Paul Gillespie

Paul Allen Gillespie

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 195 lb.
• High School Tech High School (Atlanta)
• Debut September 11, 1942
• Final Game September 30, 1945
• Born September 18, 1920 in Sugar Valley, GA USA
• Died August 11, 1970 in Anniston, AL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Paul Gillespie was a backup catcher on the pennant-winning Chicago Cubs in 1845. He was one of several players in the majors who wore a commemorative patch indicating honorable discharge from the service, something that was nicknamed the "ruptured duck".

He was a team leader sartorially, getting a crew cut in 1945 - something that was soon copied by a number of other Cubs.

Gillespie and John Miller are the only men to hit home runs in their first and last big-league at bats.

Served in the U S Coast Guard during World War II. He was a sales representative for Adler Typewriter Company. He died after a short illness in Anniston, AL on August 11, 1970.

Related Sites

• Paul Gillespie at the SABR Bio Project