Gene Host

Who was Gene Host?

Eugene Earl Host was an American Major League Baseball pitcher and minor league all-star.

Host was signed by the Detroit Tigers as an amateur free agent just before the 1952 season. Nicknamed "Twinkles" and "Slick", Host had his best season in 1952 as a member of the Kinston Eagles. During that season, he went 26-7 with a 1.81 ERA. He was named to the Coastal Plain League all-star team.

He made it to the major league club for one game in 1956. Following the 1956 season, Host was traded by the Detroit Tigers with Wayne Belardi, Ned Garver, Virgil Trucks, and $20,000 to the Kansas City Athletics for Jim Finigan, Jack Crimian, Bill Harrington, and Eddie Robinson.

Host made eleven appearances for Kansas City in 1957. He ended his big league career with a 0–2 record and a 7.31 ERA. He continued on in the minor leagues through the 1961 campaign.