Don Blasingame
Don Blasingame | |
---|---|
Second baseman | |
Born: Corinth, Mississippi, U.S. | March 16, 1932|
Died: April 13, 2005 Fountain Hills, Arizona, U.S. | (aged 73)|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 20, 1955, for the St. Louis Cardinals | |
Last MLB appearance | |
August 27, 1966, for the Kansas City Athletics | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .258 |
Home runs | 21 |
Runs batted in | 308 |
Teams | |
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
Donald Lee Blasingame (March 16, 1932 – April 13, 2005), nicknamed "Blazer", was an American
Born and raised in Corinth, Mississippi, Blasingame signed with the Cardinals in 1953 after a stint in the United States Army. He made his debut for the team in September 1955 and took over the second base job from Red Schoendienst in 1956. In 1957, he finished twelfth in National League Most Valuable Player Award voting, and he reached his only All-Star Game in 1958. He played one more season for the Cardinals in 1959 before getting traded to the Giants. With San Francisco, Blasingame's batting average was significantly lower than it had been with St. Louis, and he lost the second base job in 1961, then was traded early in the season to the Reds. He made it to the World Series with the Reds during his first year and batted .281 for them in 1962. In 1963, he lost the second base role to Pete Rose and was traded to the Senators midseason. Blasingame served as Washington's second baseman until 1966, platooned with Chuck Cottier for the first half of that year, then went to the Athletics and spent a month with them as a pinch hitter to finish his major league career.
After that, Blasingame went to Japan. He spent three seasons playing with the
Early life
Blasingame was born on March 16, 1932, in
Blasingame went to
Minor league career
Blasingame's first professional team was the
Blasingame batted .315 in 144 games (575
Though he had played
Major league career
St. Louis Cardinals
Blasingame made his major league debut at age 23 on September 20, 1955, in a 2–0 Cardinals win over the Chicago Cubs. Starting at second base and batting leadoff, his first career at bat resulted in his first hit, a single off Sam Jones, and he scored on a Solly Hemus home run.[5] He appeared in five games that fall for the Cardinals, reaching base 12 times in 23 opportunities.[2]
In 1956, Blasingame began the season on the bench for three games, then took over as the Cardinal shortstop from Alex Grammas.[6][7] He batted .263 in his first 50 games, through June 12. Two days later, the Cardinals traded Schoendienst to the New York Giants, opening the door for Blasingame to take over at that position.[8] He spent the rest of the year at second base and finished the season batting .261 with 153 hits, 94 runs, and 27 RBI in 150 games (587 at bats). He stole eight bases but was caught an equal number of times.[2]
Blasingame enjoyed his best season in 1957, when he hit .271 and posted career-highs in home runs (8), RBI (58), runs (101), hits (176) and stolen bases (21, third in the league).
In 1958, Blasingame batted .276 in the first half of the season, getting named to the National League All-Star team for the only time in his career.[13] Bill Mazeroski played the whole game for the NL at second, but Blasingame did make an appearance, flying out when he pinch-hit for Warren Spahn in the fourth inning.[1] He had four hits and two RBI in an 8–7 victory over the San Francisco Giants on August 6.[14] Sports Illustrated reported he was "hurt a lot" that year, but he still appeared in 143 of 154 games.[15] He batted .274 with 71 runs scored, 19 doubles, 10 triples (a career high), two home runs, and 20 steals.[2]
Blasingame only hit one home run in 1959, in a 5–3 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but it was against Sandy Koufax.[16] He had three hits, scored three times, and drove in two runs during a June 9, 12–3 victory over Milwaukee.[17] On July 19, he had four hits and scored twice in a 9–5 victory, also over Milwaukee.[18] He finished the season with a .289 batting average and 26 doubles, both career highs. While he only had 24 RBI, he scored 90 runs. He stole 15 bases but was caught a league-leading 15 times as well.[2]
San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds
After the 1959 season, on December 15, Blasingame was traded to the San Francisco Giants for Daryl Spencer (the team's previous second baseman) and Leon Wagner.[2] The Giants had discussed the possibility of acquiring Blasingame from the Cardinals since December of the previous season; they hoped he could shore up their error-prone infield.[19] He served as the team's leadoff man, just as he had in St. Louis.[20] However, Blasingame failed to live up to expectations with the Giants.[21] His batting average dropped to .235, the lowest of his major league career. In 136 games (523 at bats), Blasingame had 123 hits, two home runs, and 31 RBI. He did see improvement as a base stealer, as he was only caught stealing twice in 16 attempts.[2]
In 1961, Blasingame lost the second base job to rookie Chuck Hiller.[22][23] He was only used three times in the first two weeks, all as a pinch-hitter, before getting traded with Bob Schmidt to the Cincinnati Reds for Ed Bailey and a player to be named later (Sherman Jones).[2][24]
"We needed some one to pull the infield together...Blasingame fit the bill," said Reds' manager Fred Hutchinson.[24] Three days after Blasingame's arrival in Cincinnati, the Reds went on a nine-game winning streak, shooting from last place to the upper portions of the NL standings.[24] Blasingame's average continued to dip in 1961, though, falling to .222.[2] By the end of the year, he was losing playing time to prospect Elio Chacón.[25] In 123 games (450 at bats), Blasingame had 100 hits, one home run, and 21 RBI, only stealing four bases on the season.[2] With the Reds, Blasingame appeared in the 1961 World Series, playing in three games with one hit in seven at-bats as the Reds fell in five games to the New York Yankees.[2]
Chacón was taken by the
By 1963, Blasingame's defense was no longer what it had been. Sports Illustrated noted that he was "competent" but said he had "trouble making the
Washington Senators and Kansas City Athletics
The Senators acquired Blasingame to replace Chuck Cottier at second base; Cottier was only batting .200 through the end of June.[33][34] Blasingame finished the 1963 season strong, batting .316 in his final 32 games beginning August 24.[33] In 69 games (254 at bats) with the Senators, he batted .256 with 29 runs scored, 65 hits, two home runs, 12 RBI, and three stolen bases. In 87 games (285 at bats) between Cincinnati and Washington, he batted .246 with 33 runs scored and 70 hits (he had no home runs, RBI, or stolen bases with the Reds).[2]
Blasingame remained the Senators' second baseman in 1964. He had three hits and scored two runs, including the winning run, on April 23 in a 5–4 victory over the
On April 14, 1965, Blasingame had a two-RBI triple against Dick Radatz that put the Senators ahead to stay in a 6–4 victory over the Boston Red Sox.[38] Three days later, he had three hits and drove in the Senators' only run in a 2–1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.[39] His two-run single against Pete Mikkelsen on July 18 helped the Senators win a 3–0 victory over the Yankees.[40] From August 22 through September 3, the Senators opted to play Ken Hamlin at second base instead of Blasingame.[41][42] Blasingame only played 129 games (403 at bats) for the Senators in 1965, batting .223 with 90 hits, 47 runs scored, eight doubles, eight triples, one home run, and 18 RBI, stealing five bases.[2]
In 1966 Blasingame began
Blasingame was mainly used as a pinch-hitter with Kansas City, only starting three games. He played 12 games for the Athletics, getting three hits in 19 at bats.
The only hit
Former players César Tovar and Eddie Milner each collected their team's only hit in a single game five separate times, an MLB record. Blasingame is the only other player to do so four or more times:[47]
- July 13, 1962: Cubs pitcher Cal Koonce one-hit the Reds, giving up a single to Blasingame in a 1–0 Cubs victory.[48]
- August 6, 1963: Stan Williams of the Yankees one-hit the Senators, giving up a double to Blasingame in a 1–0 Yankee win.[49]
- August 20, 1963: Moe Drabowsky of the Athletics allowed one hit, a single by Blasingame, in the first game of a doubleheader as the A's won 9–0.[50]
- September 25, 1965: Mudcat Grant of the Twins one-hit the Senators in the first game of a doubleheader to win, 5–0. Blasingame's double in the third inning was the only hit for Washington.[51]
Playing style
Blasingame was a speedy contact hitter, usually the leadoff man for his team.[1][20][52] He never hit more than eight home runs in a season but had a .350 on-base percentage in his years with the Cardinals.[2] He also had a reputation for being one of the game's best bunters and spray hitters.[1] In an era where stolen bases were not common, Blasingame finished in the Top 10 in the NL in steals four times despite never stealing more than 21 in a season.[2] His nickname, "Blazer," was a result of his flashy style of play and his swiftness at running the bases.[1] His defense was highly regarded in his days with the Cardinals; retroactively he led the NL in fielding wins (a modern metric that attempts to predict how many more wins a team would have because of the fielding of one of its players) each year from 1956 through 1959.[1] In 1958, Sports Illustrated wrote that Blasingame helped give St. Louis "the tightest defensive play in the league."[53] Later in his career, his defensive abilities apparently declined; Sports Illustrated noted he had trouble making the double play by 1963.[30] At the end of his final season, Blasingame had grounded into fewer double plays per times at bat than any other major leaguer.[1] Only Don Buford has since had a lower rate.[54]
Player and manager in Japan
Opting to continue his playing career in Japan, Blasingame joined the
After he finished his career as a player, Blasingame was a
Altogether, Blasingame spent 15 years in Japan. His managerial record was 180–208–28 (Japanese baseball allows for ties).[1][3][4]
Post-career
After his time in Japan, Blasingame served as the field coordinator for player development for the Phillies until 1998.[57] He returned to Japan in 1984 and 1991 for old-timer's games.[56] When he retired, he moved to the Scottsdale, Arizona area.[1]
Personal life
In 1960, Blasingame married Sara Cooper, a flight attendant for
Blasingame died at age 73 on April 13, 2005, in Fountain Hills, Arizona, of an unexpected heart attack after talking to his brother on the phone earlier in the day.[3] He is interred at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale.[62]
Legacy
The Corinth SportsPlex's youth baseball league was named after Blasingame in the 1970s, and in 1980, he was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.[3][63] A street in Corinth was named Blasingame Street in his honor.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Faber, Charles F. "Don Blasingame". SABR. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x "Don Blasingame Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "The Obit for Don Blasingame". www.thedeadballera.com. Associated Press. April 14, 2005. Archived from the original on October 21, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Don Blasingame Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference (Minors). Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, September 20, 1955". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ^ "Don Blasingame 1956 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Alex Grammas 1956 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Red Schoendienst Stats". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Milwaukee Braves at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, May 12, 1957". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Milwaukee Braves at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, September 4, 1957". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "St. Louis Cardinals at Pittsburgh Pirates Box Score, July 21, 1957". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "1957 Awards Voting". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Don Blasingame 1958 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "San Francisco Giants at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, August 6, 1958". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ SI Staff (April 13, 1959). "St. Louis Cardinals". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score, May 31, 1959". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Milwaukee Braves at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, June 9, 1959". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Milwaukee Braves at St. Louis Cardinals Box Score, July 19, 1959". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ Bingham, Walter (March 14, 1960). "The Master Traders". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- ^ a b "Giants Plug Infield Holes, Patch Up Pitching; Picked for '60 Flag". St. Petersburg Times. The Associated Press. April 4, 1960. p. 2C. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
- ^ Mann, Jack (April 5, 1965). "Destiny's Whipping Boys". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
- ^ SI Staff (April 10, 1961). "San Francisco Giants". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
- ^ "Chuck Hiller 1961 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
- ^ a b c Maule, Tex (June 12, 1961). "The Odds Go Down on Cincy". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ "Don Blasingame 1961 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
- ^ "Elio Chacon Stats". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, April 18, 1962". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Cincinnati Reds at Houston Colt .45s Box Score, May 24, 1962". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, September 5, 1962". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ a b SI Staff (April 8, 1963). "Cincinnati Reds: The Pennant Is Up to the Doctors". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
- ^ Leggett, William (August 19, 1985). "'The Reports on Me in Cincinnati Weren't Too Good'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
- ^ a b "Pete Rose 1963 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Don Blasingame 1963 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
- ^ "Chuck Cottier 1963 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
- ^ "Washington Senators at Minnesota Twins Box Score, April 23, 1964". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Cleveland Indians at Washington Senators Box Score, May 29, 1964". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Washington Senators at Cleveland Indians Box Score, August 4, 1964". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Boston Red Sox at Washington Senators Box Score, April 14, 1965". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Washington Senators at Chicago White Sox Box Score, April 17, 1965". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Washington Senators at New York Yankees Box Score, July 18, 1965". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Don Blasingame 1965 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Ken Hamlin 1965 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ a b "Don Blasingame 1966 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Ken Hamlin 1966 Batting Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Washington Senators at Detroit Tigers Box Score, June 13, 1966". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Washington Senators at Boston Red Sox Box Score, July 4, 1966". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ Jaffe, Chris (February 6, 2012). "10 Things I Didn't Know about One Hitters". hardballtimes.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
- ^ "Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs Box Score, July 13, 1962". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "New York Yankees at Washington Senators Box Score, August 6, 1963". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Washington Senators at Kansas City Athletics Box Score, August 20, 1963". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins at Washington Senators Box Score, September 25, 1965". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ SI Staff (April 15, 1957). "St. Louis Cardinals". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ SI Staff (April 14, 1958). "St. Louis Cardinals". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
- ^ "Don Blasingame". baseballbiography.com. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
- ^ SI Staff (February 20, 1967). "People". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ a b c d Graczyk, Wayne (April 17, 2005). "'Blazer' leaves behind legion of fans, friends in Japan". The Japan Times. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ Bostrom, Don (August 18, 1998). "Unser, Blasingame, Culver, McCormack Are Out; Green, Elia Are In". The Morning Call. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Don Blasingame to Wed Missouri Girl in Fall". Lawrence Journal-World. Associated Press. April 26, 1960. p. 5. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ^ Hummel, Rick (February 23, 2019). "Carpenter looks forward to having entire spring to prepare". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- ^ "Kent Blasingame Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference (Minors). Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ^ "Gregg Blasingame". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
- ISBN 9780786479924.
- ^ "Donald Blasingame". Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Biography, or Historic Baseball