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* [[MLB All-Star Game|All-Star]] selection (1958)
* [[MLB All-Star Game|All-Star]] selection (1958)
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'''Don Lee Blasingame''' (March 16, 1932 – April 13, 2005) was a [[second baseman]] in [[Major League Baseball]] who played with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] (1955–1959), [[San Francisco Giants]] (1960–1961), [[Cincinnati Reds]] (1961–1963), [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Washington Senators]] (1963–1966) and [[Oakland Athletics|Kansas City Athletics]] (1966). Blasingame batted left-handed and threw right-handed. His father-in-law, [[Walker Cooper]], also was a major leaguer.
'''Don Lee Blasingame''' (March 16, 1932 – April 13, 2005) was a [[second baseman]] in [[Major League Baseball]] who played with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] (1955–1959), [[San Francisco Giants]] (1960–1961), [[Cincinnati Reds]] (1961–1963), [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Washington Senators]] (1963–1966) and [[Oakland Athletics|Kansas City Athletics]] (1966). Blasingame batted left-handed and threw right-handed. His father-in-law, [[Walker Cooper]], also was a major leaguer.<ref>http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blasido01.shtml</ref>


Nicknamed “Blazer”, Blasingame was a second baseman with five MLB teams in 12 seasons, and later he was the third [[United States|American]] (after [[Wally Kaname Yonamine|Wally Yonamine and Joe Lutz]]) to [[Manager (baseball)|manage]] in Japan's [[Nippon Professional Baseball]].
Nicknamed “Blazer”, Blasingame was a second baseman with five MLB teams in 12 seasons, and later he was the third [[United States|American]] (after [[Wally Kaname Yonamine|Wally Yonamine and Joe Lutz]]) to [[Manager (baseball)|manage]] in Japan's [[Nippon Professional Baseball]].


Blasingame was a .258 career [[batting (baseball)|hitter]] with 21 [[home run]]s and 308 [[run batted in|RBI]] in 1444 [[games played|games]].
Blasingame was a .258 career [[batting (baseball)|hitter]] with 21 [[home run]]s and 308 [[run batted in|RBI]] in 1444 [[games played|games]].<ref>http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blasido01.shtml</ref>


A classic [[types of batted balls in baseball|line drive]] hitter, Blasingame was also a skilled [[Bunt (baseball)|bunter]] and a fast and smart runner. In 1956, he started as a regular with the Cardinals, replacing [[Red Schoendienst]]. In his career, Blasingame was particularly fast getting down the line, hitting into fewer [[double play]]s (one in every 123 [[at bat|at-bats]]) than anyone in major league history except [[Don Buford]].
A classic [[types of batted balls in baseball|line drive]] hitter, Blasingame was also a skilled [[Bunt (baseball)|bunter]] and a fast and smart runner -- he hit into fewer [[double play]]s (one in every 123 [[at bat|at-bats]]) than anyone in major league history except [[Don Buford]].<ref>http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Don_Blasingame_1932</ref>


He 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.<ref>http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195509200.shtml</ref>
⚫
Blasingame enjoyed his best season in 1957, when he hit .271 and posted career-highs in home runs (8), RBI (58), [[Run (baseball)|runs]] (101), [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] (176) and [[stolen base]]s (21). In 1958, he followed with .274, 19 [[Double (baseball)|doubles]], 10 [[Triple (baseball)|triples]] and 20 steals, and also was named to the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|National League All-Star]] team. In 1959, Blasingame hit .289 with 26 [[Double (baseball)|doubles]], both career highs.

In 1956, he started as a regular with the Cardinals, replacing [[Red Schoendienst]].

⚫
Blasingame enjoyed his best season in 1957, when he hit .271 and posted career-highs in home runs (8), RBI (58), [[Run (baseball)|runs]] (101), [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] (176) and [[stolen base]]s (21). In 1958, he followed with .274, 19 [[Double (baseball)|doubles]], 10 [[Triple (baseball)|triples]] and 20 steals, and also was named to the [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|National League All-Star]] team. In 1959, Blasingame hit .289 with 26 [[Double (baseball)|doubles]], both career highs.<ref>http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blasido01.shtml</ref>


After 12 seasons with the Reds, Giants, Senators and Athletics, Blasingame finished his major league career at the end of the 1966 season.
After 12 seasons with the Reds, Giants, Senators and Athletics, Blasingame finished his major league career at the end of the 1966 season.


Opting to continue his playing career in [[Japan]], Blasingame joined the [[Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks|Nankai Hawks]] in 1967, playing second base for three years until 1969, and recorded a .274 average with 15 home runs and 86 RBI in 366 games. At the time, Blasingame was registered officially as his nickname, "Don Blazer." He then joined the team's [[Coach (baseball)|coaching]] staff for the next eight seasons.
Opting to continue his playing career in [[Japan]], Blasingame joined the [[Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks|Nankai Hawks]] in 1967, playing second base for three years until 1969, and recorded a .274 average with 15 home runs and 86 RBI in 366 games. Blasingame was registered officially as his nickname, "Don Blazer."<ref>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1079555/index.htm</ref> He then joined the team's [[Coach (baseball)|coaching]] staff for the next eight seasons.


In 1978, Blasingame was moved to the [[Hiroshima Toyo Carp]] as the head coach of for one season. He then managed the [[Hanshin Tigers]] for one-and-a-half seasons before returning to the Nankai Hawks from 1981 to 1982. As manager for the two teams, he compiled a record of 180-208-28 (ties are played in Japanese baseball).
In 1978, Blasingame was moved to the [[Hiroshima Toyo Carp]] as the head coach of for one season. He then managed the [[Hanshin Tigers]] for one-and-a-half seasons before returning to the Nankai Hawks from 1981 to 1982. As manager for the two teams, he compiled a record of 180-208-28 (ties are played in Japanese baseball).


Blasingame died in [[Fountain Hills, Arizona]] at age 73.
Blasingame died at age 73 on April 13, 2005 in [[Fountain Hills, Arizona]].<ref>http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Obits_B/Blasingame.Don.Obit.html</ref>


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
Line 54: Line 58:
**August 20, 1963: Blasingame singled off the A's [[Moe Drabowsky]] for the only hit for the Senators in a 9–0 loss.
**August 20, 1963: Blasingame singled off the A's [[Moe Drabowsky]] for the only hit for the Senators in a 9–0 loss.
**September 25, 1965: [[Minnesota Twins|Twins]] hurler [[Mudcat Grant]] one-hits the Senators to win, 5–0. Blasingame's double in the third inning is the only hit against Washington.
**September 25, 1965: [[Minnesota Twins|Twins]] hurler [[Mudcat Grant]] one-hits the Senators to win, 5–0. Blasingame's double in the third inning is the only hit against Washington.
*Married the daughter of St. Louis Cardinal teammate [[Walker Cooper]] Sara (Miss Missouri 1957), to which Cooper responded, "You know you are getting too old when your daughter marries one of your teammates." Cooper was kidded by old friend [[Red Munger|George Munger]], "The only way that Sara could have ever become Miss Missouri is because she takes after her Mom and not you."
*Married the daughter of St. Louis Cardinal teammate [[Walker Cooper]] Sara (Miss Missouri 1957), to which Cooper responded, "You know you are getting too old when your daughter marries one of your teammates." Cooper was kidded by old friend [[Red Munger|George Munger]], "The only way that Sara could have ever become Miss Missouri is because she takes after her mom and not you."

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 14:10, 15 August 2013

Don Blasingame
Second baseman
Born: (1932-03-16)March 16, 1932
Corinth, Mississippi
Died: April 13, 2005(2005-04-13) (aged 73)
Fountain Hills, Arizona
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
debut
September 20, 1955, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last appearance
August 27, 1966, for the Kansas City Athletics
Career statistics
Batting average.258
Hits1,366
Runs batted in308
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Don Lee Blasingame (March 16, 1932 – April 13, 2005) was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played with the St. Louis Cardinals (1955–1959), San Francisco Giants (1960–1961), Cincinnati Reds (1961–1963), Washington Senators (1963–1966) and Kansas City Athletics (1966). Blasingame batted left-handed and threw right-handed. His father-in-law, Walker Cooper, also was a major leaguer.[1]

Nicknamed “Blazer”, Blasingame was a second baseman with five MLB teams in 12 seasons, and later he was the third American (after Wally Yonamine and Joe Lutz) to manage in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.

Blasingame was a .258 career hitter with 21 home runs and 308 RBI in 1444 games.[2]

A classic line drive hitter, Blasingame was also a skilled bunter and a fast and smart runner -- he hit into fewer double plays (one in every 123 at-bats) than anyone in major league history except Don Buford.[3]

He 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.[4]

In 1956, he started as a regular with the Cardinals, replacing Red Schoendienst.

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). In 1958, he followed with .274, 19 doubles, 10 triples and 20 steals, and also was named to the National League All-Star team. In 1959, Blasingame hit .289 with 26 doubles, both career highs.[5]

After 12 seasons with the Reds, Giants, Senators and Athletics, Blasingame finished his major league career at the end of the 1966 season.

Opting to continue his playing career in Japan, Blasingame joined the Nankai Hawks in 1967, playing second base for three years until 1969, and recorded a .274 average with 15 home runs and 86 RBI in 366 games. Blasingame was registered officially as his nickname, "Don Blazer."[6] He then joined the team's coaching staff for the next eight seasons.

In 1978, Blasingame was moved to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp as the head coach of for one season. He then managed the Hanshin Tigers for one-and-a-half seasons before returning to the Nankai Hawks from 1981 to 1982. As manager for the two teams, he compiled a record of 180-208-28 (ties are played in Japanese baseball).

Blasingame died at age 73 on April 13, 2005 in Fountain Hills, Arizona.[7]

Trivia

  • Five times, César Tovar and Eddie Milner collected their teams' only hit in a single game, an MLB record. Blasingame is the runner up, with four.
    • July 13, 1962: Cubs pitcher Cal Koonce one-hits the Reds, a single by Blasingame, to win, 1–0.
    • August 6, 1963: Yankees Stan Williams one-hit the Senators, giving up a double to Blasingame.
    • August 20, 1963: Blasingame singled off the A's Moe Drabowsky for the only hit for the Senators in a 9–0 loss.
    • September 25, 1965: Twins hurler Mudcat Grant one-hits the Senators to win, 5–0. Blasingame's double in the third inning is the only hit against Washington.
  • Married the daughter of St. Louis Cardinal teammate Walker Cooper Sara (Miss Missouri 1957), to which Cooper responded, "You know you are getting too old when your daughter marries one of your teammates." Cooper was kidded by old friend George Munger, "The only way that Sara could have ever become Miss Missouri is because she takes after her mom and not you."

References

  1. ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blasido01.shtml
  2. ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blasido01.shtml
  3. ^ http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Don_Blasingame_1932
  4. ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN195509200.shtml
  5. ^ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/blasido01.shtml
  6. ^ http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1079555/index.htm
  7. ^ http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Obits_B/Blasingame.Don.Obit.html

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