Don Elston

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Don Elston
Pitcher
Born: (1929-04-06)April 6, 1929
Campbellstown, Ohio, U.S.
Died: January 2, 1995(1995-01-02) (aged 65)
Arlington Heights, Illinois, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 17, 1953, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1964, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Win–loss record49–54
Earned run average3.69
Strikeouts519
Saves64
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Donald Ray Elston (April 6, 1929 – January 2, 1995) was an American

farm system
in 1948.

A hard thrower, Elston played for perennially weak Cubs teams over the course of his nine-year major league tenure. After a brief late-season trial with the 1953 Cubs, when he was treated rudely by the

Milwaukee Braves. He was traded back to the Cubs 18 days later for pitchers Jackie Collum and Vito Valentinetti
.

The Cubs first used him as a swingman: in 1957, after his re-acquisition, he began as a reliever, then, beginning June 30, he made 14 appearances as a starter through September 13.[2] But on September 18, he moved back to the bullpen, where he would spend the rest of his career. Elston became one of the best relief pitchers in the National League. He led the league with 69 games pitched in 1958, setting a club mark. Then, in 1959, he tied teammate Bill Henry for the league lead in appearances, with 65. That season, Elston won a career-high ten games and was selected to the 1959 National League All-Star team. He came on in the ninth inning of the first of 1959's two All-Star tilts and earned a save to preserve a 5–4 victory over the American League at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, on July 7.[3] His 14 saves in 1959, third in the league, also was a career high. He was one of the Senior Circuit's top five relief pitchers for five straight years in saves (1957–1961) and games pitched (1958–1962). He posted sub-3.00 earned run averages in 1958, 1962 and 1963.

In 450 career MLB games, Elston compiled a 49–54

bases on balls. He struck out 519. During his brief career as a starting pitcher, he registered two complete games
.

Elston died in Arlington Heights, Illinois, at the age of 65.

References

  1. ^ Retrosheet: 1953 CHI N Pitching Log for Don Elston
  2. ^ Retrosheet: 1957 CHI N Pitching Log for Don Elston
  3. Baseball Reference

External links

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