Fred Van Dusen

Who is Fred Van Dusen?

Frederick William Van Dusen is a former Major League Baseball player. Van Dusen played for Philadelphia Phillies in the 1955 season. He played just one game in his career, had one plate appearance, and was hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count. He is the only major league player in history who was hit by a pitch in their only ML appearance, and who never took to the field defensively.

An outfielder by trade, Van Dusen was signed by the Phillies in August 1955 as a bonus baby, meaning he had to be kept on the Phillies' 40-man roster for two years. During his first month with the team, he appeared just once, pinch hitting in the second game of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Braves on September 11, 1955. In the 9th inning, with the Phillies down 9-1, he pinch hit for pitcher Lynn Lovenguth against Humberto Robinson and was hit by a pitch.

While Van Dusen never appeared in another major league game, he did continue to play in the Phillies minor league organization until 1961 before retiring.

For a time between 2005 and 2012, Van Dusen was joined by Adam Greenberg as one of only two players who were hit by a pitch in their only ML appearance, and who also never appeared defensively.