
Born: July 17, 1942 in Forrest City, AR
Schools: University of Mississippi
Signed by the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent in 1964.
(All Transactions)
Debut: September 7, 1964
Final Game: July 31, 1979
Relatives: Father of Keith Kessinger
About biographical information
OleMissCub sponsor(s) this page.
An Ole Miss Rebel and a Chicago Cub, Don was a gold glove shortstop on one of the best infields in Cubs history. Hotty Toddy! For the best Cubs discussion on the web, be sure to check out northsidebaseball.com!
| Year | Age | Tm | Lg | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | Pos | Awards | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 21 | CHC | NL | 4 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .167 | .167 | .167 | .333 | -7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | /6 | |
| 1965 | 22 | CHC | NL | 106 | 336 | 309 | 19 | 62 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 44 | .201 | .252 | .233 | .485 | 37 | 72 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | |
| 1966 | 23 | CHC | NL | 150 | 578 | 533 | 50 | 146 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 43 | 13 | 7 | 26 | 46 | .274 | .306 | .302 | .608 | 70 | 161 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 5 | *6 | |
| 1967 | 24 | CHC | NL | 145 | 628 | 580 | 61 | 134 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 42 | 6 | 13 | 33 | 80 | .231 | .275 | .272 | .548 | 55 | 158 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 1 | *6 | |
| 1968 | 25 | CHC | NL | 160 | 707 | 655 | 63 | 157 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 32 | 9 | 9 | 38 | 86 | .240 | .283 | .287 | .570 | 67 | 188 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1 | *6 | AS |
| 1969 | 26 | CHC | NL | 158 | 737 | 664 | 109 | 181 | 38 | 6 | 4 | 53 | 11 | 8 | 61 | 70 | .273 | .332 | .366 | .698 | 86 | 243 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 4 | *6 | AS,MVP-15,GG |
| 1970 | 27 | CHC | NL | 154 | 711 | 631 | 100 | 168 | 21 | 14 | 1 | 39 | 12 | 6 | 66 | 59 | .266 | .337 | .349 | .685 | 77 | 220 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 6 | *6 | AS,MVP-23,GG |
| 1971 | 28 | CHC | NL | 155 | 687 | 617 | 77 | 159 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 38 | 15 | 8 | 52 | 54 | .258 | .318 | .316 | .634 | 72 | 195 | 11 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 6 | *6 | AS |
| 1972 | 29 | CHC | NL | 149 | 660 | 577 | 77 | 158 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 39 | 8 | 7 | 67 | 44 | .274 | .351 | .334 | .685 | 89 | 193 | 11 | 2 | 13 | 1 | 8 | *6 | AS |
| 1973 | 30 | CHC | NL | 160 | 643 | 577 | 52 | 151 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 43 | 6 | 6 | 57 | 44 | .262 | .327 | .310 | .637 | 73 | 179 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 18 | *6 | |
| 1974 | 31 | CHC | NL | 153 | 673 | 599 | 83 | 155 | 20 | 7 | 1 | 42 | 7 | 7 | 62 | 54 | .259 | .332 | .321 | .652 | 82 | 192 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 7 | *6 | AS |
| 1975 | 32 | CHC | NL | 154 | 693 | 601 | 77 | 146 | 26 | 10 | 0 | 46 | 4 | 7 | 68 | 47 | .243 | .317 | .319 | .636 | 75 | 192 | 4 | 1 | 14 | 9 | 2 | *65 | |
| 1976 | 33 | STL | NL | 145 | 577 | 502 | 55 | 120 | 22 | 6 | 1 | 40 | 3 | 0 | 61 | 51 | .239 | .320 | .313 | .633 | 80 | 157 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 5 | *64/5 | |
| 1977 | 34 | TOT | 98 | 283 | 253 | 26 | 60 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 27 | 33 | .237 | .309 | .281 | .589 | 62 | 71 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 645 | ||
| 1977 | 34 | STL | NL | 59 | 149 | 134 | 14 | 32 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 26 | .239 | .309 | .269 | .577 | 58 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 64/5 | |
| 1977 | 34 | CHW | AL | 39 | 134 | 119 | 12 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 7 | .235 | .308 | .294 | .602 | 66 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 64/5 | |
| 1978 | 35 | CHW | AL | 131 | 480 | 431 | 35 | 110 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 36 | 34 | .255 | .312 | .309 | .621 | 75 | 133 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 1 | *6/4 | |
| 1979 | 36 | CHW | AL | 56 | 124 | 110 | 14 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 12 | .200 | .264 | .282 | .546 | 48 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6/34 | |
| 16 Seasons | 2078 | 8529 | 7651 | 899 | 1931 | 254 | 80 | 14 | 527 | 100 | 85 | 684 | 759 | .252 | .314 | .312 | .626 | 73 | 2387 | 132 | 22 | 132 | 40 | 69 | |||||
| 162 Game Avg. | 162 | 665 | 596 | 70 | 151 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 41 | 8 | 7 | 53 | 59 | .252 | .314 | .312 | .626 | 73 | 186 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 5 | |||||
| G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | Pos | Awards | |||||||||
| CHC (12 yrs) | 1648 | 7065 | 6355 | 769 | 1619 | 201 | 71 | 11 | 431 | 92 | 80 | 550 | 629 | .255 | .315 | .314 | .629 | 73 | 1995 | 98 | 21 | 107 | 32 | 59 | |||||
| CHW (3 yrs) | 226 | 738 | 660 | 61 | 160 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 49 | 5 | 5 | 59 | 53 | .242 | .303 | .302 | .605 | 69 | 199 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 4 | |||||
| STL (2 yrs) | 204 | 726 | 636 | 69 | 152 | 26 | 6 | 1 | 47 | 3 | 0 | 75 | 77 | .239 | .318 | .303 | .621 | 75 | 193 | 16 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 6 | |||||
| NL (14 yrs) | 1852 | 7791 | 6991 | 838 | 1771 | 227 | 77 | 12 | 478 | 95 | 80 | 625 | 706 | .253 | .315 | .313 | .628 | 73 | 2188 | 114 | 22 | 116 | 37 | 65 | |||||
| AL (3 yrs) | 226 | 738 | 660 | 61 | 160 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 49 | 5 | 5 | 59 | 53 | .242 | .303 | .302 | .605 | 69 | 199 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 3 | 4 | |||||
| Year | Tm | Lg | Age | Pos | G | GS | Inn | Ch | PO | A | E | DP | Fld% | Rtot | Rtot/yr | Rtz | Rtzrd | Rtzhm | Rdp | RF/9 | RF/G | lgFld% | lgRF9 | lgRFG | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | CHC | NL | 21 | SS | 4 | 1 | 19.0 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | -0.4 | -25.3 | -0.4 | 0.3 | -0.7 | 0 | 4.74 | 2.50 | .960 | 5.02 | 4.32 | |
| 1965 | CHC | NL | 22 | SS | 105 | 104 | 864.2 | 542 | 176 | 338 | 28 | 69 | .948 | -4.1 | -5.7 | -5.1 | 0.7 | -5.8 | 1 | 5.35 | 4.90 | .965 | 4.92 | 4.20 | |
| 1966 | CHC | NL | 23 | SS | 148 | 144 | 1294.0 | 711 | 202 | 474 | 35 | 68 | .951 | -15.1 | -14.0 | -11.1 | -2.1 | -9.0 | -4 | 4.70 | 4.57 | .965 | 4.96 | 4.43 | |
| 1967 | CHC | NL | 24 | SS | 143 | 136 | 1233.2 | 691 | 215 | 457 | 19 | 77 | .973 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 1.4 | 4.5 | 0 | 4.90 | 4.70 | .963 | 4.99 | 4.31 | |
| 1968 | CHC | NL | 25 | SS | 159 | 158 | 1394.1 | 869 | 263 | 573 | 33 | 97 | .962 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 9.7 | -7.1 | 1 | 5.40 | 5.26 | .962 | 4.98 | 4.50 | AS |
| 1969 | CHC | NL | 26 | SS | 157 | 157 | 1398.1 | 828 | 266 | 542 | 20 | 101 | .976 | 9.6 | 8.2 | 10.6 | 5.3 | 5.3 | -1 | 5.20 | 5.15 | .963 | 4.93 | 4.21 | AS,MVP-15,GG |
| 1970 | CHC | NL | 27 | SS | 154 | 152 | 1340.0 | 780 | 257 | 501 | 22 | 86 | .972 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 4.4 | -1.0 | 5.4 | -3 | 5.09 | 4.92 | .965 | 5.05 | 4.23 | AS,MVP-23,GG |
| 1971 | CHC | NL | 28 | SS | 154 | 151 | 1329.2 | 802 | 263 | 512 | 27 | 97 | .966 | -7.2 | -6.5 | -5.2 | -2.6 | -2.6 | -2 | 5.25 | 5.03 | .968 | 5.14 | 4.46 | AS |
| 1972 | CHC | NL | 29 | SS | 146 | 145 | 1290.0 | 791 | 259 | 504 | 28 | 90 | .965 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 7.0 | 3.9 | 3.1 | -1 | 5.32 | 5.23 | .967 | 5.04 | 4.48 | AS |
| 1973 | CHC | NL | 30 | SS | 158 | 156 | 1378.1 | 830 | 274 | 526 | 30 | 109 | .964 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -4.3 | 4.3 | 0 | 5.22 | 5.06 | .961 | 4.93 | 4.31 | |
| 1974 | CHC | NL | 31 | SS | 150 | 147 | 1299.0 | 767 | 259 | 476 | 32 | 87 | .958 | -15.2 | -14.0 | -13.2 | -6.5 | -6.7 | -2 | 5.09 | 4.90 | .961 | 4.97 | 4.26 | AS |
| 1975 | CHC | NL | 32 | SS | 140 | 132 | 1192.2 | 663 | 205 | 436 | 22 | 100 | .967 | -8.4 | -8.5 | -9.4 | -7.2 | -2.1 | 1 | 4.84 | 4.58 | .963 | 4.99 | 4.21 | |
| 1975 | CHC | NL | 32 | 3B | 13 | 12 | 100.2 | 35 | 5 | 28 | 2 | 3 | .943 | 0.3 | 3.6 | 0.3 | 0.3 | -0.1 | 0 | 2.95 | 2.54 | .946 | 2.98 | 2.58 | |
| 1976 | STL | NL | 33 | SS | 113 | 105 | 955.1 | 580 | 212 | 350 | 18 | 84 | .969 | -4.7 | -5.9 | -7.7 | -2.3 | -5.4 | 3 | 5.29 | 4.97 | .964 | 5.05 | 4.48 | |
| 1976 | STL | NL | 33 | 2B | 31 | 29 | 256.2 | 144 | 53 | 85 | 6 | 21 | .958 | -2.4 | -11.2 | -3.4 | -1.5 | -1.9 | 1 | 4.84 | 4.45 | .976 | 5.48 | 4.93 | |
| 1976 | STL | NL | 33 | 3B | 2 | 0 | 8.1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | -0.3 | -43.2 | -0.3 | 0.0 | -0.3 | 0 | 1.08 | 0.50 | .900 | 2.92 | 2.60 | |
| 1977 | TOT | 34 | SS | 47 | 31 | 312.0 | 166 | 69 | 92 | 5 | 27 | .970 | -0.6 | -2.3 | -2.6 | -2.8 | 0.2 | 2 | 4.64 | 3.43 | .963 | 4.92 | 4.20 | ||
| 1977 | TOT | 34 | 2B | 37 | 27 | 246.0 | 154 | 59 | 90 | 5 | 19 | .968 | -0.4 | -2.0 | -1.4 | 1.6 | -3.0 | 1 | 5.45 | 4.03 | .978 | 5.31 | 4.57 | ||
| 1977 | TOT | 34 | 3B | 13 | 7 | 67.2 | 28 | 7 | 18 | 3 | 0 | .893 | 0.7 | 12.4 | 0.7 | 1.5 | -0.9 | 0 | 3.33 | 1.92 | .961 | 2.97 | 2.67 | ||
| 1977 | STL | NL | 34 | SS | 26 | 13 | 151.0 | 93 | 37 | 54 | 2 | 15 | .978 | 2.7 | 21.5 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 1.4 | 1 | 5.42 | 3.50 | .962 | 5.02 | 4.30 | |
| 1977 | STL | NL | 34 | 2B | 24 | 16 | 151.0 | 100 | 32 | 63 | 5 | 9 | .950 | 0.8 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 2.7 | -1.9 | 0 | 5.66 | 3.96 | .978 | 5.24 | 4.47 | |
| 1977 | STL | NL | 34 | 3B | 4 | 1 | 10.1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 0.3 | 34.8 | 0.3 | 0.5 | -0.2 | 0 | 1.74 | 0.50 | .967 | 2.96 | 2.55 | |
| 1977 | CHW | AL | 34 | SS | 21 | 18 | 161.0 | 73 | 32 | 38 | 3 | 12 | .959 | -3.3 | -24.6 | -4.3 | -3.1 | -1.2 | 1 | 3.91 | 3.33 | .963 | 4.82 | 4.07 | |
| 1977 | CHW | AL | 34 | 2B | 13 | 11 | 95.0 | 54 | 27 | 27 | 0 | 10 | 1.000 | -1.2 | -15.2 | -2.2 | -1.1 | -1.1 | 1 | 5.12 | 4.15 | .978 | 5.42 | 4.76 | |
| 1977 | CHW | AL | 34 | 3B | 9 | 6 | 57.1 | 25 | 7 | 16 | 2 | 0 | .920 | 0.4 | 8.4 | 0.4 | 1.0 | -0.7 | 0 | 3.61 | 2.56 | .960 | 2.97 | 2.72 | |
| 1978 | CHW | AL | 35 | SS | 123 | 117 | 996.1 | 505 | 171 | 321 | 13 | 60 | .974 | -6.6 | -7.9 | -3.6 | -2.2 | -1.4 | -3 | 4.44 | 4.00 | .964 | 4.92 | 4.19 | |
| 1978 | CHW | AL | 35 | 2B | 9 | 7 | 63.0 | 26 | 12 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 | -1.2 | -22.9 | -0.2 | -0.1 | -0.1 | -1 | 3.71 | 2.89 | .981 | 5.47 | 4.74 | |
| 1979 | CHW | AL | 36 | SS | 54 | 36 | 324.1 | 162 | 57 | 103 | 2 | 17 | .988 | -4.4 | -16.3 | -3.4 | -2.8 | -0.6 | -1 | 4.44 | 2.96 | .964 | 5.01 | 4.10 | |
| 1979 | CHW | AL | 36 | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.2 | 240.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0 | 18.00 | 2.00 | 1.000 | 9.90 | 8.80 | |
| 1979 | CHW | AL | 36 | 2B | 1 | 1 | 7.0 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.1 | 17.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0 | 10.29 | 8.00 | .975 | 5.53 | 4.80 | |
| 16 Seasons | SS | 1955 | 1872 | 16621.2 | 9697 | 3151 | 6212 | 334 | 1170 | .966 | -40.1 | -2.9 | -31.1 | -12.5 | -18.6 | -9 | 5.07 | 4.79 | .964 | 4.99 | 4.32 | ||||
| 4 Seasons | 2B | 78 | 64 | 572.2 | 332 | 126 | 195 | 11 | 42 | .967 | -3.9 | -8.2 | -4.9 | 0.0 | -4.9 | 1 | 5.04 | 4.12 | .977 | 5.41 | 4.74 | ||||
| 3 Seasons | 3B | 28 | 19 | 176.2 | 64 | 13 | 46 | 5 | 3 | .922 | 0.7 | 4.8 | 0.7 | 1.8 | -1.3 | 0 | 3.01 | 2.11 | .952 | 2.97 | 2.62 | ||||
| 1 Season | 1B | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.2 | 240.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0 | 18.00 | 2.00 | 1.000 | 9.90 | 8.80 | ||||
| 16 Seasons | TOT | 2062 | 1955 | 17372.0 | 10095 | 3292 | 6453 | 350 | 1215 | .965 | -43.1 | -3.0 | -35.1 | -10.7 | -24.6 | -8 | 5.05 | 4.73 | .929 | 4.98 | 4.32 | ||||
| Pos | G | GS | Inn | Ch | PO | A | E | DP | Fld% | Rtot | Rtot/yr | Rtz | Rtzrd | Rtzhm | Rdp | RF/9 | RF/G | lgFld% | lgRF9 | lgRFG | Awards | ||||
Stats are Year-Value-Rank, Glossary
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All-Star Games
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| Gray Ink | Batting - 20 (1000), Average HOFer ≈ 144 |
| Hall of Fame Monitor | Batting - 44 (419), Likely HOFer ≈ 100 |
| Hall of Fame Standards | Batting - 14 (1029), Average HOFer ≈ 50 |
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June 19, 1964: Signed by the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent.
October 28, 1975: Traded by the Chicago Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals for Mike Garman. The St. Louis Cardinals sent Bobby Hrapmann (minors) (April 5, 1976) to the Chicago Cubs to complete the trade.
August 20, 1977: Traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Chicago White Sox for Steve Staniland (minors).
November 1, 1979: Granted Free Agency.
Error? Compare Search SABR's Baseball Index Other Links@google.com Baseball-Almanac.com Retrosheet The Baseball Cube The Baseball Page WhatIfSports: Don Kessinger
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Name and misspellings:
Donald Donnie Donny dave Don donald Eulon Kessinger
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