October 10, 1961: Dick Gernert was drafted by the Houston Colt .45s from the Cincinnati Reds as the 31st pick in the 1961 expansion draft. He played in only 10 games for a 5-for-24 all-singles .208 batting average that resulted in only on run scored and one RBI.

May 19, 1962: Dick Gernert received his unconditional release as an active player by the Houston Astros. At age 33, his active MLB player career was ended, but a long history on the developmental side of baseball for Gernert was just beginning.

Rest in Peace, Dick Gernert, and thank you for your service to the original foundation building for this now 2017 World Series Championship club. There aren’t many of us out here who ever kicked in as much as five singles, a run, and a single RBI to the early cause, but you did. And we thank you for it.

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