Paul Edmondson

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1970 Topps baseball card #414

Paul Michael Edmondson (February 12, 1943 - February 13, 1970) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Born in Kansas City, Kansas, the right-hander was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 21st round of the 1965 amateur draft, and made his major league debut with them four years later on June 20, 1969.

Edmondson started thirteen of the fourteen games he appeared in during his short MLB career. He had the second-best earned run average (3.70) of any of the six White Sox pitchers who started ten or more games during the 1969 season.

The 26-year-old rookie actually pitched better than his poor 1–6 record would indicate. His one and only relief appearance could be called a disaster, as he allowed four earned runs in just three innings and took the loss against the Detroit Tigers (August 8, 1969). As a starting pitcher, his ERA was just 3.40.

He pitched six or more innings in nine of his thirteen starts, but didn't get much run support from his teammates. In his five losses as a starter, the White Sox scored a total of just six runs.

Some of Paul Edmondson's best efforts in 1969:

9 innings, 0 earned runs vs. Oakland -- NO DECISION (September 13)
9⅓ innings, 1 earned run vs. California -- NO DECISION (September 6)
9 innings, 1 earned run vs. California -- WON 9-1 (June 20)
8 innings, 1 earned run vs. Kansas City -- NO DECISION (September 25)
7 innings, 1 earned run vs. Oakland -- LOST 2-1 (July 8)
6⅔ innings, 1 earned run vs. California -- NO DECISION (July 4)
7⅓ innings, 3 earned runs vs. Washington -- NO DECISION (August 6)
6 innings, 3 earned runs vs. Seattle -- LOST 3-1 (June 25)

After the 1969 season, Edmondson never again had a chance to pitch in the major leagues. He was killed in an auto accident in Santa Barbara, California while on his way to Spring Training. He was 27 years old.