Ed Donnelly
Encyclopedia
Edward Vincent Donnelly (December 10, 1932 – December 25, 1992) was a right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
for the Chicago Cubs
.
Donnelly was signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Athletics before the 1956 season and was assigned to the Abilene Blue Sox
. The Athletics either sold or traded his rights to the Cubs in June, and he made two more minor league stops in Ponca City and Lafayette. In the 1957-59 seasons, Donnelly worked his way through the system, toiling for Burlington and Fort Worth as well, before finally earning a promotion to the Cubs in the second half of the 1959 season.
Donnelly's major league debut came on August 1 in mop-up duty against the Cincinnati Reds
. Cubs starter Glen Hobbie
and reliever John Buzhardt
had combined to surrender 10 runs in 4 innings of work. He induced the first batter the faced, Roy McMillan
, to ground out to third base, and struck out Eddie Kasko
for the second out, his first major league strikeout
. The next batter was opposing pitcher Bob Purkey
, who doubled for the first hit Donnelly surrendered in the big leagues, but he escaped the inning without giving up a run. Though he'd surrender two runs (one earned) in the next inning, his debut was decent-- three innings, five hits, a walk, two runs (one earned), two strikeouts. That first outing would also prove to be the longest of his major league career.
Donnelly lost his third appearance before earning his first (and only) major league victory in his fourth. He was summoned to relieve Buzhardt again after the Cubs had fallen behind 7-6 through three innings. Donnelly gave up a hit and a walk, but no runs. The Cubs scored four runs in the bottom of that inning and never surrendered the lead, cruising to a 20-9 victory.
In Donnelly's final big league appearance (September 20), he threw a scoreless eighth inning as the Cubs fell to the St. Louis Cardinals
. Donnelly spent the next two seasons with the Cubs' AAA affiliate in Houston, going a combined 15-10 in 101 games (100 relief appearances, 1 start) with ERAs of 3.00 and 3.36. Nevertheless, he was released by the Cubs, and spent 1962 and 1963 with Dallas-Forth Worth of the Pacific Coast League
and Syracuse in the International League. He hung up his spikes after the 1963 season, retiring at age 30.
Donnelly died on Christmas Day, 1992 in Houston, Texas
. He is buried in Weimar, Texas
, in St. Michael Catholic Cemetery.
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...
in Major League Baseball
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...
for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
Donnelly was signed as a free agent by the Kansas City Athletics before the 1956 season and was assigned to the Abilene Blue Sox
Abilene Blue Sox
The Abilene Blue Sox were a minor league baseball team that operated in the West Texas-New Mexico League from 1946-1955 and the Big State League from 1956-1957. The Abilene Blue Sox are considered to be in the top 100 Minor League Baseball teams of all-time. They were an affiliate of the Brooklyn...
. The Athletics either sold or traded his rights to the Cubs in June, and he made two more minor league stops in Ponca City and Lafayette. In the 1957-59 seasons, Donnelly worked his way through the system, toiling for Burlington and Fort Worth as well, before finally earning a promotion to the Cubs in the second half of the 1959 season.
Donnelly's major league debut came on August 1 in mop-up duty against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. Cubs starter Glen Hobbie
Glen Hobbie
Glen Frederick Hobbie , is an American former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1957–1964. A right-hander, he stood tall and weighed...
and reliever John Buzhardt
John Buzhardt
John William Buzhardt was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros from through . His best season came in when he won 13 games and lost only 8 with the White Sox. He...
had combined to surrender 10 runs in 4 innings of work. He induced the first batter the faced, Roy McMillan
Roy McMillan
Roy David McMillan was a shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. From 1951 through 1966, McMillan played for the Cincinnati Reds , Milwaukee Braves and New York Mets . He batted and threw right-handed...
, to ground out to third base, and struck out Eddie Kasko
Eddie Kasko
Edward Michael Kasko is a former infielder, manager, scout and front office executive in American Major League Baseball....
for the second out, his first major league strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
. The next batter was opposing pitcher Bob Purkey
Bob Purkey
Robert Thomas Purkey was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball known for his use of the knuckleball. From through , Purkey played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Cincinnati Redlegs/Reds and St. Louis Cardinals...
, who doubled for the first hit Donnelly surrendered in the big leagues, but he escaped the inning without giving up a run. Though he'd surrender two runs (one earned) in the next inning, his debut was decent-- three innings, five hits, a walk, two runs (one earned), two strikeouts. That first outing would also prove to be the longest of his major league career.
Donnelly lost his third appearance before earning his first (and only) major league victory in his fourth. He was summoned to relieve Buzhardt again after the Cubs had fallen behind 7-6 through three innings. Donnelly gave up a hit and a walk, but no runs. The Cubs scored four runs in the bottom of that inning and never surrendered the lead, cruising to a 20-9 victory.
In Donnelly's final big league appearance (September 20), he threw a scoreless eighth inning as the Cubs fell to the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Donnelly spent the next two seasons with the Cubs' AAA affiliate in Houston, going a combined 15-10 in 101 games (100 relief appearances, 1 start) with ERAs of 3.00 and 3.36. Nevertheless, he was released by the Cubs, and spent 1962 and 1963 with Dallas-Forth Worth of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
and Syracuse in the International League. He hung up his spikes after the 1963 season, retiring at age 30.
Donnelly died on Christmas Day, 1992 in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. He is buried in Weimar, Texas
Weimar, Texas
Weimar is a city in Colorado County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,981 at the 2000 census.In 1873 the town was founded as Jackson, but subsequently called Weimar in tribute to the German city of Weimar....
, in St. Michael Catholic Cemetery.