Jerry Schoonmaker

Jerald Lee Schoonmaker

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 190 lb.
• School University of Missouri
• High School Lebanon (MO) High School
• Debut June 11, 1955
• Final Game September 29, 1957
• Born December 14, 1933 in Seymour, MO USA
• Died March 18, 2018 in Dyer, IN USA

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Biographical Information

Outfielder Jerry Schoonmaker an All-American for the 1954 College World Series Champion University of Missouri tam. The other All-American outfielders in 1954 were Mickey Sullivan and Dick Murphy. He was also captain of the football team. He hit 3 home runs for Team USA in the 1955 Pan American Games, leading the Pan American Games in homers. He was signed by the Washington Senators to a bonus contract on May 29, 1955 and ten days later made his first plate appearance for the major league club. Jerry hit only .152 in 20 games for the Washington team in 1955 and spent the 1956 season in the United States Army during the Korean War.

Schoonmaker was back for the 1957 season with the Senators, appearing in 30 games and hitting but .087. Washington, now out from under the two-year bonus rule, could send him to the minors for seasoning in 1958, which they did. Jerry played 124 games with the Charlotte Hornets of the South Atlantic League and 15 others with the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern Association. Jerry hit a combined .222 for the season and at age 24 took leave of the game due to an eye injury.

When asked if the loss of vision in an eye from an industrial accident while working in an off-season construction job ended his playing days, Jerry responed: "I couldn't hit the curve ball with two eyes let alone with only one." After baseball, Jerry resided in Munster, IN, and was employed by the Ford Motor Company.

Sources

Baseball Players of the 1950s