| Gene Rye | |
| Position: | Left fielder |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
| Birth Date: | 15 November 1906 |
| Birth Place: | Chicago, Illinois |
| Death Place: | Park Ridge, Illinois |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | April 22 |
| Debutyear: | 1931 |
| Debutteam: | Boston Red Sox |
| Finalleague: | MLB |
| Finaldate: | June 6 |
| Finalyear: | 1931 |
| Finalteam: | Boston Red Sox |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Games played |
| Stat1value: | 17 |
| Stat2label: | Batting average |
| Stat2value: | .179 |
| Stat3label: | Runs batted in |
| Stat3value: | 1 |
| Teams: | |
Eugene Rudolph Rye [''Half-Pint''] (November 15, 1906 – January 21, 1980) was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Boston Red Sox during the season.
Listed at 5'6", 165 lb., Rye batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
His birth name was Eugene Rudolph Mercantelli, the son of Amedeo Menotti Mercantelli (1866-1950) and Daria "Dora" Frediani (1867-1920).[1] He was born in Chicago, Illinois. Rye married Julia Swentko on October 28, 1950.
Used as a pinch hitter by Boston, Rye also shared duties at left field with Al Van Camp and Jack Rothrock. In a 17-game career, he posted a .179 batting average (7-for-39) with three runs and one run batted in with no extra-base hits. In 10 outfield appearances, he had 10 putouts and committed an error for a .944 fielding percentage.
Rye hit three home runs in one inning in 1930 while playing with the Waco Cubs in the Texas League.[2] The third home run is considered one of the greatest minor league baseball home runs of all time.[3]
When Rye was 29 years old he finished his professional baseball career after his 1936 season.
Rye died at the age of 73 in Park Ridge, Illinois.