Tom Gastall
Thomas Everett Gastall (June 13, 1932 – September 20, 1956) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1956. A right-handed batter and thrower, he stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighed 187 pounds (85 kg).
| Tom Gastall | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Catcher | |||
| Born: June 13, 1932 Fall River, Massachusetts | |||
| Died: September 20, 1956 (aged 24) Riviera Beach, Maryland | |||
| |||
| MLB debut | |||
| June 21, 1955, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| Last MLB appearance | |||
| September 19, 1956, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .181 | ||
| Home runs | 0 | ||
| Runs batted in | 4 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Gastall was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, where he starred in basketball, football and baseball at B.M.C. Durfee High School. Then Gastall attended Boston University; he served as captain of the baseball and basketball teams, and quarterbacked the Terriers to the most successful season in their history to that point. The university named him athlete-of-the-year, and was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 1955 NFL draft.
After graduation, Gastall signed with Baltimore for $40,000 as a bonus baby.[1] Gastall appeared in 52 games and had less than one hundred plate appearances over two seasons with Baltimore.
He died when the ERCO Ercoupe aircraft he piloted experienced engine problems and crashed into the Chesapeake Bay.[2] His body was recovered from the bay five days later.[3] He was survived by his wife, Rosemary, and a son, Thomas.
References
- Eisenberg, John (September 16, 2006). "Gastall's secret, fatal flight". Baltimore Sun.
- Zimnuich, Fran (2007). Shortened Seasons: The Untimely Deaths of Major League Baseball’s Stars and Journeymen. USA: Taylor Trade Publishing. p. 240. ISBN 9781589793637.
- planecrashinfo.com Famous People Who Died in Aviation Accidents: 1950s