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How Hall-of-Famer George Sisler Was Brought Back To Baseball Because Of A Dinner
An MLB legend thought he might have left the sport for good, but a chance encounter with a fellow Cooperstown inductee allowed for him to have a lengthy second career
When it comes to baseball, the best players are usually welcome to stick around the game as long as they want, even if their playing days are behind them. They become so well regarded that there is always a position somewhere open to them. Sometimes, players want to step away and try something else, making it harder to get back in if they have a change of heart later on. That’s what happened with Hall-of-Famer first baseman George Sisler, who tried ordinary citizen life after hanging up his spikes, but years later was able to punch his return ticket after a chance encounter at a dinner party involving one of the most famous figures in the game.
During a 15-year playing career (1915–1922; 1924–1930) spent primarily with the St. Louis Browns, the left-handed Sisler proved to be a whiz with the bat. He batted a combined .340 with 2,812 hits, 425 doubles, 164 triples, 102 home runs, 1,178 RBIs and 375 stolen bases. The winner of the 1922 American League MVP also captured two batting titles (highlighted by his .420…
