Don McMahon

McMahon was used almost exclusively in relief during his 18-year MLB career. He appeared in 874 games, just two as a starter, and was one of the major leagues' busiest and most dependable relievers during his era. He never once spent time on the disabled list, and in the fifteen full seasons that he played (1958–72), he averaged about 54 games and 81 innings pitched per year.

Career

He reached the big leagues at the advanced age of 27 after playing minor league ball for about 5½ years and also spending two years in the military (May 30, 1951 – May 17, 1953). He appeared in his final game on June 29, 1974, nearly 17 years after his major league debut.

McMahon was a valuable part of two World Championship clubs—the 1957 Milwaukee Braves and the 1968 Detroit Tigers. He posted a 1.54 ERA with 9 saves in 32 games for the 1957 Braves, and a 2.02 ERA with a 3–1 record in 20 games for the 1968 Tigers after a mid-season trade from the White Sox. All together he pitched in three World Series and one National League Championship Series.

He finished in the American League or National League top ten seven times for games pitched, seven times for saves, eight times for games finished, and once each for wild pitches, hit batsmen, and winning percentage.

He recorded his 1000th strikeout at the age of 44 on May 27, 1974 on All-Star shortstop Don Kessinger of the Chicago Cubs. A little more than a month later, when McMahon retired, only Hoyt Wilhelm, Lindy McDaniel, and Cy Young had pitched in more games.

For his career he finished with a lifetime record of 90–68, 153 saves, 506 games finished, and an earned run average of 2.96. As of the conclusion of the 2006 season, McMahon ranked 17th all-time for fewest hits allowed per 9 innings pitched (7.24).

Other career highlights include:

Named to National League All-Star team (1958)
His final game, at the age of 44 (by far the oldest player in Major League Baseball at that time), 2 scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers (June 29, 1974)
Held Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Johnny Bench, Harmon Killebrew, Bill Mazeroski, Joe Morgan, Stan Musial, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, and Willie Stargell to a .149 collective batting average (28-for-188)

In a 1976 Esquire magazine article, sportswriter Harry Stein published an "All Time All-Star Argument Starter", consisting of five ethnic baseball teams. Because of space limitations the Irish team, including McMahon as relief pitcher, was omitted.

Coaching

McMahon served as Giants pitching coach from 1972 to 1975, and also from 1980 to 1982. He was activated by San Francisco for parts of the 1972, 1973 and 1974 seasons when the Giants needed his experienced and effective arm to help out in the bullpen. (Relievers Elías Sosa and Randy Moffitt were shouldering most of the load, and were not getting enough help from the others.) He also was the pitching coach of the Minnesota Twins from 1976 to 1977 and the Cleveland Indians from 1983 to 1985. In 1986, after a recommendation from friend and fellow high school classmate Al Davis, he was hired as a scout for the LA Dodgers.^[1]^[2]

Death

In 1987, he was working as an instructional coach and scout with the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitched batting practice before most home games. On July 22, he was pitching batting practice when he suffered a heart attack, having undergone heart bypass surgery about three and a half years prior. McMahon died within hours.^[3]

External links

Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
Baseball Almanac
Deadball Era
Retrosheet

References

↑ McMANIS, Sam (July 23, 1987). "Don McMahon Dies of Heart Attack : Dodger Scout, 57, Is Stricken While Pitching Batting Practice". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
↑ BERKOW, IRA (August 1, 1987). "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; HE DIED WITH SPIKES ON". The New York Times. Retrieved September 7, 2012.
↑ BERKOW, IRA (August 1, 1987). "SPORTS OF THE TIMES; HE DIED WITH SPIKES ON". The New York Times. Retrieved September 7, 2012.

Preceded by Larry Jansen Larry Shepard	San Francisco Giants pitching coach 1972–1975 1980–1982	Succeeded by Frank Funk Herm Starrette
Preceded by Lee Stange	Minnesota Twins pitching coach 1976–1977	Succeeded by Camilo Pascual
Preceded by Chuck Estrada	Cleveland Indians pitching coach 1983–1985	Succeeded by Jack Aker

Milwaukee Braves 1957 World Series Champions

1 Del Crandall 4 Red Schoendienst 5 Félix Mantilla 7 Del Rice 9 Joe Adcock 10 Bob Buhl 12 Bob Hazle 14 Frank Torre 15 Carl Sawatski 16 Dave Jolly 17 Taylor Phillips 18 John DeMerit 20 Don McMahon 21 Warren Spahn 22 Gene Conley 23 Johnny Logan 25 Nippy Jones 30 Bob Trowbridge 32 Ernie Johnson 33 Lew Burdette (World Series MVP) 34 Juan Pizarro 41 Eddie Mathews 43 Wes Covington 44 Hank Aaron 48 Andy Pafko

Manager 2 Fred Haney Coaches 3 Johnny Riddle 8 Connie Ryan 31 Charlie Root 35 Bob Keely

Regular season

Detroit Tigers 1968 World Series Champions

1 Ray Oyler 2 Tom Matchick 3 Dick McAuliffe 5 Jim Northrup 6 Al Kaline 7 Eddie Mathews 8 Don Wert 11 Bill Freehan 12 Jim Price 15 Fred Lasher 16 Earl Wilson 17 Denny McLain 18 John Hiller 21 Joe Sparma 22 Pat Dobson 23 Willie Horton 24 Mickey Stanley 25 Norm Cash 26 Gates Brown 27 Wayne Comer 29 Mickey Lolich (World Series MVP) 39 Jon Warden 43 Daryl Patterson 44 Dick Tracewski 47 Don McMahon

Manager 10 Mayo Smith Coaches 50 Tony Cuccinello 51 Wally Moses 52 Hal Naragon 53 Johnny Sain

Regular season

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