Don Black, baseball player, 1943-1948

Don Black

Born: 7/20/1916 in Salix, IA, USA

Died: 4/21/1959 in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, USA

MLB Debut: 1943-04-24 | Final Game: 1948-09-13

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: Donald Paul Black

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Biography

Don Black was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1943 to 1948. Born in 1916, Black's career unfolded during a transformative period in baseball, marked by the challenges of World War II and the subsequent integration of the sport. He made his debut on April 24, 1943, and showcased his skills on the mound throughout his time in the league. Over the course of his career, Black achieved a win-loss record of 34-55 and posted an earned run average (ERA) of 4.35. He recorded a total of 293 strikeouts and tallied one save, demonstrating his capability as a reliable pitcher despite the ups and downs of his win-loss record. Known for his competitive spirit and determination, Black contributed to the teams he played for, leaving a lasting impression during an era when the game was evolving and players faced unique challenges both on and off the field. His legacy is remembered among the pitchers of his time, reflecting the resilience and talent that characterized the era.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
34 55 154 113 37 4 1 797.0 803 385 46 400 293 4.35 0

Career ERA 4.35 vs. league average 3.73 across their career seasons — 16.5% worse than league average.

Season-by-Season Pitching

Year Team Lg W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER BB SO ERA Lg ERA Pitcher PIV
1943 PHA AL 6 16 33 26 12 1 1 208.0 193 97 110 65 4.20 3.50 (-20%) -3785.5
1944 PHA AL 10 12 29 27 8 0 0 177.3 177 80 75 78 4.06 3.57 (-14%) -0.9
1945 PHA AL 5 11 26 18 8 0 0 125.3 154 72 69 47 5.17 3.67 (-41%) -1514.2
1946 CLE AL 1 2 18 4 0 0 0 43.7 45 22 21 15 4.53 3.59 (-26%) -1441.9
1947 CLE AL 10 12 30 28 8 3 0 190.7 177 83 85 72 3.92 3.97 (+1%) -2389.3
1948 CLE AL 2 2 18 10 1 0 0 52.0 57 31 40 16 5.37 4.10 (-31%) -2195.8

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
154 256 11 47 4 0 0 19 1 6 52 0.184 0.202 0.199 0.402 -1304.3

Career AVG .184 vs. league average .260 across their career seasons — 29.4% below league average.

Career OBP .202 vs. league average .331 across their career seasons — 38.9% below league average.

Career SLG .199 vs. league average .362 across their career seasons — 45.0% below league average.

Career OPS 0.402 vs. league average 0.693 across their career seasons — 42.1% below league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year Team Lg G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG Lg AVG Lg OBP Lg SLG Lg OPS PIV
1943 PHA AL 33 69 5 13 0 0 0 2 1 2 16 0.188 .255 (-26%) .324 (-35%) .346 (-46%) .671 (-40%) -446.3
1944 PHA AL 29 59 2 11 1 0 0 4 0 2 13 0.186 .261 (-29%) .325 (-35%) .357 (-43%) .683 (-39%) -372.4
1945 PHA AL 26 37 0 6 0 0 0 4 0 1 3 0.162 — — — — 0.0
1946 CLE AL 18 10 1 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 3 0.200 — — — — 0.0
1947 CLE AL 30 66 2 12 2 0 0 8 0 1 14 0.182 .262 (-31%) .336 (-42%) .376 (-44%) .712 (-43%) -485.5
1948 CLE AL 18 15 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0.200 — — — — 0.0

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 154 0 52 143 4 10

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year Team Pos G GS PO A E DP
1943 PHA P 33 0 15 41 0 3
1944 PHA P 29 0 7 32 1 3
1945 PHA P 26 0 8 18 1 0
1946 CLE P 18 0 4 10 1 1
1947 CLE P 30 0 15 31 1 2
1948 CLE P 18 0 3 11 0 1

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 154