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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 Basinski
at Baseball Almanac
Eddie Basinski
at 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