Stan Palys

Stanley Francis Palys

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 190 lb.
• School University of Scranton
• High School Blakely High School
• Debut September 20, 1953
• Final Game September 25, 1956
• Born May 1, 1930 in Blakely, PA USA
• Died February 8, 2021 in Jupiter, FL USA

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Biographical Information

Stan Palys played four years in the big leagues, getting most of his plate appearances (298) in 1955, split between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Redlegs. He is listed as the regular left fielder for the Reds that year.

Stan began his pro career in 1950. He then missed the 1951 season due to military service before resuming his career.

Palys was a member of the Hawaii Islanders in 1962 and 1963. Earlier in his career he had played for Cincinnati and Philadelphia in the National League, from 1953 to 1956, although never a regular. Ironically, his only appearance on a Topps baseball card came in the 1958 set, over a year after his last major league game, as he was coming off a tremendous season with the Nashville Volunteers of the Southern League in 1957, and people at Topps figured he would be back with the Redlegs in no time, but it wasn't to be. A pure hitter, he hit for a high average in his final years in AA and AAA ball. With the Islanders, he hit for power in the old Honolulu Stadium.

The most interesting incident of Stan "The Man" Palys's career with the Islanders was the infamous last play of a no-hitter pitched by Spokane Indians pitcher Bob Radovich on July 6, 1963. Palys replaced Ron Samford as a pinch-runner in the 9th inning. After two more outs were recorded, Brown Taylor hit a grounder toward first base. Instead of running to second, Palys allowed the ball to hit him for the third out. Scoring rules allowed Taylor to record a hit, thereby ending the game and Radovich's no-hit hopes. Pacific Coast League President Dewey Soriano was watching the game and overruled the scoring rule, giving Radovich his no-hitter.

In 1964, the Los Angeles Angels sold his contract to the Tokyo Orions of the Japanese Pacific League. He was the first player to be sold by a major league team to a Japanese one; those who had preceded him had all been free agents. He played for Tokyo from 1964 to 1967. He had some good years there: in 1965, he hit 25 homers and drove in 72 runs, and in 1966, he hit 18 long balls and drove in 69. He retired after the 1967 season, went back to school and earned a business degree from the University of Scranton. He worked for mentally disabled children after graduation.

Source: 1964 Official Baseball Guide, published by The Sporting News.

Notable Achievements

• 1960 MVP Southern Association Birmingham Barons

Related Sites

• Stan Palys at the SABR Bio Project