Former big league lefty Don Ferrarese passed away earlier this month. He was 95.
Ferrarese was an Oakland native who attended Saint Mary’s in the Bay Area. He began his minor league career in 1948. It took seven seasons for the southpaw to reach the majors with the Orioles. He briefly appeared in the big leagues at age 25 in 1955. Ferrarese worked in a swing capacity for the next couple years. Baltimore traded him to the Indians early in the ’58 season in a deal that netted future All-Star southpaw Bud Daley (whom the O’s would trade to the A’s weeks later).
After one season in Cleveland, Ferrarese was on the move again. The Indians dealt him to the White Sox in a six-player swap. Ferrarese logged limited action with the Phillies and Cardinals before the end of his playing career in 1962. He pitched for five teams over an eight-year MLB run. Ferrarese turned in an even 4.00 earned run average across 506 2/3 innings. He started 50 of 183 appearances, won 19 games and recorded 350 strikeouts. MLBTR sends our condolences to Ferrarese’s family and friends.
Never heard of this man, but may he, and everyone else of your beloved ones who have passed away recently or years ago, rest in peace.
RIP Mr. Ferrarese
I looked up his trades. He was traded to Cleveland before the 1958 season in the trade that brought Larry Doby back to the Tribe. Prior to the 1960 season Ferrarese was traded to the White Sox in the trade that brought Minnie Minoso back to Chicago.
Pitched in 183 games and even hit a homer in his final season. Maybe not a superstar, but a career he could be proud of. RIP.
I have an old baseball card of him as an Indian. He had a respectable career for sure. I once took a tour of the Mariner’s stadium and when we got to the visitor’s clubhouse, the guide told us of a guy that entered the clubhouse after being called to the bigs for the first time. The guy fell to his knees and cried out, “I made it!” What a feeling it must be to just put on the uniform.
very cool @BPax but today he’d be on the IL for tearing the tendons in his knee!
And Bud Daley just passed too. It’s pretty interesting that two guys traded for each other in 1958 made it within a few weeks of each other in 2024.
Coach Ferrarese was my high school pitching coach. He was a funny guy who was always quick with a story. I am a lefty as well and Don took an interest in me to teach how to pitch his way. He taught me how to throw a knuckle curve, which is what he threw in the bigs. I used that big slow breaker to much success, as I was able to pitch through college. Don was a good man, he will be missed. My condolences go out to his family.
That is a great story of your memories of him. It sounds like he had a big impact on you. God bless his soul.
Thanks d-rock – it’s great to hear more of Mr Ferrarese’s history – he sounds like a great guy
RIP
not everyone can make it to the majors, this pitcher did
My condolences to his family and friends
His shutout in 1956 was against Mantle and the Yankees! A two hit 8 strikeout game. What a story to tell!
Ferrara now Ferrarese.
RIP Don.
Indeed NRI and hopefully he had the opportunity to tell it many times. Condolences to his loved ones.
Per the box score at Baseball Reference.
It was a 1-0 game, and Ferrarese drove in the only run. He struck out Mantle in the fourth inning. Ferrarese later retired Mantle on a flyball to center for the game’s final out. There were two men on base at the time.
Before Mantle’s ninth-inning at-bat, Casey Stengel had Don Larsen pinch hit for Bobby Richardson with two men on. A pitcher pinch-hitting with the game on the line? Managerial malpractice! Fire that loser Stengel! (I kid, of course).
In the mid-90s, there was a simulation game called Bill James Classic Baseball…you got the results by fax. (Memories!)
Anyway, every player had an assigned cost, and for some reason I picked up Ferrarese one year to do what he did in the majors: mop up, spot start, etc. To my shock, he had quite a good season, and I used him a couple other times. So, thanks, Don, and rest well.
Don pitched very well for the ’61 Phillies, with a 3.76 ERA in 138 innings in a swingman role. He did a lot of fundraising for charities in California after his playing career.
The 1980 Phillies championship was for every man who ever wore the uniform, so Don Ferrarese is a champion too. May he rest in peace.
RIP Ol Ball Player
Ironic the player he was traded first for and Don passed away couple weeks apart – 66 years later! RIP Don and Bud…