Leo Cristante

Leo Cristante
Leo Cristante
	Pitcher
	Born: December 10, 1926; Detroit, Michigan
	Died: August 24, 1977 (aged 50); Dearborn, Michigan
	Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
	April 21, 1951, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
	September 7, 1955, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	1–2
Earned run average	3.84
Innings pitched	582⁄3
Teams
	Philadelphia Phillies (1951); Detroit Tigers (1955);

Dante Leo Cristante (December 10, 1926 – August 24, 1977) was an American

right-handed pitcher. He had a 13-year (1947–59) career in pro ball, including 30 games played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the 1951 Philadelphia Phillies and 1955 Detroit Tigers

(his hometown team). During Cristante's playing days, he was listed as 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall, weighing 195 pounds (88 kg).

Cristante spent the early months of the 1951 season as a member of the Phillies' pitching staff, appearing in ten games, nine in

earned runs over the next 52⁄3 innings as the Phillies came from behind to win, 10–9.^[1] Three weeks later, Cristante made his only National League (NL) start, on May 18 against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. This time, he was routed in the first inning, failing to record an out. However, the Phillies could not recover and the 18–9 defeat was charged to Cristante.^[2]

Cristante spent the next 3+1⁄2 years in the minors. In 1954, he led the Double-A

strikeouts

.

Cristante returned to the minor leagues in 1956 and spent the remainder of his career in the high minors in the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers' organization. He retired after appearing in 383 minor league games, with a 111–92 record.^[4]