Jimmy Piersall height - How tall is Jimmy Piersall?

As a member of the New York Mets, he celebrated hitting his 100th career home run by running the bases backwards.

He is the godfather of U.S. representative Mark Foley (R-Florida), who resigned from Congress in 2006. Foley arranged to have Piersall invited to the White House when the Red Sox were honored for winning the 2004 World Series. The congressman met Piersall at a Washington airport and put him up at his home there overnight.

He worked as a minor league instructor through 1999.

He caught on with his third team in '63, the Los Angeles/California Angels, for whom he appeared as a utility man through 1967. After his pro career was over, he worked for the Angels front office, as well as for the Oakland A's. He became a TV announcer with Harry Caray for the Chicago White Sox, but was fired in '81 for his criticisms of White Sox management.

Traded to the Washington Senators for the 1962 season, he was traded to the New York Mets during their sophomore season during 1963, after which he was cut by manager Casey Stengel, upset by his running the bases backwards after hitting his 100th home run at the Polo Grounds.

Piersall, who won two Gold Gloves for his fielding excellence, played for Boston until 1958, after which he was traded to the Cleveland Indians.

Piersall's treatment for mental illness was detailed in his autobiography, Fear Strikes Out, which was made into a popular movie in 1957.

Named to 1954 and 1956 American League All Star Teams.

He made the Red Sox for good in the 1952 season, but it was then that his mental condition (bipolar disorder) manifested itself.

Two-time All-Star Jimmy Piersall was an artist with the glove in his 17-year career in the American League, mostly as a center fielder. An outstanding high school athlete in baseball and basketball, the 18-year-old Piersall was signed as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox. After two seasons in the minors, he came up to the parent club for a cup of coffee at the end of 1950.