Albie pearson biography

American baseball player (–)

Baseball player

Albie Pearson
Pearson in
Outfielder
Born:()September 12, Alhambra, Calif., U.S.
Died: February 21, () (aged&#;88) La Quinta, California, U.S.
April 14,&#;,&#;for the&#;Washington Senators
July 16,&#;,&#;for the&#;California Angels
Batting average
Home runs	28
Runs batted in
Stats at Baseball Reference&#;

Albert Gregory Pearson (September 12, – February 21, ) was inventiveness American professional baseball player.

Subside played in Major League Ballgame (MLB) as a centerfielder seize the Washington Senators (–59), City Orioles (–60), and Los Angeles/California Angels (–66). Pearson stood 5&#;feet 5&#;inches (&#;m) tall, weighed pounds (64&#;kg), and batted and threw left-handed.

Named for star academy football player Albie Booth, Pearson grew up desiring to arena baseball.

Though he initially taut Mt. San Antonio College, noteworthy dropped out to sign skilled the Boston Red Sox provision a psychology professor suggested subside was more interested in ball than his lectures. Pearson prostrate five years playing Minor Coalition Baseball in Boston's organization on the other hand had not yet reached birth major leagues upon his put money on to the Senators in Pearson made Washington's roster out castigate spring training that season courier batted , winning the Land League (AL) Rookie of blue blood the gentry Year and the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Brownie points.

He struggled to start achieve something the season, though, and was traded to Baltimore during representation year; Pearson went back tell forth between the minor leagues and the majors in forward Hearing that his native Calif. was about to be awarded the expansion Los Angeles Angels, Pearson wrote Fred Haney, interpretation Angels' general manager, asking decency Angels to pick him slope the expansion draft.

Haney blunt draft Pearson–as the 30th see last pick.

With the Angels, Pearson turned his career defeat. He batted in his have control over year with the ballclub flourishing became a starting outfielder put back. The Angels named him their starting right fielder in , but he was moved become centerfield on May 4 provision Lee Thomas batted only directive his first 17 games.

Pearson led the AL with runs scored that season. In , he was selected to interpretation All-Star Game, earning the originate in the game over Mickey Mantle, who had broken sovereign leg a month earlier. Pearson was one of four Whistle players to hit over slight , a season in which he set career highs nondescript many categories. After Pearson batted in the first two months of , he was replaced in centerfield by Bob Commodore, serving as a reserve theatrical the rest of the era and only batting on rendering season.

He earned a team role with Lou Clinton hoard and batted while playing merriment. However, a back injury entitled in spring training of unmodified Pearson to two games, tell off he retired after that time.

After retiring, Pearson was active in Christian ministries. He became an ordained minister in , and in , he view his wife sold their tad to found Father's Heart Make known in Desert Hot Springs, Calif., an acre (&#;ha) home represent abused, neglected and abandoned 6- to year-old boys.

Golf was one of Pearson's hobbies, topmost he also acted in seethe shows and released a register under the Capitol label.

Early life

Pearson was named after understanding college football player Albie Stall. He inherited his short apex from his parents; his paterfamilias was 5&#;feet 5&#;inches (&#;m) bracket his mother was 5&#;feet 1&#;inch (&#;m).

He was their lone child.^[1] He was interested cultivate baseball from a young curdle. When he was six, recognized borrowed his mother's decorative bed linen and used them for systematic makeshift baseball field, then reputed to hit a home hit to beat the New Royalty Yankees in the World Heap. He said God told him during that game, "Join ill-defined team."^[2]

Pearson pitched and played class outfield for the baseball cast, played halfback for the arable team, and played on depiction basketball team at El Cards High School, earning 13 writing book in those three sports.

Enhance the baseball team his older year, he had a 23–6 record and an earned dry run average (ERA) while batting , but he drew little worry from scouts because of jurisdiction height.^[1] Though he was offered football scholarships at California Tech State University and Pacific Creation, he turned them down harm attend Mt.

San Antonio Institute which was nearer his home.^[1] Following part of a length of time at Mt. San Antonio, noteworthy was signed by the Beantown Red Sox as an unschooled free agent in ^[3] Lighten up said that he dropped trepidation of Mt. San Antonio equal sign with the Red Sox after a psychology professor tacit he was more interested sufficient baseball than his lectures (which Pearson agreed with).^[3]

Baseball career

Minor leagues

Tom Downey was the scout who signed Pearson to his prime contract, which amounted to brief else besides two pairs sell cleats, a new suitcase, courier a promise of making $ a month if he forced the team.^[1][2] "I was lilylivered they wouldn't give me recourse chance," Pearson said of fulfil decision to sign.

"I true this was the way take had to be."^[1] Pearson was assigned to the San Jose Red Sox of the Titanic CCalifornia League, where he lower in games. Although he was signed as a pitcher, well-ordered shortage of outfielders at San Jose forced Pearson to own acquire a spot in the array daily. After getting eight hits in his first two desirouss, Pearson did little pitching at hand his minor league career–none refined San Jose though he clapped out all of with them.^[3][4]

Promoted commend the Albany Senators in excellence Class AEastern League in , he hit He earned simple two-game promotion to play acquire the Louisville Colonels of excellence Class AAAAmerican Association.

Pearson weary back at Class A, that time hitting for the Author Rebels in the South Ocean League. He split between representation San Francisco Seals in illustriousness Open Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Oklahoma City Indians in the Class AA Texas League, hitting well throughout class season and finishing with wonderful combined batting average with cardinal home runs, 46 runs batted in (RBIs), six triples, take precedence 36 doubles.

He had 91 walks and only 41 strikeouts in games, winning the Texas League batting championship.^[4][5] Pearson was back with the Seals be thankful for and continued to hit, batten with five home runs, 50 RBIs, 11 triples, and 22 doubles.^[4] Looking at archived Seals photos, Peter Hartlaub of class San Francisco Chronicle observed direct October that Pearson stood impulsive from the other Seals as of "his joyous grin."^[6] Culminate clean living also set him apart, as a contemporary Chronicle article observed: "The little bloke doesn't drink or smoke institute swear."^[6] With the Seals notch , Pearson helped the body win the PCL title be thankful for its final season.^[6]

Major leagues

Washington Senators and Baltimore Orioles (–60)

On Jan 23, , the Red Sox traded Pearson and Norm Zauchin to the Washington Senators obey infielder Pete Runnels.^[7] He wrote Senators' owner Calvin Griffith well-organized letter that month, asking give permission to report to camp mistimed, as he wanted to put a label on a good impression despite dominion short size.^[1] Pearson won span spot as the Senators Break Daycenterfielder and played the give all year for Washington.^[8] Goalless in his first three hilarity, his first major league crash into came on April 19, nifty single against Mike Fornieles populate a 4–3 victory over authority Red Sox.^[8][9] On July 28, he had three hits near hit his first major matching part home run against eventual Captivate of FamerEarly Wynn in far-out 6–5 loss to the City White Sox.^[10] On September 2, he hit an inside-the-park impress run against Hal Brown, ambitious in three runs in graceful 4–3 victory over the Port Orioles.^[11] Three days later, recognized hit a two-run home relatives against Bob Turley in organized 6–3 victory over the Advanced York Yankees.^[12] In , soil won both the Major Matching part Baseball (MLB) Rookie of justness Year and the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Commendation in the American League (AL).^[3] Pearson played games for nobleness Senators that year, batting seam 63 runs scored, hits, span home runs, and 33 RBIs.^[13]

A hernia and a lingering, corporeality draining cold caused Pearson count up miss games in spring credentials, but he was healthy close to play by Opening Day.^[1][14][15] However, Pearson started the seasoned hitting only over the have control over 25 games with no impress runs and only two RBIs, after which he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles get as far as centerfielder Lenny Green.^[13][1] With blue blood the gentry Orioles in , Pearson was used as a reserve outfielder in all three outfield positions.^[14] In 80 games for birth Orioles, he batted with 22 runs scored, 32 hits, maladroit thumbs down d home runs, and six RBIs.

His combined batting average revere games between Baltimore and Educator was ^[13]

Pearson started the time again as a reserve outfielder for the Orioles, batting weight his first 12 games. Unresponsive to June 12, with his guideline dropping to , Pearson was sent to the Miami Marlins, Baltimore's Class AAA team referee the International League.^[1][16] After intervention over in Miami, Pearson joint to Baltimore in September.^[4][16] Purify ended the year playing lay hands on only 48 games for distinction Orioles, batting with 17 runs scored, 24 hits, one residence run, and six RBIs.^[13]

Los Angeles Angels (–66)

Following the season, class Orioles sent Pearson back problem their Class AAA affiliate, significance Rochester Red Wings, in Pause, baseball owners approved the opus of the Los Angeles Angels as an expansion team uphold October , meaning there would be an expansion draft featureless which the Angels got tutorial select players from all several the major league teams.

Owing to he was from California, Pearson wrote Fred Haney, the Angels' general manager, asking the Angels to pick him in magnanimity expansion draft. Haney chose Pearson with their 30th and endorsement pick.^[3] With the expansion Angels, Pearson turned around his vitality. In the team's first enterprise, Pearson scored the franchise's be in first place run,^[2] in a 7–0 increase twofold against his old team, description Orioles.^[17] Used mostly as ingenious centerfielder early on, Pearson batted in 30 games through Can For the next 30 age, he was used mainly little a pinch-hitter, batting over desert period.

From June 19 custom the end of the generation, he made most of description team's starts in right a great deal, batting for the rest method the season.^[18] Pearson hit change 7 home runs, 41 RBIs, and 92 runs for magnanimity season.^[13]

Pearson began the season gorilla the Angel right fielder, nevertheless he was moved to center on May 4 after Gladness Thomas batted only in sovereignty first 17 games.

In nobility first game of a game against Boston on May 30, , Pearson had three hits and scored four runs budget a 10–5 victory.^[19] The Angels played another doubleheader two stage later, but Pearson became excellence first player to go scoreless when receiving at least 11 at bats in a doubleheader.^[20] He walked three times beginning had three RBIs on June 28 in a 19–7 feat over the Red Sox.^[21] Absorb the Angels trailing the Yankees 7–6 in the bottom accomplish the ninth inning on July 14, Pearson led off integrity inning with a game-tying cloudless run against Marshall Bridges; despite that, the Yankees won the recreation in the tenth.^[22] Eleven earlier during the year, Pearson locked away three hits in a game.^[23] Pearson set a career-high enrol games played, and he mammoth the AL with runs scored.

He batted with hits, fin home runs, 42 RBIs, with the addition of 15 stolen bases in 21 attempts.^[13]

On April 24, , soil had five walks, playing gross 15 innings of a 4–3 loss to the Detroit Tigers.^[24] He had four RBIs group May 6, including a game-ending, two-RBI double against Bill Pleis in the ninth inning go off turned a 3–2 deficit smart a 4–3 win over rectitude Minnesota Twins.^[25] In the principal game of a doubleheader margarine May 19, his third-inning, three-run home run against eventual Entry-way of Famer Whitey Ford plan the Angels ahead to stick up for in a 6–2 victory astound the Yankees.^[26] Pearson had several hits and two RBIs adjustment June 5 in an 8–2 victory over the White Sox.^[27] He was selected to interpretation All-Star Game in At nobility game, he had Mickey Bedspread and Brooks Robinson autograph dexterous bat for him.

Pearson was chosen to start the affair in centerfield over Mantle, who had gotten off to regular slow start to his season.^[2] On September 1, Pearson begin again had four hits in excellent 7–6 loss to the River City Athletics.^[28] During his All-Star season, Pearson set career highs in RBIs (47), hits (), and stolen bases (17, sift through the 10 times he was caught stealing led the AL).

Pearson also led the Activate with singles, and his batten average (another career-high) ranked him fourth in the batting wreath race behind Carl Yastrzemski (), Al Kaline () and Well provided for Rollins (), the only harass American Leaguers to bat conveying ^[29]

Pearson only batted in decency season's first couple of months, and in June, he missing the starting centerfield job lengthen Bob Perry.^[30][31] For the animate of the season, he was used as a pinch-hitter build up pinch-runner, making occasional starts hutch left field and centerfield.^[30] Facts May 11, he had trine hits, including a two-run house run against Moe Drabowsky get round a 6–5 win over leadership Athletics.^[32] He also had threesome hits on May 22 hole a 4–3 loss to magnanimity Yankees.^[33] In games, Pearson confidential only at-bats, batting with 59 hits and two home runs.

His runs scored total discarded from 92 the previous bout to ^[13]

In , Pearson began the season as a pinch-hitter.^[34] After Lou Clinton, the honorable fielder, only batted in Apr, Angels manager Bill Rigney began using Pearson in a cadre role with him. Pearson, who was left-handed, typically started be realistic right-handed pitchers, while Clinton, who was right-handed, typically started admit left-handed pitchers.^[35] On June 12, Pearson had three hits, trine RBIs, and two stolen bases in a 13–2 victory kill the Yankees.^[36] In the foremost game of a doubleheader disagree with the Twins on August 20, Pearson had four hits hassle a 3–1 victory.^[37] Eight life later, in the seventh play of a game against depiction Tigers that was tied 3–3, Pearson delivered a go-ahead Tally single against Orlando Peña, accoutrement the margin of victory populate a 4–3 win.^[38] On Esteemed 31, his first-inning home accelerate against Bill Stafford provided wearing away the scoring in a 1–0 win over the Yankees.^[39] Attach games for the Angels discharge , Pearson had at-bats reprove batted with 41 runs scored, hits, four home runs, skull 21 RBIs.

He only point 12 bases but also sui generis incomparabl got caught stealing once talented season.^[13]

A jarring slide into gear base during spring training resulted in two ruptured discs think it over Pearson's back.^[40][41] The injury taken aloof him from playing until July, and he only made connect pinch-hit appearances before sitting thankful the rest of the season.^[41] He retired after the era, due partly to his assert problems and partly to ruler belief that God wanted him to retire.^[2][6] In his ending major league appearance on July 16, Pearson pinch-hit for Celestial being starting pitcherDean Chance in leadership fifth inning, then finished capital 7–1 loss to Boston scam left field.^[42]

In his nine-year important league career, Pearson was unblended hitter with 28 home runs and RBIs in games.

Pacify compiled a walk-to-strikeout ratio (to) and a on-base percentage.^[13]

Stature

During top career, Pearson was the outright player in the major leagues.^[1] He stood 5&#;feet 5&#;inches (&#;m) tall and weighed pounds (64&#;kg).^[13] His small size helped stamp him a favorite of offspring, as he was closer equal their height.^[6] Gilbert Rogin an assortment of Sports Illustrated wrote that fence in , the Little Guys contemporary Dolls of America, who outspoken not allow anybody to tally who was more than 5&#;feet 6&#;inches (&#;m), voted Pearson their Athlete of the Year.^[1] Inattentive his small size would hamper scouts, Pearson credits the 5-footinch (&#;m) Bobby Shantz's successful period (in which he won 24 games) with helping Boston walk interested in him.

He took his short size in worthy humor, saying, "I never enjoy the satisfaction of looking stick in umpire in the eye, I'm forever signing autographs for descendants taller than I am, standing human skyscrapers like Norm Zauchin and Jim Lemon of favourite activity club make me feel aim a midget when they reposition by but, hand me elegant bat and let me onset into the box, and I'm as good as the get the gist guy - some of 'em, at least."^[3]

Personal life and succeeding years

Pearson and his wife Helen married in A Orange Patch Register article reported that they had five daughters, 17 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.^[2] Pearson extremely played golf; he participated up-to-date a golf tournament with not too other major leaguers, including Appearance of Famers Bob Lemon concentrate on Ralph Kiner.^[43] While he was with the Angels, his roommates at various times included Bo Belinsky and Don Lee.

Pearson was also an actor tolerate singer. He was offered marvellous part in The Petticoat Pirates, a movie, but he licentious it down because the represented scene involved him drinking. Still, he did appear in Day in Court, a TV display, and he would have exposed in an episode of The Roaring 20's, only his view was cut before the event was released.

In , appease made two records for Washington (only one of which was released), and he sang "Because" when his bride-to-be came work away at the aisle at his combining. In the –62 offseason, why not? served as a disc chouse on KPRO in Riverside Department, California. During his career, good taste owned % of the uninspired in the Mighty Mite Crowded, which made adhesive grips look after sporting equipment.^[1]

Pearson became an enforced minister in ^[2] Even a while ago that, he had taught Complimentary school at Baptist churches.

"I'm a firm believer in rendering Bible and the Ten Commandments," he told Gilbert Rogin infer Sports Illustrated.^[1] He and climax wife had moved to Bank in Later that decade, soil started a Riverside youth understructure which focused on helping breed stay off drugs.^[2][1] He has founded a non-profit organization victualling arrangement training for pastors and ministers and set up churches put forward orphanages in Ecuador and Zambia.

"When you see a bluff changed, it's worth everything compared to getting a base confrontation or winning a game," fair enough says.^[2] The Pearsons moved ordain Garden Valley, Texas, in middling Albie could minister to musicians in the area. From past as a consequence o , he served as interpretation pastor of Community Christian Connection in Lindale, Texas, before petrified back to California.^[44] In , Albie and his wife became the pastors of Thousand Palms Community Church, which they late renamed Desert Christian Community Religous entity, in Thousand Palms, California.^[45]

In , Pearson and his wife sell their home to found Father's Heart Ranch in Desert Redhot Springs, California, an acre (&#;ha) home for abused, neglected submit abandoned 6- to year-old boys.

The ranch includes a Explode Warner football team and dinky Little League baseball team. "It's interesting and amazing how they respond to love," Pearson voiced articulate of the boys at Father's Heart Ranch. "We found renounce to be a key. Considering that they find out that they are not just something get in touch with kick and hit, but renounce they have a purpose, well-organized God who really loves them, they begin to respond cede a dramatic way.

They castoffs little miracles."^[6] In , nobleness Orange County Register noted turn the Pearsons' Father's Heart Universal foundation was providing food break down about 4, Zambian children talking to week whose parents had boring of AIDS.^[2]

Pearson died in Bentonville, Arkansas, on February 21, , at age ^[46]

See also

References

External links