Eddie Gaedel?

Bingo!

Once a headliner in the New York Times
Whose record may never be broken
The first third of my career was notorious
In my bar it was considered uproarious.

Johnny vander meer?

I have to give you a no no on that answer.:D

Fair to say he wasn't right-handed?

He was right handed.

Probably not Lefty O'Doul then.

Nor his brother, Righty O’Doul. :D

Joe DiMaggio?

Not a chance, but I see why you might have thought so.

My birthplace rhymes with a US city.;)

80% of my countrymen played their first professional baseball game in the nineteenth century,

but I am not one of them.

Clues embellished in Post #61. The answer should be “a piece of cake” now.

Joe Cleary pitched a third of an inning in 1945 (born in Cork Ireland) and holds the record for highest ERA of any pitcher who retired a batter. Not sure about the bar part, or the NY Times.

His high school team in Manhattan played for city title in 1938 and his name was in the NYT headline for that game. He owned a bar in Manhattan later in life, where his patrons (including a Mr. Sloate) continually mocked his record and his claim to fame.

His career ERA was 189.00.;)

You’re the next riddler Peter.

Despite my name I wasn't one
I played for a different branch
I stood near a man bound for glory
My BA was close to chance

Branch Rickey

Nope.

Joe Judge?

Yes indeed.

Okay, I'll try one, but I won't even attempt it as a catchy limerick. He was born in the same city as me (not that anyone here would know that), he had at the same time, easily, one of the best all time names in baseball but also one of the worst all time nicknames in baseball, although the nickname was his own choice. Playing in the era well before baseball salaries took off, in the off-season he worked in a steel mill. He played sparingly for two teams for four years, spent the next four years in the minors, and then returned to the majors for two more years with a third team. He had by far his best season his final year. After his baseball career was over he owned and ran a tavern in his hometown. His grandson is an actor, who is married to this lovely woman.

His nickname was 'Ugly', and his grandson is John Ducey, who is married to Christina Moore, a cast member of MADtv and That 70's Show.

To me he just looks like a cross between Charles Bronson and Tom Waits. Now Don Mossi, he was ugly.

Right you are! It's Johnny Dickshot, born, raised, and buried in the same city as me (born and raised anyway), Waukegan, Illinois. He chose to be called Ugly, but he had nothing on Mossi, Andy Etchebarren, or David Weathers.

"Ugly Dickshot"? Man, that's below the belt.