Hannibal Cavemen manager Jay Hemond, left, talks with Valparaiso outfielder Kyle Gaedele Monday during the team's first practice at Clemens Field. (H-W Photo/Philip Carlson)

The Hannibal Cavemen have several famous names as part of their coaching staff — Jim Kaat, Don Buford and Jeff Juden to name a few.

The Cavemen also have a few players with some famous lineage. One of the team’s outfielder’s — Valparaiso’s Kyle Gaedele — is related to one of the most infamous players in Major League Baseball history. Gaedele’s great uncle is Eddie Gaedel, the diminutive player sent up to bat in a St. Louis Browns game by Bill Veeck in 1951.

Kyle Gaedele is a tad bit taller — 6-foot-4 — than his 3-foot-7 great uncle, who had just one at-bat during his career. The Rolling Meadows, Ill., native also seems to have a bright career ahead of him. He was drafted in the 32nd round of last year’s Major League Entry Draft by the Tamp Bay Rays.

He’s surprised more people don’t ask him about his famous last name.

“We have his game-used bat in our house,” Gaedele said. “The Hall of Fame wanted it, but we didn’t want to sell it to them. We got to go to Cooperstown (N.Y.) a few years ago because they were doing a reenactment of (the at-bat). We got to see all of that, which was pretty cool.”

As a freshman this spring, Gaedele hit .278 with three home runs and 19 runs batted in, starting all 50 games he played in for the Crusaders. He figures to play a prominent role in the Cavemen’s lineup this summer.

Gaedele is one of three Cavemen with famous relatives. Utility player Curtis Ford Jr., a Mississippi Valley State, is the son of Curt Ford, who played parts of five seasons in the Major Leagues. Ford saw spot duty with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1985-88 and finished his career with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1989-90.

Hannibal manager Jay Hemond said corner infielder and outfielder Matt Burton is the nephew of former St. Louis Cardinals catcher Tom Pagnozzi.