Don Mossi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Don Mossi |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: January 11, 1929 St. Helena, California, U.S. |
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| Died: July 19, 2019 (aged 90) Nampa, Idaho, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 17, 1954, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 1965, for the Kansas City Athletics | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 101–80 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.43 | ||
| Strikeouts | 932 | ||
| Saves | 50 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Donald Louis Mossi (born January 11, 1929 – died July 19, 2019) was a talented American baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball from 1954 to 1965. Don was a left-handed pitcher. He was known for his excellent control of the ball. He often had one of the best strikeout-to-walk ratios in the league. This means he struck out many batters and didn't walk many. He finished his career with 101 wins, 50 saves, and a good earned run average of 3.43.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Don Mossi was born in St. Helena, California. His parents were Patience and Louis Mossi. He grew up in Daly City. Don went to Jefferson High School. At Jefferson High, he was a star football player. He was named to the all-Peninsula Athletic League team twice. He played as a quarterback.
Don Mossi's Professional Baseball Journey
Don Mossi was noticed by scouts when he was young. The Cleveland Indians signed him after he finished high school in 1949. He started his baseball career with a team called the Bakersfield Indians. In his first year, Don had some trouble with his control. He walked 115 batters in 195 innings. But he kept working hard and got better. In 1951, he had a good ERA of 2.92 for the Wichita Indians.
Joining the Cleveland Indians
In 1954, Don Mossi joined the Indians' bullpen. This meant he would be a relief pitcher. At that time, the Indians had amazing starting pitchers. These included famous players like Early Wynn and Bob Lemon. So, even though Don had always been a starter, he became a reliever.
His first game in the major leagues was on April 17, 1954. He pitched three innings and allowed only one run. The first batter he faced was Nellie Fox, who later became a Hall of Famer. Don's first strikeout was against Sherm Lollar. In his first season, Don had an excellent ERA of 1.94. The Indians made it to the 1954 World Series that year. This was the only World Series Don played in. The Indians lost the series, but Don pitched well. He allowed no runs in four innings across three games.
Becoming an All-Star
In 1957, Don Mossi and his teammate Ray Narleski became starting pitchers. Don finished that season with 11 wins and 10 losses. He also had an ERA of 4.13. That year, he was chosen to be an American League All-Star. In the All-Star game, Don came into the game in the ninth inning. He faced tough batters like Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks, who are both in the Hall of Fame. He got a strikeout and helped his team win.
Moving to the Detroit Tigers
After the 1958 season, Don was traded to the Detroit Tigers. This trade meant Don would get a chance to be a starting pitcher again. In 1959, he had a fantastic season. He won 17 games and lost only 9. His ERA was 3.36. In 1961, Don had the best season of his career. He won 15 games and had a great ERA of 2.96. The Tigers team won over 100 games that year.
After this, Don started to have problems with his throwing arm. For his last two years with the Tigers, he pitched as a short-reliever. His arm wasn't strong enough to start games anymore. In 1964, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox. He finished his career in 1965 with the Kansas City Athletics.
Don Mossi's Career Stats
Don Mossi played in the major leagues for 12 years. He won 101 games and lost 80. His winning percentage was .558. His career ERA was 3.43. He pitched in 460 games. He started 165 of those games. Don had 55 complete games and eight shutouts. He also had 50 saves. He was known for his excellent defense as a pitcher. He made only three errors in his entire career.
Life After Baseball
After he stopped playing baseball, Don Mossi moved to Ukiah, California. He lived there with his wife, son, and two daughters. He worked as a supervisor at a factory. Later, he retired and enjoyed hunting and fishing. In 2014, the Cleveland Indians honored him. They named him one of their Top 100 Greatest Indians.
Don Mossi was the last living member of the 1954 Indians' pitching staff. He passed away on July 19, 2019, at the age of 90.
