#189 Don McMahon

Don McMahon  Milwaukee Braves

Career: McMahon was a Brooklyn native and after signing with the Braves in 1950, he spent five and a half years in the minors and two years in the service. He made his major league debut when called up to Milwaukee in June 1957 at age 27. He played for the Braves (1957-’62), Colt .45s (1962-’63), Indians (1964-’66), Red Sox (1966-’67), White Sox (1967-’68), Tigers (1968-’69), and Giants (1969-’74).

In 874 games (only two were starts!) Don compiled a 90-68 record (.570), with a sparkling 2.96 ERA. He made ten postseason appearances, won four pennants, pitched in three World Series (1957, ’58, ’68), and one National League Championship Series,. His numbers in those big games were impressive as well as he allowed only 10 hits in over 13 innings.

When he retired he was fourth on the list of games pitched. He is currently 35th.

In 1960: He had a very rocky year, arguably the worst of his career. After leading the league with 15 saves in 1959, he had only 10 and his ERA of 5.94 was a huge disappointment after the 2.94 he posted the previous season. 

Off The Charts: Following his playing days, he was pitching coach for the Giants (twice), Twins, and Indians; and later a scout for the Dodgers.

SABR tells us "He worked some in the offseason as a football scout for several years, helping out the Oakland Raiders even while still an active player. He and Raiders owner-coach Al Davis had both attended Erasmus Hall High in Brooklyn."

Even Further Off The Charts: My father grew up in Brooklyn not far from Erasmus High but he commuted to the Bronx High School of Science. I decided to take a look at Erasmus Hall which is now closed. The list of notable alums from Wkipedia is pretty impressive. I pulled out the more recognizable names and pasted them here:

    Bob Arum, boxing promoter.
    Tony Balsamo (1931), Major League Baseball Pitcher for the Chicago Cubs
    Jeff Chandler (Ira Grossel) (1935); actor
    Hy Cohen, Major League Baseball player
    Billy Cunningham (1961); player and coach, Philadelphia '76ers basketball team.
    Al Davis (c.1947); Oakland Raiders owner, Pro Football Hall of Fame member.
    Clive Davis (1949); Grammy Award-winning record producer; founder of Arista Records[43]
    Neil Diamond, attended Erasmus from 1954–56; singer/songwriter.
    Will Downing (1981); singer
    Mort Drucker (born 1929), caricaturist and comics artist [MAD Magazine!!]
    Norm Drucker, professional basketball official.
    Dave Getz (1957); drummer Big Brother and the Holding Company
    Jonah Goldman, major league baseball player
    William Lindsay Gresham (1909–1962), novelist and non-fiction author
    Susan Hayward (Edythe Marrenner), (1935); Oscar-winning actress
    Waite Hoyt, Hall of Fame pitcher for the Yankees and long-time broadcaster for the  Reds.
    Marty Ingels, comedian; husband of Shirley Jones.
    Ned Irish (1924); organizer of first MSG basketball tournament (1934); founder of the New York Knicks; member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
    Roger Kahn (1945); sportswriter, author of several books including The Boys of Summer.
    Lainie Kazan (Lainie Levine), (1956); actress and singer
    Dorothy Kilgallen (1930); newspaper journalist, television game show panelist and talk radio personality.
    Bernie Kopell (1953); actor
    Sid Luckman (1935); football champion with the Chicago Bears; NFL quarterback and Pro Football Hall of Fame.
    Bernard Malamud (1932); author and educator; wrote baseball novel The Natural
    Don McMahon, Major League Baseball player
    Stephanie Mills, (1975); actress/singer.
    Doug Moe, (1956); long time player and coach, ABA and NBA.
    Don Most (1970); actor
    Jerry Reinsdorf (1953); part-owner of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox.
    Sam Rutigliano, former NFL head coach.
    Beverly Sills (Belle Miriam Silverman), coloratura opera singer,
    Mickey Spillane (Morrison Spillane) (1936); author of detective and mystery fiction.
    Barbara Stanwyck (c. 1922); stage and screen actress, dancer.
    Barbra Streisand (Barbara Joan Streisand) (1959); actress, singer, director, producer.
    Norma Talmadge (1911); silent film actress.
    Eli Wallach, (1932); actor
    Sonny Werblin (1910–1991), entertainment industry executive and sports impresario, owner of the New York Jets,
    Mae West (Mary Jane West) (1911); actress, comedian, playwright.