Don Kessinger

Don Kessinger
Don Kessinger
Shortstop
Born: July 17, 1942 (1942-07-17) (age 69)
Forrest City, Arkansas
Batted: Switch Threw: Right 
MLB debut
September 7, 1964 for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
July 31, 1979 for the Chicago White Sox
Career statistics
Batting average     .252
Hits     1,931
Runs batted in     527
Teams

As player

As manager
Career highlights and awards

Donald Eulon Kessinger (born July 17, 1942 in Forrest City, Arkansas) is a former American professional baseball player and manager.[1] He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from 1964 to 1979 for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox.[1] A six-time All-Star, he was a light-hitting, defensive specialist who spent the majority of his career as the Chicago Cubs starting shortstop.[1] In the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was considered one of the best shortstops in baseball.[2]

Contents

Baseball career

A four sport All-State and All-America athlete in Forrest City, Kessinger graduated high school in 1960 and went onto the University of Mississippi. During his collegiate years "Donnie" earned All-Conference, All-SEC, and All-America honors in both basketball and baseball for the Rebels, and was initiated into the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He was signed by the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent on June 19, 1964.[1] Kessinger was assigned to play for the Double-A Fort Worth Cats before making his major league debut on September 7, 1964.[1][3]

He returned to the minor leagues with the neophyte Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs for the 1965 season but, was brought back by the Cubs in June of that year and became their starting shortstop.[4] The 1965 season would mark the first of nine consecutive seasons in which Kessinger would work alongside Cubs' second baseman Glenn Beckert.[5] He ended the season hitting for a .201 batting average and led the National League shortstops in errors but, showed some promise by leading the league in range factor.[1][6]

As the 1966 season got underway, Kessinger continued to struggle with his hitting when, new Cubs manager Leo Durocher encouraged him to become a switch hitter.[2] With the help of coach Pete Reiser, his hitting began to improve, posting for a .304 batting average during the second half of the season.[2] Durocher made Kessinger his lead off hitter, a spot he would hold for many years. He ended the year with a career-high .274 batting average and led the league's shortstops with 474 assists.[1][7]

Kessinger continued to improve his fielding and in 1968, he was recognized as one of the top shortstops in the league when he was voted to be the starting shortstop for the National League in the 1968 All-Star Game.[8] At the end of the season, he ranked first among the league's shortstops in range factor and, led the entire league in assists.[9] While he also led the league in errors, he attributed this to the fact that he reached more ground balls than the average shortstop.[2]

Kessinger repeated as an All-Star in 1969, in a year which saw the entire Chicago Cubs infield join him on the 1969 All-Star team, with Kessinger and Cubs' third baseman Ron Santo in the starting line-up.[10] In 1969, he set a major league single-season record for shortstops by playing in 54 games without committing an error, breaking the record previously set by Chico Carrasquel in 1951.[11] The Cubs were in first place in the National League Eastern Division for 180 days of the 1969 season, before going 8-17 in their final 25 games, while the New York "Miracle" Mets went 37-11 in their final 48 games to clinch the Eastern Division pennant.[12] Despite the Cubs' late-season collapse, Kessinger scored 109 runs, hit for a .273 batting average with a career-high 181 hits, including 38 doubles; second-most in the league.[1] He led the league's shortstops in putouts, finished second in fielding percentage and once again led the entire National League in assists.[1][13] He finished in 15th place in balloting for the 1969 National League Most Valuable Player Award and won his first Gold Glove Award.[14][15] In his book, The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract, baseball historian Bill James cited manager Durocher's method of using his regular players everyday without any rest days as a factor in the Cubs' collapse.[16]

Kessinger had another good season in 1970, producing a .266 batting average while scoring 100 runs.[1] He led the entire league in assists for the third consecutive year and claimed his second Gold Glove Award.[17][18] On June 17, 1971 he went 6-for-6, becoming the first Cubs with a six hit game in nearly 34 years. He continued to be one of the cornerstones of the Cubs' infield, earning three more All-Star berths in 1971, 1972 and 1974.[1] In October 1975, after 11 seasons with the Cubs, Kessinger was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals--for pitcher Mike Garman, infielder Bobby Hrapmann, and "player to be named later" Scott (future player agent) Boras.[19] He was the last remaining Cub from the 1969 season when they almost won the pennant.[19]

The 33 year old Kessinger still played well in St. Louis, ending the season with a .320 on base percentage and was second in the league in range factor.[1][20] In August 1977, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox--for pitcher Steve Staniland--who were seeking to bolster their infield strength.[21] On October 19, 1978, White Sox President Bill Veeck named Kessinger to be the team's player-manager.[22] He was managing at Comiskey Park on July 12, 1979 when the infamous "Disco Demolition Night" took place, and wisely locked his players in the locker room between games, avoiding the near-riot. With the White Sox languishing in 5th place in the standings, Kessinger resigned on August 2, 1979 and was replaced by Tony LaRussa.[23] He retired as a player on August 2, 1979.

Career statistics

In a 16 year major league career, Kessinger played in 2,078 games, accumulating 1,931 hits in 7,651 at bats for a .252 career batting average along with 14 home runs, 527 runs batted in and an on base percentage of .314.[1] He retired with a .966 fielding percentage.[1] A six-time All-Star, Kessinger won the National League Gold Glove for shortstops in 1969 and 1970. In three different seasons with the Cubs, he turned 100 or more double plays. Kessinger had 6,212 assists during his career, ranking him 14th all-time among major league shortstops.[24] In 1978, he was named the recipient of the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, presented annually to the Major League baseball player who both on and off the field best exemplifies the character of Lou Gehrig.[25]

Career Hitting[1]
G AB H 2B 3B HR R RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS
2,078 7,651 1,931 254 80 14 899 527 684 759 .252 .314 .312 .626

Personal

Don Kessinger's son Keith Kessinger had a brief career (nine years, minors and majors) as a major league baseball player, and his son Kevin signed with the Chicago Cubs, but was sidelined by a back injury.

Don Kessinger was hired prior to the 1991 season as head baseball coach at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi. Kessinger would spend six years as the Ole Miss skipper, leading the Rebels to four 30-win seasons. His 1995 team produced a school record for wins, going 40-22 and earning the school’s first NCAA Regional bid since 1977. Ole Miss finished on the verge of its first World Series appearance since 1972, placing second at the NCAA Atlantic I Regional behind host-Florida State. Both of his sons had the opportunity to play for their father at Ole Miss. Following the 1996 season, Kessinger resigned his head coaching position to take an administrative post within the athletic department. He finished with a six-year record of 185-153.

He now owns a real estate business in Oxford, Mississippi.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Don Kessinger Statistics". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kessido01.shtml. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c d Furlong, William (October 1969). Don Kessinger- Is He Best Shortstop in the Majors?. Books.Google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=9TEDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA29&dq=don+kessinger+baseball+digest&hl=en&ei=w_crTb-2E4WClAfW8dj0Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=don%20kessinger%20baseball%20digest&f=false. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  3. ^ "Don Kessinger Minor League Statistics". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=kessin001don. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  4. ^ "1965 Don Kessinger batting log". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=kessido01&t=b&year=1965. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  5. ^ "Glenn Beckert at The Baseball Library". baseballlibrary.com. http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Glenn_Beckert_1940. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  6. ^ "1965 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1965-fielding-leaders.shtml. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  7. ^ "1966 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1966-fielding-leaders.shtml. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  8. ^ "1968 All-Star Game". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS196807090.shtml. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  9. ^ "1968 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1968-fielding-leaders.shtml. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  10. ^ "1969 All-Star Game". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS196907230.shtml. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  11. ^ "Tolan Gives Reds Win; Nightcap Ends at Seven". Schenectady Gazette. Associated Press: p. 28. 16 June 1969. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mh1HAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eekMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3034,3312219&dq=don+kessinger+errorless+streak&hl=en. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  12. ^ Feldmann, Doug (1969). Miracle Collapse: The 1969 Chicago Cubs. Books.Google.com. http://books.google.com/books?id=G1XaSKnBWosC&dq=1969+chicago+cubs&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=tVKErET61J&sig=zz3DPug-n_pYVhQsqjZwuxXoUGg&hl=en&ei=nhnqSrGAL8WUtge4jok7&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CC8Q6AEwCA#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  13. ^ "1969 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1969-fielding-leaders.shtml. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  14. ^ "1969 Most Valuable Player Award balloting". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1969.shtml#NLmvp. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  15. ^ "1969 Gold Glove Award winners". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/gold_glove_nl.shtml#1969. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  16. ^ James, Bill (2001). The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract. New York: Free Press. pp. 635. ISBN 0-684-80697-5. 
  17. ^ "1970 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1970-fielding-leaders.shtml. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  18. ^ "1970 Gold Glove Award winners". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/gold_glove_nl.shtml#1970. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  19. ^ a b "Cubs Trade Don Kessinger". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press: p. 28. 29 October 1975. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F65fAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5820,7909462&dq=don+kessinger&hl=en. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  20. ^ "1976 National League Fielding Leaders". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1976-fielding-leaders.shtml. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  21. ^ "Don Kessinger to White Sox". The Montreal Gazette. Associated Press: p. 12. 22 August 1977. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MAsyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1qEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2389,4329694&dq=don+kessinger&hl=en. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  22. ^ "White Sox name Don Kessinger player-manager". Wilmington Morning Star. Associated Press: p. 1. 20 October 1978. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=S-syAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LhMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2364,3972020&dq=don+kessinger&hl=en. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  23. ^ "LaRussa takes over from Don Kessinger". The Telegraph-Herald. United Press International: p. 14. 3 August 1979. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0-9BAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XKoMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5825,325798&dq=don+kessinger&hl=en. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  24. ^ "Career Leaders & Records for Assists as Shortstop". Baseball Reference. http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/A_ss_career.shtml. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 
  25. ^ "Lou Gehrig Memorial Award". Baseball Almanac. http://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_lg.shtml. Retrieved 11 January 2011. 

External links

Preceded by
Lou Brock		 Lou Gehrig Memorial Award
1978		 Succeeded by
Phil Niekro
Preceded by
Larry Doby		 Chicago White Sox Manager
1979		 Succeeded by
Tony La Russa
v · d · eChicago White Sox managers
Griffith • Callahan • Jones • Sullivan • Duffy • Callahan • Rowland • Gleason • Evers • Walsh • Collins • Schalk • Blackburne • Bush • Fonseca • Dykes • Lyons • Onslow • Corriden • Richards • Marion • Lopez • Stanky • Moss • Lopez • Gutteridge • Adair • Tanner • Richards • Lemon • Doby • Kessinger • La Russa • Rader • Fregosi • Torborg • Lamont • Bevington • Manuel • Guillén • Cooper • Ventura
v · d · eLou Gehrig Memorial Award

1955: Dark | 1956: Reese | 1957: Musial | 1958: McDougald | 1959: Hodges | 1960: Groat | 1961: Spahn | 1962: Roberts | 1963: Richardson | 1964: Boyer | 1965: Law | 1966: Robinson | 1967: Banks | 1968: Kaline | 1969: Rose | 1970: Aaron | 1971: Killebrew | 1972: Parker | 1973: Santo | 1974: Stargell | 1975: Bench | 1976: Sutton | 1977: Brock | 1978: Kessinger | 1979: Niekro | 1980: Pérez | 1981: John | 1982: Cey | 1983: Schmidt | 1984: Garvey | 1985: Murphy | 1986: Brett | 1987: Sutcliffe | 1988: Bell | 1989: Smith | 1990: Davis | 1991: Hrbek | 1992: Ripken, Jr. | 1993: Mattingly | 1994: Larkin | 1995: Schilling | 1996: Butler | 1997: Molitor | 1998: Gwynn | 1999: McGwire | 2000: Stottlemyre | 2001: Franco | 2002: Graves | 2003: Moyer | 2004: Thome | 2005: Smoltz | 2006: Hoffman | 2007: Timlin | 2008: Victorino | 2009: Pujols | 2010: Jeter
v · d · eNational League Shortstop Gold Glove Award
1958: McMillan | 1959: McMillan | 1960: Banks | 1961: Wills | 1962: Wills | 1963: Wine | 1964: Amaro | 1965: Cárdenas | 1966: Alley | 1967: Alley | 1968: Maxvill | 1969: Kessinger | 1970: Kessinger | 1971: Harrelson | 1972: Bowa | 1973: Metzger | 1974: Concepción | 1975: Concepción | 1976: Concepción | 1977: Concepción | 1978: Bowa | 1979: Concepción | 1980: Smith | 1981: Smith | 1982: Smith | 1983: Smith | 1984: Smith | 1985: Smith | 1986: Smith | 1987: Smith | 1988: Smith | 1989: Smith | 1990: Smith | 1991: Smith | 1992: Smith | 1993: Bell | 1994: Larkin | 1995: Larkin | 1996: Larkin | 1997: Ordóñez | 1998: Ordóñez | 1999: Ordóñez | 2000: Pérez | 2001: Cabrera | 2002: Rentería | 2003: Rentería | 2004: Izturis | 2005: Vizquel | 2006: Vizquel | 2007: Rollins | 2008: Rollins | 2009: Rollins | 2010: Tulowitzki | 2011: Tulowitzki

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