Cy Blanton
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Darrell Elijah (Cy) Blanton (July 6, 1908 - September 13, 1945) was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1934-39) and Philadelphia Phillies (1940-42). Blanton batted left handed and threw right handed. He was born in Waurika, Oklahoma.
Blanton was one of the mainstays of the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation in the mid 1930s. In his 1935 rookie season he recorded 18 wins with 142 strikeouts and led the National League in earned run average (2.58) and shutouts (4). He averaged 12.67 wins for the next three years, leading again the league in shutouts in 1936 (4) and starts in 1937 (34). A free agent before the 1940 season, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. Although he made the National League All-Star team in 1937 and 1941, he never showed again the brilliance of his first season.
In a nine-season career, Blanton posted a 68-71 record with a 3.55 ERA and 611 strikeouts.
Blanton died in Norman, Oklahoma at the age of 37.
[edit] Other MLB debuts in 1934
- Al Benton
- Ray Berres
- Zeke Bonura
- Frenchy Bordagaray
- Phil Cavarretta
- Harlond Clift
- Elbie Fletcher
- Augie Galan
- Vern Kennedy
- Cookie Lavagetto
- Frank McCormick
- Rudy York
