1953 Topps Project - Post #4

#28 - Eddie Pellagrini - Cincinnati Reds

I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable when it comes to baseball history, I grew up in New England, I've lived and worked in the Boston area for about the last 5 years, yet I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of Eddie Pellagrini before purchasing this card. Eddie was a New Englander himself, born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1918 (a year that is very familiar to Boston sports fans).

After being acquired by the home town Red Sox in 1941, Eddie went on to serve in World War II over the next 4 years. His career in the majors was nothing spectacular, although he did club a home run in his first career at-bat with the Red Sox when he returned in 1946. Eddie's biggest impact on the game actually came after he hung up his cleats for the last time.

In 1958 he was hired as the coach for Boston College's baseball team. He went on to coach the BC Eagles to 3 College World Series appearances, in 1960, 1961 and 1967. Boston College has never returned to the College World Series since. Eddie had an incredibly long run as BC's head coach, eventually calling it quits in 1988!

In a ceremony in 1997, the year after Pellagrini's death, Boston College formally rededicated it's field as the Eddie Pellagrini Diamond at Shea Field.