Mel Hoderlein

Who was Mel Hoderlein?

Melvin Anthony Hoderlein was a utility infielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1951 through 1954 for the Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators. Listed at 5 ft 10 in, 185 lb., Hoderlein was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. He was born in Mount Carmel, Ohio.

A steady infielder with good instincts, Hoderlein is better known as a player who was part of seven major league franchises but only played for two of them. At age 28, it was a long way for Hoderlein, who spent four years of active military service and six seasons in the minors playing for the Reds, Cubs, Yankees and Red Sox systems.

Hoderlein joined the U.S. Air Force during World War II. After being discharged, he was part of several transactions before debuting in the majors in August 1951 with the Red Sox, while hitting .357 in nine games. Before the 1952 season, he was traded by Boston with Chuck Stobbs to the White Sox in the same transaction that brought Randy Gumpert to Boston. But Hoderlein did not appear in a game for the White Sox. He was sent immediately along with Jim Busby to the Senators in exchange for Sam Mele.