Paul Giel

Paul Giel
Born	Paul Robert Giel (1932-02-29)February 29, 1932 Winona, Minnesota,U.S.
Died	May 22, 2002(2002-05-22)(aged 70) Minneapolis, Minnesota,U.S.
Baseball career
Relief pitcher
Batted:Right Threw:Right
MLB debut
July 10, 1954, for the New York Giants
Last MLB appearance
June 2, 1961, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	11–9
ERA	5.39
Strikeouts	145
Teams
New York/San Francisco Giants(1954–1955,1958) Pittsburgh Pirates(1959–1960) Kansas City Athletics(1961) Minnesota Twins(1961)
Career highlights and awards
All-American(1953)
College football career
No. 10
Position	Halfback
Personal information
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg)
Career history
College	Minnesota(1951–1953)
High school	Winona
Career highlights and awards
UPI Player of the Year(1953) ConsensusAll-American(1953) First-team All-American (1952) 2×Chicago Tribune Silver Football(1952, 1953) 3× First-teamAll-Big Ten(1951–1953) Minnesota Golden Gophers No. 10retired
College Football Hall of Fame(1975)

Paul Robert Giel(February 29, 1932 – May 22, 2002)was an Americancollege footballand professionalbaseballplayer fromWinona, Minnesota.He was anAll-Americanin both sports at theUniversity of Minnesota.

Collegiate career

Giel attended theUniversity of Minnesota,where he was a star single wing tailback for theMinnesota Golden Gophers footballteam. While at Minnesota, Giel was a member ofPhi Kappa,which later merged withPhi Kappa Thetafraternity.During his career at Minnesota he rushed for 2,188 yards and had 1,922 yards passing. Giel received theChicago Tribune Silver Footballas theBig Ten'smost valuable playertwice, in 1952 and 1953, was named anAll-Americantwice. Giel was thecaptainof the football team in 1953 that featured an upset of No. 5Michiganfor theLittle Brown Jug.That year, he was the runner-up toJohnny LattnerofNotre Damefor theHeisman Trophy.His 1,794 votes received are the most by any player not to win the award.He wasUnited Press International's college player of the year and theAssociated Pressback of the year.

Giel was apitcherfor theMinnesota Golden Gophers baseballteam. He was selected to the1953 College Baseball All-America Teamby theAmerican Baseball Coaches Association.

Giel was especially known for his speed and rapid cutting to change direction on the football field. At 185 pounds he was not a power runner. In the final game of the 1953 football season, Giel was clipped (tackled from behind while near the ball-carrier) on a kick return. This illegal action by an opposing player led to a fifteen-yard penalty and a broken ankle that for many confirmed the belief that Giel was too slight to have a professional football career. Despite this, theCanadian Football League(CFL) offered him $75,000 over three years.

Professional career

Instead of professional football, after his collegiate days Giel pitched in themajor leaguesfor theNew York/San Francisco Giants,Pittsburgh Pirates,Minnesota Twins,andKansas City Athletics.He signed with the Giants for a $60,000 bonus, which was their highest ever at the time.

After his retirement from baseball, Giel was acolor commentatoronMinnesota Vikingsradio broadcasts from 1962 to 1969, and served as the University of Minnesota's Director of Athletics from 1971 to 1989. He was inducted into theCollege Football Hall of Famein 1975.

Personal life

Giel died following a heart attack on May 22, 2002.

See also

• List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders
• List of baseball players who went directly to Major League Baseball

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromBaseball Reference,orFangraphs
• Paul Gielat theCollege Football Hall of Fame