Gene Rye

Eugene Rudolph Rye
born Eugene Mercantelli
(Half Pint)

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 6", Weight 165 lb.

• Debut April 22, 1931
• Final Game June 6, 1931
• Born November 15, 1906 in Chicago, IL USA
• Died January 21, 1980 in Park Ridge, IL USA

BR page

Biographical Information

On August 6, 1930, Gene Rye of the Texas League's Waco Cubs set a record for professional baseball by hitting three home runs in the same inning. He accomplished the feat against the Beaumont Exporters in what ended up being an eighteen-run 8th inning and a 20-7 victory. His progression was solo homer, two-run homer, grand slam.

Only 5' 6" tall, his nickname was "Half Pint Rye". His one season in the big leagues was as an outfielder with the Boston Red Sox in 1931, the year when fellow outfielder Earl Webb set the record with 67 doubles. Oddly enough, Rye appeared in 17 games with 39 at-bats and 7 hits - Ollie Marquardt also had his only major league season with that team and also appeared in 17 games with 39 at-bats and 7 hits.

Further Reading

• Kevin T. Czerwinski: "'Half Pint' Rye homered into history: Diminutive outfielder belted three roundtrippers in one inning for Waco", MiLB.com, May 21, 2008. [1]

Related Sites

• Gene Rye at the SABR Bio Project