Morrie Aderholt

Morris Woodroe Aderholt (September 13, 1915 – March 18, 1955) was a second baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1939 to 1945.

Born in Mount Olive, North Carolina, Aderholt graduated from Wake Forest University and played professional ball for the Washington Senators, Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Braves from 1939 to 1945. He played a total of 106 games in the major leagues over the five seasons he was active.

Aderholt made his professional debut for Washington on September 13, 1939, which happened to also fall on his 24th birthday. On that occasion, he ended up hitting a home run and a single against the Chicago White Sox. Through August 29 2019, Aderholt is the only major league baseball player to have multiple hits — and the only one to hit a homer — in their pro debut, which was also the player's birthday.[1]

Aderholt was described by Dodgers President Branch Rickey as the "World's worst third baseman... but he's a natural batsman." [2] He was thus moved to the outfield, where he would be less of a defensive liability. His fielding percentage in 1944 was a mediocre .871.

After his playing career ended, he went on to manage several minor league teams and also served as a scout for the Senators. Aderholt died on March 18, 1955, after suffering a heart attack during a scouting trip to Sarasota, Florida.[2]