Baseball History: Wondering What Could Have Been
By David Hill
John Paciorek had a one game major league career, but what a game it was.
At 18 years old, Paciorek was given a one game stint in the majors by the Colt .45s. An expansion team in just their second year, Houston was looking for anyone that could be a part of the future. Paciorek, although he was still a teenager, impressed in that one game trial. He was 3-3 with three RBI and four runs scored, while drawing two walks. With that performance, he seemed a lock to be a key piece of the .45s future.
However, back issues would be his undoing. He had already missed time in 1963 due to problems with his sciatic nerve. Those problems led to his being sent to the minors to start the 1964 season, and eventually spinal fusion surgery. He missed most of that 1964 season, and all of 1965, as he recovered from the surgery.
When he came back, he just was not the same. Released by the Astros after two mediocre seasons, he was picked up by the Indians. There, he seemed to have regained his form, but injuries reared up once more. He tore his Achilles during warmups, ending his career at 24 years old and with just one game in the majors.
Had it not been for injuries, John Paciorek could have been a star. Instead, he is remembered for having the greatest performance of any player with one career game at the major league level.