- Don Bessent
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Don Bessent Pitcher Born: March 13, 1931
Jacksonville, FloridaDied: July 7, 1990 (aged 59)
Jacksonville, FloridaBatted: Right Threw: Right MLB debut July 17, 1955 for the Brooklyn Dodgers Last MLB appearance September 27, 1958 for the Los Angeles Dodgers Career statistics Win-loss record 14-7 Earned run average 4.05 Strikeouts 118 Teams - Brooklyn Dodgers (1955-1957)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (1958)
Career highlights and awards - 1955 World Series Championship
Fred Donald Bessent (March 13, 1931 – July 7, 1990) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched from 1955-1958 with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers.
Bessent was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He was signed by the New York Yankees out of high school, and in his first professional season he pitched a no-hitter[1] while going 22-7 in Class D. The following season, he moved up to the Class B Norfolk Tars and went 11-2 with a 2.04 earned run average.[2] Bessent then developed a spinal condition and was unable to pitch in 1952. He underwent surgery and was subsequently drafted by the Dodgers.
From 1953-1955, Bessent pitched for the St. Paul Saints of the American Association. He was called up to the majors in July 1955 and immediately pitched well. That season, he went 8-1 with a 2.70 ERA, mostly coming out of the bullpen. He also pitched 3.1 scoreless innings in the 1955 World Series, and the Dodgers won their first championship.
Bessent pitched just as well in 1956, going 4-3 with nine saves and a 2.50 ERA. The Dodgers won another National League pennant but lost the World Series, despite Bessent's game two win. In 1957, he dropped off sharply, posting a 5.73 ERA in 44 innings. He began to develop arm problems shortly afterwards and played his final major league game in September 1958. He retired in 1962, after several unsuccessful seasons in the minors.[3]
Bessent returned to Jacksonville and became a sales representative. He died of alcohol poisoning in 1990.[3]
References
- ^ "Don Bessent Chronology". baseballlibrary.com. Retrieved 2010-11-2.
- ^ "Don Bessent Minor League Statistics & History". baseball-reference.com. Retrieved 2010-11-2.
- ^ a b "Don Bessent, Ex-Pitcher for Dodgers, Dies". latimes.com. Retrieved 2010-11-2.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Don Bessent at Find a Grave
Brooklyn Dodgers 1955 World Series Champions 1 Pee Wee Reese | 2 Tommy Lasorda | 4 Duke Snider | 6 Carl Furillo | 8 George Shuba | 10 Rube Walker | 12 Frank Kellert | 14 Gil Hodges | 15 Sandy Amorós | 17 Carl Erskine | 18 Jim Hughes | 19 Jim Gilliam | 23 Don Zimmer | 27 Bob Borkowski | 28 Chuck Templeton | 30 Billy Loes | 32 Sandy Koufax | 34 Russ Meyer | 36 Don Newcombe | 37 Ed Roebuck | 39 Roy Campanella | 40 Roger Craig | 40 Walt Moryn | 41 Clem Labine | 42 Jackie Robinson | 43 Don Hoak | 45 Johnny Podres (World Series MVP) | 46 Don Bessent | 48 Karl Spooner | 49 Joe Black | 51 Bert Hamric | 52 Dixie Howell
Manager 24 Walter Alston
Coaches: 22 Billy Herman | 31 Jake Pitler | 33 Joe BeckerCategories:- 1931 births
- 1990 deaths
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Los Angeles Dodgers players
- Brooklyn Dodgers players
- La Grange Troupers players
- Norfolk Tars players
- St. Paul Saints (AA) players
- Spokane Indians players
- Jacksonville Suns players
- Rochester Red Wings players
- Baseball players from Florida
- People from Jacksonville, Florida
- Deaths by alcohol poisoning
- Accidental deaths in Florida
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