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A native Czechoslovakian, the hustling Valo was noted for his fearless manner in challenging fences. He first played regularly for the A's in 1942 but spent 1944 and 1945 in the military, returning to bat .306 in 1946. A lefthanded line-drive hitter, he hit .300 or better five times in his 20 ML seasons, with a high of .364 playing part-time in 1955. In the latter part of his career he became an outstanding pinch hitter; in 1960, with the Yankees and Senators, he set ML pinch-hitting records for games, walks, and most times reaching first base. He also set a record with 91 career walks as a pinch hitter. After his release, he served as a major league scout and coach through 1982. (AL)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » April 15, 1947: With yesterday's opener in Washington rained out, the A's open at Yankee Stadium before 39,344. Under new manager Bucky Harris, the Yanks manage just six hits off Phil Marchildon as the A's win, 6–1. Eddie Joost and Elmer Valo pull off a double steal in the 5th when the A's increase their lead to 3–0. Joost scores on the swipe of home. Former A's vet George McQuillan, playing 1B for Nick Etten, scores New York's only run. Spud Chandler takes the loss. » May 1, 1949: Elmer Valo is the first American League player to hit two bases-loaded triples in a game when he leads the A's to a 15–9 win in the first of two against the Senators. Valo will have a 3rd bases-loaded triple during the season, to tie the AL mark of Shano Collins in 1918. The A's take game 2, 7–3, called after seven innings. » August 2, 1950: Elmer Valo hits for the cycle as the A’s thrash the White Sox 10–3. » July 1, 1951: Elmer Valo belts three homers to help the A's sweep the Senators, 10–7 and 3–2. Two of his homers come in the first game, when teammate Gus Zernial hits his 18th homer. Irv Noren has a pair of doubles and a homer for the Nats. » May 2, 1954: Chicago's Connie Johnson tosses a 2-hitter at the A's to win, 4–0, before losing to the A's, 2–1. Elmer Valo's pinch single in the 9th wins the nitecap for reliever Marion Fricano. » July 27, 1978: The Yankees win the first game of a doubleheader 11–0, but the Indians rebound to win the 2nd, 17–5. Duane Kuiper ties the major-league record with two bases-loaded triples in the nightcap, only the 3rd player (after Bill Bruton and Elmer Valo) to do so in the 20th century. » April 5, 2000: The Diamondbacks bite the Phillies, 11-3, with Mike Morgan picking up the save. Arizona is his 12th major league team, an ML record. (though Bobo Newsom switched teams more often). He also becomes the 25th player, and 9th pitcher, to appear in four decades. Earlier today, Jesse Orosco of the Cardinals became the 24th player, and 8th pitcher, to do so. (See also Elmer Valo, September 30, 1939)