Don Purvis

Robert Don Purvis

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6'2", Weight 182 lbs.
• School Bowling Green State University
• High School Berea (OH) High School
• Born September 2, 1936 in New Brighton, PA USA

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Biographical Information

Don Purvis, was a right-handed pitcher and outfielder and later a college coach. Born in New Brighton, PA, he grew up in Berea and attended Berea High School before enrolling at Bowling Green State University. As a sophomore pitcher at Bowling Green in 1956, he earned All-Mid-American Conference second-team honors and then signed a professional contract with the New York Yankees organization.

Purvis played professionally from 1957 through 1960. He appeared for the St. Petersburg Saints in 1957 and 1958, the Fargo-Moorhead Twins and Greensboro Yankees in 1959, and the Fargo-Moorhead Twins and Modesto Reds in 1960. He went 24-23 in his pro career.

He later completed his bachelor's degree at Bowling Green State University in 1960 and his master's degree there in 1963. In 1972, he became head baseball coach at Bowling Green and in his first season led the Falcons to the school's first Mid-American Conference baseball championship. He remained the Falcons' head coach through 1982 and compiled a 305–219-6 record, with five 30-win seasons. Fourteen of his players signed professional contracts, and five, including Orel Hershiser, reached the major leagues. Purvis left Bowling Green in 1982 to join Ball State University as associate athletic director, and he was promoted to director of intercollegiate athletics for men in 1984 where he remained until 1995..