On the last game of the 1963 season, the Houston Colt 45s started an OF by the name of John Paciorek. The 18 year old was signed just the past season for a $100,000 bonus by assistant GM Eddie Robinson (a guest on the Passed Ball Show). John came from a very talented baseball family where his brothers Tom and Jim also played in the major leagues. His brother Mark played in the minor leagues and his sons Pete and Mack and nephews Tom Jr and Joseph played in the professional baseball as well.
At the time nobody knew the significance of what John would accomplish on this day. Getting the start in RF, he batted 7th- ahead of catcher John Bateman. The lineup also included 2B Joe Morgan, 1B Rusty Staub, LF Jim Winn and 3B Bob Aspromonte. The Colt 45s were playing the last place Mets in the last game of the 1963 season. Chris Zachary got the ball for Houston while Larry Bearnarth took the hill for the Mets. Neither pitcher gave their team a chance to win this game.
The Colt 45s got the scoring started in the bottom of the 2nd inning as Aspromonte walked, Paciorek drew a two out walk and both runners scored on a Bateman 3B. It was Paciorek's first MLB AB. The Mets added a run in their half of the 3rd and took the lead with 3 more in the top of the 4th inning. The Colt 45s started out the 4th inning with singles by Staub, Aspromonte and Ivan Murrell to load the bases. Up came Paciorek, who promptly laced a single to score two runs. After a Bateman RBI single, Bearnarth was relieved and PH Art Spangler singled to load the bases once again. Houston would score two more runs to close out the inning, giving them a 7-4 lead.
In the bottom of the 5th, Aspromonte started the inning off with a 3B. Paciorek drove him home with a 1 out single. Houston would score a total of 4 runs in the inning and led 11-4 after 5. In the bottom of the 6th, Paciorek would draw a 1 out walk and would score his 4th run of the game. Paciorek's last AB would come in the bottom of the 8th inning and he would lead off with a single. This put John Paciorek at 3-3 for the game, 4 runs scored, 2 walks and 3 RBI. A very impressive MLB debut. The Colt 45s beat the Mets 13-4.
Paciorek had suffered a back injury during the 1963 season. It severely impacted him during the 1964 and 1965 seasons. Unfortunately, he was never the same again- retiring during the 1969 season at the ripe age of 24 years old. Sadly, John Paciorek would never get into another MLB game.
His performance on September 29, 1963 allowed him to retire with a distinction no other MLB player can ever claim. He finished with a 1.000 batting average, but did it by going 3-3 in his career. Out of the 88 players to finish with a 1.000 batting average (through 2010 according to baseball reference. com), 77 finished their career by going 1-1 and another 10 were 2-2. Paciorek was the only player to finish his career going 3-3. I am sure he would trade that distinction for a chance to play some seasons in the big leagues, especially since he was finished playing in the big leagues by the age of 18.
At the time nobody knew the significance of what John would accomplish on this day. Getting the start in RF, he batted 7th- ahead of catcher John Bateman. The lineup also included 2B Joe Morgan, 1B Rusty Staub, LF Jim Winn and 3B Bob Aspromonte. The Colt 45s were playing the last place Mets in the last game of the 1963 season. Chris Zachary got the ball for Houston while Larry Bearnarth took the hill for the Mets. Neither pitcher gave their team a chance to win this game.
The Colt 45s got the scoring started in the bottom of the 2nd inning as Aspromonte walked, Paciorek drew a two out walk and both runners scored on a Bateman 3B. It was Paciorek's first MLB AB. The Mets added a run in their half of the 3rd and took the lead with 3 more in the top of the 4th inning. The Colt 45s started out the 4th inning with singles by Staub, Aspromonte and Ivan Murrell to load the bases. Up came Paciorek, who promptly laced a single to score two runs. After a Bateman RBI single, Bearnarth was relieved and PH Art Spangler singled to load the bases once again. Houston would score two more runs to close out the inning, giving them a 7-4 lead.
In the bottom of the 5th, Aspromonte started the inning off with a 3B. Paciorek drove him home with a 1 out single. Houston would score a total of 4 runs in the inning and led 11-4 after 5. In the bottom of the 6th, Paciorek would draw a 1 out walk and would score his 4th run of the game. Paciorek's last AB would come in the bottom of the 8th inning and he would lead off with a single. This put John Paciorek at 3-3 for the game, 4 runs scored, 2 walks and 3 RBI. A very impressive MLB debut. The Colt 45s beat the Mets 13-4.
Paciorek had suffered a back injury during the 1963 season. It severely impacted him during the 1964 and 1965 seasons. Unfortunately, he was never the same again- retiring during the 1969 season at the ripe age of 24 years old. Sadly, John Paciorek would never get into another MLB game.
His performance on September 29, 1963 allowed him to retire with a distinction no other MLB player can ever claim. He finished with a 1.000 batting average, but did it by going 3-3 in his career. Out of the 88 players to finish with a 1.000 batting average (through 2010 according to baseball reference. com), 77 finished their career by going 1-1 and another 10 were 2-2. Paciorek was the only player to finish his career going 3-3. I am sure he would trade that distinction for a chance to play some seasons in the big leagues, especially since he was finished playing in the big leagues by the age of 18.
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