Gus Zernial

Gus Edward Zernial (June 27, 1923 – January 20, 2011) was an American professional baseball player who played outfield in Major League Baseball, most notably for the Philadelphia Athletics, remaining with the franchise when it moved west to become the Kansas City Athletics in 1955. Born in Beaumont, Texas, one of ten children, he attended Beaumont High School, graduating in 1942, where he was nicknamed "Dutch" and competed in baseball, basketball, football and track, with basketball his strongest sport. He played first base for the school team and also appeared in semi pro baseball. In 1942 he began his professional career with 95 games of Class D Minor League Baseball for the Waycroft Bears.

Nicknamed "Ozark Ike" after the comic strip character, Zernial became one of the most prolific power hitters of the 1950s, ranking among American League leaders in home runs for the decade alongside Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and Larry Doby. In 1951 he led the American League in home runs and all of Major League Baseball in runs batted in. He was named an All-Star in 1953. At one time he shared the record for most home runs by a Major League pinch hitter.