Dick Ellsworth

Dick Ellsworth
Pitcher
Born: (1940-03-22)March 22, 1940
Lusk, Wyoming, U.S.
Died: October 10, 2022(2022-10-10) (aged 82)
Fresno, California, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
June 22, 1958, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
June 23, 1971, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record115–137
Earned run average3.72
Strikeouts1,140
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Richard Clark Ellsworth (March 22, 1940 – October 10, 2022) was an American professional baseball starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs (1958, 1960–1966), Philadelphia Phillies (1967), Boston Red Sox (1968–1969), Cleveland Indians (1969–1970), and Milwaukee Brewers (1970–1971). Ellsworth was an All-Star in 1964.

Career

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Ellsworth was born in Lusk, Wyoming. When he was three years old, his family moved to Fresno, California.[1] He played amateur baseball in Fresno as a teammate with future major leaguers Jim Maloney and Pat Corrales.[2] Ellsworth graduated from Fresno High School in 1958.[3]

In 1958, Gene Handley scouted and signed Ellsworth for the Chicago Cubs for a reported signing bonus of $70,000.[1][4] After pitching well in an exhibition game against the Chicago White Sox, the Cubs had Ellsworth make his major league debut on June 22 against the Cincinnati Reds. Ellsworth allowed four runs, two wild pitches, and one hit by pitch before the Cubs took him out of the game.[1] The Cubs sent him to the Fort Worth Cats of the Double A Texas League.[5] After he spent the rest of the 1958 season and the entire 1959 season in the minor leagues, the Cubs promoted him to the major leagues for good in 1960.[1]

Ellsworth won the National League Player of the Month Award in May 1963 as he allowed six earned runs in 42 innings pitched.[6] For the 1963 season, he had a 22–10 win–loss record and a 2.10 earned run average (ERA). After the season, he won the Associated Press' Comeback Player of the Year Award, as he had finished the 1962 season with a 9–20 record. On July 28, 1963, Cubs' lefty Dick Ellsworth struck out Stan Musial three times in the Cubs' 5-1 victory over the Cardinals in a game played at Wrigley Field.[7] Ellsworth made the National League All-Star team in 1964.[8]

After the 1966 season, the Cubs traded Ellsworth to the Philadelphia Phillies for Ray Culp.[9] He had a 6–7 record and a 4.39 ERA for Philadelphia. After the 1967 season, the Phillies traded Ellsworth and Gene Oliver to the Boston Red Sox for Mike Ryan and cash considerations.[10] He was traded along with Ken Harrelson and Juan Pizarro from the Red Sox to the Cleveland Indians for Sonny Siebert, Vicente Romo and Joe Azcue on April 19, 1969.[11] On August 7, 1970, the Milwaukee Brewers purchased Ellsworth from Cleveland.[12] Ellsworth returned to Milwaukee for the 1971 season. He had a 4.91 ERA for Milwaukee, and was placed on waivers in June.[13]

In 1963, Ellsworth was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame.[14]

Personal life

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During the baseball off-seasons during his career, Ellsworth sold Serta mattresses.[15] After his playing career, Ellsworth went into real estate. In 2005, Ellsworth joined an ownership group that purchased the Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League.[16][17]

He was the father of former MLB pitcher Steve Ellsworth.[18]

Ellsworth died in Fresno on October 10, 2022, at the age of 82.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Skelton, David E. "Dick Ellsworth". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  2. ^ Crane, Omer (May 14, 1979). "Dick Ellsworth – A Jock Who Made It". The Fresno Bee. p. 95. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Dick Ellsworth Stats, Height, Weight, Research & History". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  4. ^ "Sport Thinks". The Fresno Bee. June 18, 1958. p. 16. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Cats' Ellsworth To Hurl Tonight". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. July 22, 1958. p. 13. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Pitcher Ellsworth Player of Month". The Courier. June 9, 1963. p. 46. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Dick Ellsworth Named N.L. Comeback Player". Vineland Times Journal. Associated Press. October 15, 1963. p. 4. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "National All-Stars". Fort Lauderdale News. Associated Press. July 5, 1964. p. 54. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Phils Trade Hurler Ray Culp To Cubs For Dick Ellsworth". The Paducah Sun. Associated Press. December 8, 1966. p. 44. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Phillies Trade Ellsworth And Oliver To Red Sox For Catcher Ryan, Cash". The Sacramento Bee. Associated Press. December 16, 1967. p. 22. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Lee, Bill (April 20, 1969). "Bosox Fill Key Spots In Deal With Cleveland". Hartford Courant. p. 10. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Brewers Obtain Dick Ellsworth". Evening Express. Associated Press. August 8, 1970. p. 11. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Brewers Waive Dick Ellsworth". The Tribune. Associated Press. June 25, 1971. p. 18. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Current and Past Inductees". Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017.
  15. ^ "Dick Ellsworth 'Pitches' Here". The Herald-Palladium. October 10, 1963. p. 26. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Davis, Jeff (August 28, 2005). "Ellsworth has path back into game". The Fresno Bee. pp. C1. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Hostetter, George; Leedy, Matt (October 14, 2006). "Fresno Baseball Club looks beyond the Grizzlies after buying the team". The Fresno Bee. pp. A1. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Newman, Howie (April 10, 1988). "Ellsworth has paid his dues". Sun-Journal. p. 23. Retrieved October 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Richard Clark Ellsworth obituary". Chapel of the Light. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
[edit]
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Major League Player of the Month
May 1963 		Succeeded by
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