Don Carlsen

From BR Bullpen

Donald Herbert Carlsen

Bats Right, Throws Right
Height 6' 1", Weight 175 lb.

School University of Iowa
Debut April 28, 1948
Final Game May 24, 1952
Born October 15, 1926 in Chicago, IL USA
Died September 22, 2002 in Denver, CO USA

[edit] Biographical Information

Don Carlsen left high school to join the Navy during World War II. In January 1944 he was knocked from his gun turret in a "JBU" attack on his ship, cracked his head and tumbled into the sea. He was rescued and when his ship made port in India was taken to an Army hospital where he was found to have a broken back. The first and second vertebrae were fractured. He was returned to the States and in August 1944 was pitching for the Ottuma (IA) Naval Air Station. Discharged in October 1945, he finished high school and enrolled at the University of Iowa where he compiled a record of 21 and 10 and made his Organized Baseball debut in June 1949. He appeared in 4 games for the Chicago White Sox and in 1950 22 games for the White Sox and Browns. (TSN 9/6/49)