Johnny Ray Seale (born November 14, 1938), nicknamed "Durango Kid", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched in eight games over two seasons, 1964 and 1965, for the Detroit Tigers. He is the only Durango High School graduate to play for Major League Baseball.[1]
| Johnnie Seale | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: November 14, 1938 Edgewater, Colorado | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 20, 1964, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 2, 1965, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 1-0 |
| Earned run average | 5.54 |
| Strikeouts | 8 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
Early life
editSeale was born in Edgewater, Colorado, but grew up in Durango, Colorado, where he attended Durango High School, participating in multiple sports including wrestling,[2] football[3] and baseball, as well as being active representing Durango in state and national 4-H competitions.[4] He graduated in 1957.[5]
Career
editSeale began his baseball career in 1958, being drafted as an amateur by the Washington Senators,[6] first playing with that team's D League affiliate in Gainesville, Florida. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs organization in 1959, and in one notable game for the Paris Lakers Seale struck out 20 batters in a game against the Dubuque Packers.[7]
Seale played 11 seasons in the minor leagues, earning a 65–68 career pitching record, generating 934 strikeouts over 1,195 innings pitched.
He was traded to the Tiger organization in 1960, and made his debut with that MLB team on September 20, 1964. On September 23 of that year Seale earned his first and only MLB win against the Baltimore Orioles, striking out four batters over four innings for a 10–3 Tiger win.[8]
Seale completed his professional baseball career in 1968 with the Charlotte Hornets.
Personal life
editSeale continued his agricultural pursuits post-baseball, exhibiting prized livestock in regional fairs through Ben Seale & Sons.[9] He also worked in construction and raised goats with his wife Peppy.[10]
Seale's son Marvin, also a Durango High School graduate, was drafted by the New York Mets organization in 1998, playing in that team's minor league organization for seven season, culminating in 2003 with the Binghampton Mets.[11]
Sources
edit- Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
References
edit- ^ Baseball at the Fairgrounds 1920s. The Durango Herald, Durango, Colorado, June 22, 2020
- ^ Durango Wrestlers Maul Cortez 34-6. Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, CO, January 24, 1957, page 13
- ^ Tigers Play Demon Club at Durango. Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, October 12, 1956, page 9
- ^ Durango 4H Lads to Attend Chicago Event. Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, November 13, 1955, page 13
- ^ Durango High School 1957 Toltec Yearbook. Retrieved December 9, 2023
- ^ JOHNNIE SEALE TRADES AND TRANSACTIONS. Baseball Almanac, retrieved December 9, 2023
- ^ Paris Pitcher Seale Fans 20. Decatur Herald & Review, June 20, 1959, page 9
- ^ Tigers Win Second Straight Over Slumping Birds. The Evening News Sault Ste. Marie, MI, September 24, 1964, page 8
- ^ Colorado, Oklahoma Entrants Take Top Fair Milk Honors. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, September 27, 1974, page 120
- ^ Remembering the Detroit Tigers’ “Durango Kid” Vintage Detroit, December 11, 2009. Retrieved December 9, 2023
- ^ Marvin Seale. Baseball Cube. Retrieved December 9, 2023