Mike Palagyi

Michael Raymond Palagyi

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.
• Debut August 18, 1939
• Final Game August 18, 1939
• Born July 4, 1917 in Conneaut, OH USA
• Died November 21, 2013 in Conneaut, OH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher Mike Palagyi appeared in just one game in the big leagues with the Washington Senators.

A native of Conneaut, Ohio, Palagyi was one of four major leaguers born in that city (the most prominent of which is Mark Wagner). He began his pro career as an 18-year-old with the Monessen Indians of the Class D Pennsylvania State Association in 1936, going 13-7 with a 3.94 ERA. He followed that up with an 18-9 record for the Springfield Indians of the Middle Atlantic League the next year and then won 12 for the Spartanburg Spartans of the South Atlantic League in 1938.

"I threw but two strikes out of 15 pitches." - a comment from Palagyi to author Richard Tellis, quoted in a New York Times article from April 4, 1999

Palagyi spent most of 1939 with Spartanburg, going 7-6 with a 4.07 ERA in 14 games. He made his only big league appearance that August 18th. Entering the game against the Boston Red Sox in the top of the ninth, he faced four batters (three future Hall of Famers) but did not retire any of them, walking three and allowing three earned runs. He returned to the minors in 1940, going 13-15 for the Greenville Spinners. Overall, he posted a 63-52 record and a 4.25 ERA in 151 games during five seasons in the minors.

After his baseball days, Palagyi served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He then returned to his hometown and worked as a plumber and maintenance man. He died there in 2013 at age 96.