Atley Donald
Encyclopedia
Richard Atley Donald was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
. A native of Morton, Mississippi
, the right-hander played for the New York Yankees
from 1938 to 1945. "Swampy", as he was nicknamed, stood 6'1" and weighed 186 lbs.
Donald was usually a fourth or fifth starter during his career, and sometimes used in relief. The Yankees won two American League
pennants while he was on their staff (1941 and 1942), winning the 1941 World Series
against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
He made his major league debut on April 21, 1938 in a start against the Boston Red Sox
at Fenway Park
. The Yankees lost 3-2, as Bosox starting pitcher
Johnny Marcum
earned the win
. He started in one more game for New York that season, then returned to the minor league
Newark Bears
.
Donald was back for good in 1939, and set a league record for consecutive wins by a rookie
. On July 25 he defeated the St. Louis Browns
5-1, increasing his record to a perfect 12-0. He finished the season 13-3 with an earned run average
of 3.71 and led the league in winning percentage
(.813).
He remained a consistent winner throughout the remainder of his career and never had a losing season after going 0-1 in 1938. He finished in the league's top ten twice more for winning percentage (1941 and 1942) with records of 9-5 and 11-3, respectively. In two World Series
appearances, however, he was 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA.
Beset by eye and elbow injuries and now 34 years old, Donald made his last major league appearance on July 13, 1945. His season record was 5-4 with the lowest ERA of his career, 2.97.
Career totals include a 65-33 record (.663) in 153 games pitched
, 115 games started
, 54 complete games, 6 shutouts, 28 games finished
, 1 save
, and an ERA of 3.52. In 932.1 innings pitched
he struck out 369 and walked 369. He hit .160 in 356 at bats with one home run
.
Donald was a Yankee scout
for many years after retiring as a player. He played college baseball for Louisiana Tech. He died at the age of 82 in West Monroe, Louisiana
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. A native of Morton, Mississippi
Morton, Mississippi
Morton is a city in Scott County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 3,482 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Morton is located at ....
, the right-hander played for the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
from 1938 to 1945. "Swampy", as he was nicknamed, stood 6'1" and weighed 186 lbs.
Donald was usually a fourth or fifth starter during his career, and sometimes used in relief. The Yankees won two American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennants while he was on their staff (1941 and 1942), winning the 1941 World Series
1941 World Series
The 1941 World Series matched the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers, with the Yankees winning in five games to capture their fifth title in six years, and their ninth overall....
against the Brooklyn Dodgers.
He made his major league debut on April 21, 1938 in a start against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. The Yankees lost 3-2, as Bosox starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Johnny Marcum
Johnny Marcum
John Alfred "Footsie" Marcum was a professional baseball pitcher, for seven seasons in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, St...
earned the win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
. He started in one more game for New York that season, then returned to the minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
Newark Bears
Newark Bears
The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...
.
Donald was back for good in 1939, and set a league record for consecutive wins by a rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
. On July 25 he defeated the St. Louis Browns
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
5-1, increasing his record to a perfect 12-0. He finished the season 13-3 with an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 3.71 and led the league in winning percentage
Winning percentage
In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win...
(.813).
He remained a consistent winner throughout the remainder of his career and never had a losing season after going 0-1 in 1938. He finished in the league's top ten twice more for winning percentage (1941 and 1942) with records of 9-5 and 11-3, respectively. In two World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
appearances, however, he was 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA.
Beset by eye and elbow injuries and now 34 years old, Donald made his last major league appearance on July 13, 1945. His season record was 5-4 with the lowest ERA of his career, 2.97.
Career totals include a 65-33 record (.663) in 153 games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
, 115 games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, 54 complete games, 6 shutouts, 28 games finished
Games finished
In baseball statistics, a relief pitcher is credited with a game finished if he is the last pitcher to pitch for his team in a game. A starting pitcher is not credited with a GF for pitching a complete game...
, 1 save
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
, and an ERA of 3.52. In 932.1 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
he struck out 369 and walked 369. He hit .160 in 356 at bats with one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
.
Donald was a Yankee scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for many years after retiring as a player. He played college baseball for Louisiana Tech. He died at the age of 82 in West Monroe, Louisiana
West Monroe, Louisiana
West Monroe is a city in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 13,250 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area....
.