Don Black (baseball)

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Don Black
Pitcher
Born: (1916-07-20)July 20, 1916
Salix, Iowa, U.S.
Died: April 21, 1959(1959-04-21) (aged 42)
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 24, 1943, for the Philadelphia Athletics
Last MLB appearance
September 13, 1948, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
Win–loss record34–55
Earned run average4.35
Strikeouts293
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Donald Paul Black (July 20, 1916

Cleveland Indians. In 154 career games, Black pitched 797 innings and posted a win–loss record of 34–55, with 37 complete games, four shutouts, and a 4.35 earned run average
(ERA).

Born in

cerebral hemorrhage
on the field, which marked the end of his professional career. After a comeback attempt, Black went on to become a sports announcer and salesman. He died in 1959.

Early life and minor leagues

Black was born in Salix, Iowa. He had his first taste of professional baseball in 1937, when he was signed by the

Petersburg Rebels of the Virginia League
.

Black spent the 1941 and 1942 seasons with the Rebels. In 1941, he pitched in 19 games, starting 16 of them. He won 11 games, lost five, and had an ERA of 2.35.[3] He also threw the first no-hitter of his career that season.[4] The following season, Black pitched in 34 games for the rebels, tying for the team lead with Lou Knerr. He pitched 235 innings, winning 18 games, losing 11, and finishing with an ERA of 2.49.[3] Black was selected for the 1942 Virginia League All-Star game, though did not attend as, instead, he was at the hospital where his wife gave birth to their second child, a daughter.[5] He also threw the second no-hitter of his career, which led to a tryout with the Philadelphia Athletics.

Philadelphia Athletics

When he was called up by the Athletics, Black worked to earn a spot on the roster in spring training. After performances which included a 2–0 victory over the University of Delaware baseball team where he struck out three in an inning,[6] he was awarded a spot on the Athletics' roster for the 1943 Philadelphia Athletics season. That pitching rotation featured many other rookie pitchers including Jesse Flores. Black made his major league debut on April 24, 1943, and was in the Athletics' starting rotation most of the season. He had some early success in his career, pitching a one-hitter on May 30 against the St. Louis Browns in a 3–0 victory.[7] Black finished the season with a 6–16 record, a 4.20 ERA, and 208 innings pitched.[8] He also pitched 110 bases on balls, and hit six batters with pitches; both numbers were second highest in the American League.[8] Black remained in the starting rotation at the beginning of the

Jim Bagby, Jr. and Jeff Heath, though Mack stated there was no substance to the rumors.[11]

The following season, Black was part of an optimistic

Cleveland Indians for an undisclosed amount.[16] Connie Mack later stated he regretfully fired him due to his alcohol use, leading to him not being dependable as a pitcher.[4]

Cleveland Indians

Black began the

American Association.[18] While with the Brewers, Black failed to win any games, and at one point was suspended after he disappeared during a road trip.[19] At the conclusion of the season, Indians owner Bill Veeck had a talk with Black, who admitted he had a problem with drunkenness.[20] He agreed to spend the winter with Alcoholics Anonymous with Veek's help, and by the time the 1947 Cleveland Indians season began, Black was sober.[20]

The year 1947 became a career year for the now-sober Black. There was optimism in the Indians clubhouse regarding his talent, with manager

Cuban Winter League along with fellow Indians Bob Feller and Al López,[25] though this did not eventuate. During the off-season, Black returned to his hometown of Salix, where he was given a key to the city and made honorary mayor for a day.[26]

The 1948 Cleveland Indians season began with Black maintaining a spot in the starting rotation. He had spent the off-season selling tickets for the Indians in Hot Springs, Arkansas.[27] After signing a new contract, Black earned his first victory of 1948 on May 23 in a doubleheader against the New York Yankees, winning 5–1 in the second game.[28] Early on in the season, due to the Indians' pitching depth, Black, along with Al Gettel and Bob Muncrief, lost their starting jobs and were moved to the bullpen, though there were plans to still use Black occasionally as a starter.[29] He missed some playing time in June as the result of a bone chip in his left big toe, suffered during batting practice.[30] He pitched for the Indians for most of the rest of the season, making ten starts in 18 total appearances, finishing the season with two wins and losses, a 5.37 ERA, and 52 innings pitched.[8]

About a month before the end of the season, Black pitched his final professional baseball game. During the height of the 1948 pennant race, on September 13 in Cleveland, Black suffered a

cerebral hemorrhage while batting in the second inning during a home game against the St. Louis Browns.[31] He had fouled off a pitch into the upper deck of the stadium, and then collapsed holding onto his neck. He was able to walk to the dugout, but had lost consciousness by the time an ambulance arrived.[31] Black was taken to St. Vincent Charity Hospital and was conscious for a time, but lapsed into a coma.[32] His doctor noted that he was likely to make a full recovery, though he was "through with baseball for this year and possibly for good."[32] After a few days in critical condition, he had begun to recover and his condition was reported to have improved greatly.[33]

In response to Black's injury, the Indians hosted a "Don Black Night" on September 23 in a game against the

Boston Braves in six games in the 1948 World Series as Black recovered in the hospital. After the Indians won the World Series, Lou Boudreau said that the Indians won the title in his honor.[36]

Later life

After a stay of six weeks, Black was released from the hospital in late October 1948.[37] He continued to suffer from headaches, however, and had to have further surgery done in December to remove a weak spot in an artery near his head.[38] He was released from the hospital shortly afterward, but by the start of 1949 his time with the Indians was over, as Veeck stated he would not accept the responsibility of allowing Black to pitch again, though said "If Black is determined to try it again, I won't stand in his way."[39] This statement, however, did not keep Black away, as he signed a contract in late January with the Indians for the same amount as the previous season.[40] After pitching with the Indians in Florida in spring training, he returned to Cleveland and decided to retire temporarily, citing that he felt too weak to be effective.[41] He made one final pitching appearance before retiring in an exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 13, pitching two innings for the Indians in a 1–0 loss.[42]

After his retirement from baseball, Black went on to become a sportscaster, automobile salesman and insurance salesman.[43] He lived with his wife, Joyce, and his two daughters, Stevie and Donna, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.[43] In December 1957, Black was injured in a car accident in Virginia, leaving him in critical condition.[44] He recovered and spent the summer of 1958 teaching for the city recreation department.[43] The following year, on April 21, 1959, Black died in Cuyahoga Falls while watching an Indians game at his home.[43]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Don Black Stats, Fantasy & News".
  2. ^ Donald Black, Social Security Death Index
  3. ^ a b c "Don Black Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-01-10.
  4. ^
    The Milwaukee Journal. July 11, 1947. p. L6.[permanent dead link
    ]
  5. ^ "Virginia League, Class C". The Sporting News. July 16, 1942. p. 10.
  6. ^ "Masi Improved". The Milwaukee Journal. March 31, 1943. p. L8. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  7. ^ "A's Rookie Wins One-Hitter, 3 to 0". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 31, 1943. p. 26.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Don Black Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
  9. ^ "Call to Colors". The Sporting News. June 29, 1944. p. 13.
  10. ^ "Browns Refuse to Lose More Than Three in Row". The Sporting News. July 27, 1944. p. 13.
  11. ^ "Pruett to Help Hayes Next Year, Says A's Leader". The Milwaukee Journal. November 21, 1944. p. L4.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "A's Prospects For 1945 Season Best In Several Years". The Beaver County Times. March 13, 1945. p. 7.
  13. ^ "Mack's Athletics Seeking Slugger For Added Sock". Evening Independent. April 4, 1945. p. 12.
  14. ^ Baumgartner, Stan (May 10, 1945). "Dinge's Batting Relieves Phils' Dingy Showing". The Sporting News. p. 9.
  15. ^ "Don Black Back With A's". The Sporting News. July 12, 1945. p. 16.
  16. The Hartford Courant
    . October 18, 1945. p. 11.
  17. ^ "Don Black Injured". Reading Eagle. March 28, 1946. p. 22.
  18. The Deseret News
    . July 18, 1946. p. 12.
  19. ^ "American Association". The Sporting News. September 4, 1946. p. 24.
  20. ^
    American Weekly
    .
  21. ^ McAuley, Ed (November 27, 1946). "Boudreau Boosts Black as Tribal Hill Prospect". The Sporting News. p. 17.
  22. Gettysburg Times
    . April 25, 1947. p. 3.
  23. ISBN 9780813158792
    .
  24. ^ McAuley, Ed (July 16, 1947). "Don Dupes Ex-Mates With Black Magic, Reformed Hurler Holds Macks Hitless". The Sporting News. p. 10.
  25. ^ Ruhl, Oscar (August 27, 1947). "The Party's Over—In Cuba". The Sporting News. p. 14.
  26. ^ "Home Town Welcomes Black". The Sporting News. October 22, 1947. p. 23.
  27. ^ Ruhl, Oscar (February 25, 1948). "From The Ruhl Book". The Sporting News. p. 19.
  28. ^ "78,431 See Yankees Split With Indians". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 24, 1948. p. 16.
  29. ^ McAuley, Ed (May 12, 1948). "Rumors of Trades Trail Tribe Through the East". The Sporting News. p. 5.
  30. ^ "Ray Doan Loses Feller Suit". The Sporting News. June 16, 1948. p. 29.
  31. ^ a b McAuley, Ed (September 22, 1948). "Don Black In Dangerous Condition; Brain Injured When He Swings Bat". The Sporting News. p. 7.
  32. ^ a b "Don Black Fights For Life After Brain Hemorrhage". The Milwaukee Journal. September 14, 1948. p. L8.[permanent dead link]
  33. ^ "Don Black Reported As 'Much Improved'". The Hartford Courant. September 18, 1948. p. 9.
  34. The Toledo Blade
    . September 22, 1948. p. 29.
  35. ^ "$40,380 for Black". The Christian Science Monitor. September 23, 1948. p. 20.
  36. ^ Lebovitz, Hal (November 3, 1948). "Boudreau's Tribute, 'We Won For Black,' Don's Biggest Thrill". The Sporting News. p. 11.
  37. ^ "Indians' Don Black Released By Hospital". Chicago Tribune. October 26, 1948. p. B2.
  38. ^ "Black Satisfactory, Hospital Reports". The Milwaukee Journal. December 8, 1948. p. 2.[permanent dead link]
  39. ^ "Don Black Has Pitched Last Game For Indians". The Milwaukee Journal. January 5, 1949. p. L14.[permanent dead link]
  40. ^ "Pitcher Don Black Signs With Cleveland Again". The Milwaukee Journal. January 30, 1949. p. 2.[permanent dead link]
  41. ^ "Black Says He'll Quit Baseball". Toledo Blade. April 10, 1949. p. 26.
  42. ^ "Don Black Tries For Comeback". Tri-City Herald. July 14, 1949. p. 6.
  43. ^ a b c d "Don Black, Ex-Cleveland Pitcher, Collapses, Dies". Reading Eagle. April 22, 1959. p. 49.
  44. The Montreal Gazette
    . December 31, 1957. p. 17.

External links

Achievements
Preceded by No-hitter pitcher
July 10, 1947 		Succeeded by


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