Bill Cissell
From SABR Encyclopedia
| Bill Cissell | |
| Chalmer William Cissell | |
| Bat/Throw: | R/R |
|---|---|
| Height: | 5' 11" |
| Weight: | 170 |
| Born: | 1904-1-3 at Perryville, MO (US) |
| Died: | 1949-3-15 at Chicago, IL (US) |
| Interred: | Mount Hope Cemetery in Perryville, MO (US) |
| More info | |
| Statistics: | Retrosheet |
|---|---|
| SABR Searches: | Pictures of Bill Cissell | width:90% height:65% scrolling:auto | Pictures}} · Bibliography |
Chalmer William Cisell was a middle infielder who was purchased by the Chicago White Sox in 1927 for a then-record sum of $123,000 in cash and players. His 17-year professional career, which began in 1925, included nine seasons in the majors. He also managed the Pacific Coast League's Portland Beavers for most of the 1935 campaign. Cissell was considered one of the top players in the PCL, but once he reached the majors, he failed to live up to his billing and was considered a bust, earning him the nickname, "The $123,000 Lemon."
Alcohol abuse was widely blamed for his failure to reach the stardom predicted for him, and his drinking plagued him for most of his life. Tragedy struck in 1948 when he was stricken with Buerger's disease. By the time he was discovered living in a tiny, one-bedroom apartment with his 13-year-old son Gary, he was destitute and malnourished and suffering from hardening of the arteries. Despite his poor condition, Cissell's prognosis looked promising, but during his hospital stay he suffered a heart attack on March 5, 1949 and died 10 days later at the age of 45.
He’s buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in his home town of Perryville, Missouri.
Contents |
Minor League Career
Cissell began his career in 1925 with Des Moines of the Class A Western League before being sold in 1926 to Portland of the Pacific Coast League. The shortstop impressed the White Sox in 1927, and they spent $123,000 in cash and players to acquire Cissell, which was a record at the time.
After spending seven years in the majors with the White Sox, Indians, and Red Sox, Cissell, now a second baseman, was sent back to Portland in 1935, where he also served as manager.
In 1936, Cissell was traded to the Baltimore Orioles of the International League. In 1939, he went back to the PCL, this time playing for the Hollywood Stars. He was released by the Stars in 1941, then signed by the San Francisco Seals before retiring from professional baseball. He finished his 10-year minor league stint with a career batting average of .305.
Major League Career
Chicago White Sox
Cissell joined the White Sox in 1928 and earned four votes in that year's MVP balloting. He spent four full seasons with the White Sox before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1932.
Cleveland Indians
Cissell batted .320 for the Indians, and finished the season at a career-best .315 with career highs in home runs (7) and RBIs (98). He was also moved to second base and improved his defense considerably. For his efforts, he earned 10 MVP votes.
In 1933, Cissell batted only .230 in a season shortened by an appendectomy. Later that year, he was dealt to the Boston Red Sox for southpaw journeyman hurler Lloyd Brown.
Boston Red Sox
Cissell improved his batting average to .267 in 1934, but Boston dealt him to Portland for Jack Wilson in 1935.
Philadelphia Athletics
After two years back in the minors, Cissell was drafted by the Athletics in the 1936 rule 5 draft. He appeared in only 34 games with the A's in 1937 before being returned to Baltimore on June 11.
New York Giants
In 1938, the Giants acquired Cissell from Baltimore and he spent the rest of the season with New York. His 38-game cup of coffee with the Giants would be his last taste of the majors. On December 6, New York sold the infielder to the Hollywood Stars of the PCL.
External Links
- Chalmer "Bill" Cissell: The $123,000 Lemon, by Mike Lynch, at Seamheads.com.
Sources
- http://seamheads.com/blog/2009/10/27/chalmer-bill-cissell-the-123000-lemon/, retrieved on 2009-10-31.
