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{{short description|American baseball player (1921-1996)}}
'''Donald Raymond Bollweg''' ([[February 12]] [[1921]] - [[May 26]] [[1996]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[first baseman]] in [[Major League Baseball]] who played for three teams from 1950 to 1955. He was born in [[Wheaton, Illinois]], and after signing with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in 1942, served in the [[United States Army|Army]] during [[World War II]]. He finally appeared in 10 games for the Cardinals in the {{by|1950}} and 1951 seasons, but was traded in May 1951 to the [[New York Yankees]], and was named MVP of the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]] in {{by|1952}} with the [[Kansas City Blues (American Association)|Kansas City Blues]]. He played 70 games for the 1953 Yankees team which captured their fifth consecutive [[World Series]] title. In the [[1953 World Series|1953 Series]] against the [[Los Angeles Dodgers|Brooklyn Dodgers]], he was used as a pinch hitter in Games 3 and 4, [[strikeout|striking out]] both times, and as a defensive replacement for [[Johnny Mize]] in the ninth inning of Game 6 as the Yankees took the title. In December 1953 he was traded to the [[Oakland Athletics|Philadelphia Athletics]] in an 11-player deal, and he shared playing time at first base in 1954 with [[Lou Limmer]]. After the Athletics relocated to [[Kansas City, Missouri]] in {{by|1955}}, he appeared in only 12 games, ending his major league career with a [[batting average]] of .243, 11 [[home run]]s and 53 [[run batted in|runs batted in]] in 195 games. He continued playing in the minor leagues in 1955 and 1956. Bollweg died in Wheaton at age 75.
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name = Don Bollweg
| image = Don Bollweg.jpg
| width = 275px
| position = [[First baseman]]
| birth_date = February 12, 1921
| birth_place = [[Wheaton, Illinois]], U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|1996|5|26|1921|2|12}}
| death_place = Wheaton, Illinois, U.S.
| bats = Left
| throws = Left
|debutleague = MLB
| debutdate = September 28
| debutyear = 1950
| debutteam = St. Louis Cardinals
|finalleague = MLB
| finaldate = May 10
| finalyear = 1955
| finalteam = Kansas City Athletics
|statleague = MLB
| stat1label = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
| stat1value = .243
| stat2label = [[Home run]]s
| stat2value = 11
| stat3label = [[Runs batted in]]
| stat3value = 53
| teams =
* [[St. Louis Cardinals]] (1950–1951)
* [[New York Yankees]] (1953)
* [[Oakland Athletics|Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics]] (1954–1955)
|highlights=
*[[World Series]] champion ({{wsy|1953}})
}}
'''Donald Raymond Bollweg''' (February 12, 1921 – May 26, 1996) was an American [[professional baseball]] player who appeared in 195 [[games played|games]] in [[Major League Baseball]] as a [[first baseman]] and [[pinch hitter]] for three teams between {{by|1950}} and {{by|1955}}. Born in [[Wheaton, Illinois]], Bollweg threw and batted left-handed; he stood {{convert|6|ft|1|in}} tall and weighed {{convert|190|lb}}.

==Early career==
He signed his first pro contract with the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in {{by|1942}}, which he spent at the [[Class D (baseball)|Class D]] level of the [[minor leagues]], then served in the [[United States Army]] and [[United States Army Air Force|U.S. Army Air Force]] during [[World War II]].<ref name="DBoll">{{cite web |url=https://baseballinwartime.com/player_biographies/bollweg_don.htm |title=Don Bollweg |last=Bedingfield |first=Gary |date=2008 |website=baseballinwartime.com |publisher=[[Baseball in Wartime]] |access-date=December 4, 2023 |quote=}}</ref> He resumed his playing career in {{by|1946}}, spending two seasons at [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] [[Houston Buffaloes|Houston]] and one at [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] [[Rochester Red Wings|Rochester]] before finally making his [[MLB]] debut at age 29 in September 1950. Bollweg appeared in only ten total games for the Cardinals during autumn 1950 and spring {{by|1951}}, when big-league rosters were expanded to 40 and 28 men, respectively.

On May 14, 1951, as they faced the annual roster cutdown to 25 players, the Redbirds dealt Bollweg to the [[New York Yankees]], who sent him to the [[Kansas City Blues (American Association)|Kansas City Blues]] of the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]]. He [[batting average (baseball)|batted]] over .300 in both 1951 and {{by|1952}}, and in the latter year was selected the Association's [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]].

==Major league service==
That stellar Triple-A performance set the table for Bollweg's successful {{by|1953}} season as a reserve first baseman and pinch hitter for a Yankees team that captured its fifth consecutive [[American League]] [[pennant (sports)|pennant]] and [[World Series]] title. He appeared in 70 AL games, with 34 starts at first base, and collected 46 [[hit (baseball)|hits]] and 21 [[bases on balls]] in 178 [[plate appearances]], batting .297 with six [[home runs]]. In the [[1953 World Series|1953 Series]], won in six games against the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]], he was used as a pinch hitter in Games 3 and 4, [[strikeout|striking out]] both times, and as a defensive replacement for [[Johnny Mize]] in the ninth inning of clinching Game 6.

In December 1953, Bollweg was traded to the [[Philadelphia Athletics]] in an 11-player deal, and he shared playing time at first base in {{by|1954}} with right-handed-swinging [[Lou Limmer]]. After that season, the Athletics moved to [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]], site of Bollweg's finest years in Triple-A, in {{baseball year|1955}}. He [[single (baseball)|singled]] and drove in two [[runs batted in|runs]] as a pinch hitter in the club's first-ever home game at [[Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)|Municipal Stadium]], but it was his only safety in nine [[at bats]] for the relocated franchise.<ref>[https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1955/B04120KC11955.htm "Kansas City Athletics 6, Detroit Tigers 2"], [[Retrosheet]] [[box score (baseball)|box score]] (April 12, 1955)</ref>

After a final pinch hitting assignment against the [[Baltimore Orioles]] on May 10, 1955, Bollweg was sent to the minor leagues, again a cutdown-date casualty. He played for four high-level clubs in 1955–{{by|1956}}, then retired from pro baseball after playing a dozen seasons spanning 15 years.

Bollweg ended his major-league career with a batting average of .243, with 110 hits, 22 [[double (baseball)|doubles]], seven [[triple (baseball)|triples]], 11 homers, and 53 [[run batted in|runs batted in]] in 195 games.

After baseball, he returned to Illinois, working largely in real estate and insurance. He died in Wheaton at age 75 in 1996, three years after suffering a [[stroke]].<ref name="DBoll"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*{{baseball-reference|id=b/bollwdo01}}
{{Baseballstats|br=b/bollwdo01}}


{{1953 New York Yankees}}
{{1953 New York Yankees}}
{{AA MVPs}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bollweg, Don}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bollweg, Don}}
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:1996 deaths]]
[[Category:American Association (1902–1997) MVP Award winners]]
[[Category:Baseball players from DuPage County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Columbus Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Houston Buffaloes players]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Indians players]]
[[Category:Kansas City Athletics players]]
[[Category:Kansas City Blues (baseball) players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball first basemen]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball first basemen]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Minneapolis Millers (baseball) players]]
[[Category:New York Yankees players]]
[[Category:New York Yankees players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Athletics players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Athletics players]]
[[Category:Kansas City Athletics players]]
[[Category:Rochester Red Wings players]]
[[Category:Major league players from Illinois]]
[[Category:St. Louis Cardinals players]]
[[Category:San Diego Padres (minor league) players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Wheaton, Illinois]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:American military personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Washington Red Birds players]]
[[Category:People from Wheaton, Illinois]]
[[Category:Wichita Braves players]]



{{baseball-first-baseman-stub}}
{{US-baseball-first-baseman-stub}}

Latest revision as of 23:40, 2 July 2024

Don Bollweg
First baseman
Born: February 12, 1921
Wheaton, Illinois, U.S.
Died: May 26, 1996(1996-05-26) (aged 75)
Wheaton, Illinois, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 28, 1950, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last MLB appearance
May 10, 1955, for the Kansas City Athletics
MLB statistics
Batting average.243
Home runs11
Runs batted in53
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Donald Raymond Bollweg (February 12, 1921 – May 26, 1996) was an American professional baseball player who appeared in 195 games in Major League Baseball as a first baseman and pinch hitter for three teams between 1950 and 1955. Born in Wheaton, Illinois, Bollweg threw and batted left-handed; he stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86 kg).

Early career

[edit]

He signed his first pro contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1942, which he spent at the Class D level of the minor leagues, then served in the United States Army and U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.[1] He resumed his playing career in 1946, spending two seasons at Double-A Houston and one at Triple-A Rochester before finally making his MLB debut at age 29 in September 1950. Bollweg appeared in only ten total games for the Cardinals during autumn 1950 and spring 1951, when big-league rosters were expanded to 40 and 28 men, respectively.

On May 14, 1951, as they faced the annual roster cutdown to 25 players, the Redbirds dealt Bollweg to the New York Yankees, who sent him to the Kansas City Blues of the American Association. He batted over .300 in both 1951 and 1952, and in the latter year was selected the Association's MVP.

Major league service

[edit]

That stellar Triple-A performance set the table for Bollweg's successful 1953 season as a reserve first baseman and pinch hitter for a Yankees team that captured its fifth consecutive American League pennant and World Series title. He appeared in 70 AL games, with 34 starts at first base, and collected 46 hits and 21 bases on balls in 178 plate appearances, batting .297 with six home runs. In the 1953 Series, won in six games against the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was used as a pinch hitter in Games 3 and 4, striking out both times, and as a defensive replacement for Johnny Mize in the ninth inning of clinching Game 6.

In December 1953, Bollweg was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics in an 11-player deal, and he shared playing time at first base in 1954 with right-handed-swinging Lou Limmer. After that season, the Athletics moved to Kansas City, site of Bollweg's finest years in Triple-A, in 1955. He singled and drove in two runs as a pinch hitter in the club's first-ever home game at Municipal Stadium, but it was his only safety in nine at bats for the relocated franchise.[2]

After a final pinch hitting assignment against the Baltimore Orioles on May 10, 1955, Bollweg was sent to the minor leagues, again a cutdown-date casualty. He played for four high-level clubs in 1955–1956, then retired from pro baseball after playing a dozen seasons spanning 15 years.

Bollweg ended his major-league career with a batting average of .243, with 110 hits, 22 doubles, seven triples, 11 homers, and 53 runs batted in in 195 games.

After baseball, he returned to Illinois, working largely in real estate and insurance. He died in Wheaton at age 75 in 1996, three years after suffering a stroke.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Bedingfield, Gary (2008). "Don Bollweg". baseballinwartime.com. Baseball in Wartime. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  2. ^ "Kansas City Athletics 6, Detroit Tigers 2", Retrosheet box score (April 12, 1955)
[edit]


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