Don Erickson
From BR Bullpen
Don Lee Erickson
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.
- School Western Illinois University
- Debut September 1, 1958
- Final Game September 19, 1958
- Born December 13, 1931 in Springfield, IL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
On November 29, 1950 Don Erickson was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent. He was assigned to the class D Lima Phillies of the Ohio-Indiana League for the 1951 season. The 19 year old righthander went 7-14 in 33 games his first year out and would have to wait two years to take the mound again, spending 1952-53 in the United States Military Services, during the Korean War.
Don was back in time for the 1954 season spending it with the class C Salt Lake City Bees, where he went 13-12 with a 3.98 ERA. Don would spend until 1958 with several different minor league outfits and his 14-4 record with the 1957 Schenectady Blue Jays got him a short and only stay with the 1958 Phillies. He appeared in 9 games, striking out 9 but also walking 9 and lost his only decision. Don recalls being credited with a save in Hall of Famer Robin Roberts 17th victory of the season. This year was his only trip to the major leagues during his ten year run in pro baseball.
Erickson would be back in the minors finishing out 1958 with the Tulsa Oilers at 8-9 with a 2.96 ERA. He would spend 1959 through 1962 with the Buffalo Bisons (13-14), the Chattanooga Lookouts (7-8) and finished up his pro baseball career going 0-2 for the 1962 Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers.
Minor League Career Pitching Statistics
| League | Y | W | L | GP | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minors | 10 | 75 | 83 | 331 | 1,352 | 1,230 | 696 | 586 | 89 | 756 | 3.79 |
After baseball Erickson lived in Springfield, IL, where he was
an insurance agent for many years. More recently he has been the State of Illinois department of insurance coordinator for senior citizens. For several years running he was the state horseshoe pitching champion.
[edit] Sources
Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page
