Edwin Frank Basinski (November 4, 1922 – January 8, 2022) was an American
professional baseball infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.
Standard arrangement of positions
In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball for the
Brooklyn Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...
and
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
.
Early life
Basinski was born in
Buffalo, New York, on November 4, 1922. His father, Walter, a U.S. Navy veteran, was a machinist.
He graduated from
East High School in Buffalo.
Basinski attended the
University of Buffalo where he lettered in tennis and cross country (they had no baseball team). In 1943 Basinski earned a degree in mechanical engineering and went to work for the
Curtiss-Wright Company in Buffalo.
Pro baseball
The
Brooklyn Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...
scouted him at a 1943 semi-pro game in Buffalo and signed him to a contract that included a $5,000 signing bonus. Listed at , , Basinski batted and threw right-handed. He made his major league debut on May 20, 1944, on the road against the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
. Starting at shortstop and batting eighth, he went 1–4, with his first hit a fifth-inning triple off
Bob Katz, and later scoring on a single by
Frenchy Bordagaray
Stanley George "Frenchy" Bordagaray (January 3, 1910 – April 13, 2000) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder and third baseman for the Chicago White Sox, Brooklyn Dodg ...
in a 6–1 win. He played in 39 games that year with 120 plate appearances, batting .257 with 4 doubles, a triple and 9 runs batted in.
In 1945 he played in 108 games with 262 plate appearances, batting .262 with 9 doubles and 4 triples. When many players returned from the war in 1945, he was sent to the minor leagues.
In December 1946 he was traded to the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
. In 1947 he played in 56 games with 182 plate appearances. He batted .199 but hit the first 4 home runs of his career to go along with 33 runs batted in.
In addition to his major league career, Basinski played with six different
minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...
clubs between 1944 and 1959, as well as for the
Patriotas de Venezuela of the
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League during the 1951–1952 season. Basinski is a member of the
Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame, as well as the
Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of his lengthy career with the
Portland Beavers—over 10 seasons. He was the oldest living former player of the
Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers and
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
. Following the death of
Eddie Robinson in October 2021, he became the second-oldest living major leaguer, behind
George Elder.
Personal life and death
Basinski began practicing the violin at an early age and even held a chair with the
Buffalo Symphony Orchestra. His mother was a pianist.
His nicknames were "The Fiddler" as well as "The Professor" (he wore glasses).
After retiring from baseball, Basinski remained in the Portland area with his wife and two sons, working for
Consolidated Freightways for 31 years as an account manager.
He retired in 1991 in
Milwaukie, Oregon.
In later life, he resided in a care facility in
Gladstone, Oregon.
His son, Jeff, was a coach, athletic director and assistant principal during his 29 years with
Forest Grove School District in
Washington County, Oregon. Jeff died suddenly in 2011, and the Basinski Center gym was named in his honor in 2013.
Basinski died at a care facility in Gladstone on January 8, 2022, at the age of 99.
See also
*
Van Lingle Mungo (song)
"Van Lingle Mungo" is a song composed and performed by jazz pianist Dave Frishberg. Frishberg wrote both the lyrics and the music. The song, released in 1969, was distributed by Red Day Division of Doramus, Inc. under CTI Records. It was originall ...
References
External links
Eddie Basinskiat Baseball Almanac
Eddie Basinskiat Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)
Anecdote about him
{{DEFAULTSORT:Basinski, Eddie
1922 births
2022 deaths
21st-century American male musicians
20th-century classical violinists
American classical violinists
Male classical violinists
Baseball players from Buffalo, New York
Brooklyn Dodgers players
Major League Baseball infielders
Newark Bears (IL) players
Patriotas de Venezuela players
Pittsburgh Pirates players
Montreal Royals players
Portland Beavers players
St. Paul Saints (AA) players
Seattle Rainiers players
Vancouver Mounties players
National League All-Stars
University at Buffalo alumni
Musicians from Buffalo, New York
American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
American expatriate baseball players in Canada