Duke Simpson

Thomas Leo "Duke" Simpson (born September 15, 1927, at Columbus, Ohio) is a retired American professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, Simpson had a seven-year (1948–1954) career, which included a full, 1953 season in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs. He stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 190 pounds (86 kg).

Simpson attended the University of Notre Dame but after only one semester he joined the United States Army in 1945 during the waning days of World War II.^[1] After completing his military service, he enrolled in The Ohio State University before joining the professional baseball ranks. He pitched in the Philadelphia Athletics' system and was acquired by the Cubs in 1952.

In 1953, he made the Cub's MLB roster coming out of spring training and remained a member of their pitching staff all season, working in 30 games, 29 in relief. In his only start, he failed to record an out on September 2 against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field, yielding five runs, all earned, and four hits, including a three-run home run by Preston Ward. Simpson took the loss in that 8–1 Cub defeat.^[2] But one week later, against the Pirates at Wrigley Field, he won his only MLB game. He entered the game in the ninth inning with the Cubs trailing, 7–5, and worked a perfect 1-2-3 frame. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, Cub slugger Ralph Kiner hit a three-run walk off home run against his old Pirate mates to give Simpson the 8-7 win.^[3]

Altogether, Duke Simpson allowed 60 hits and 25 bases on balls in 45 MLB innings pitched, striking out 21.

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference