Coot Veal


Orville Inman "Coot" Veal is an American former professional baseball shortstop. He was signed by the Detroit Tigers before the season and played in all or portions of six seasons in Major League Baseball for the Tigers, Washington Senators and Pittsburgh Pirates. Born in Sandersville, Georgia, Veal threw and batted right-handed, stood tall and weighed.
Veal attended Auburn University, where he played baseball and basketball. Selected in the 1960 American League expansion draft, he was the first player to come to bat in the history of the second modern Washington Senators franchise, now the Texas Rangers. On April 10, 1961, at Griffith Stadium, with President John F. Kennedy having thrown out the first ball, Veal led off the bottom of the first inning against Hall of Fame right-hander Early Wynn of the Chicago White Sox. He reached base on an infield single near third base, was advanced to second on a Marty Keough single to left, then scored on a Gene Woodling triple.
Veal was a very good defensive shortstop, but his bat was somewhat weak. He had a lifetime average of.231, with 141 hits, 26 doubles, three triples, one home run in 611 total at bats and a slugging percentage of.288. He scored 75 runs and drove in 51 in his 247 big-league games. His last year as an active player was 1964.
Other career highlights include: