Don Elston

Don Elston
Pitcher
Born: (1929-04-06)April 6, 1929 Campbellstown, Ohio
Died: Arlington Heights, Illinois
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 17, 1953, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1964, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	49–54
Earned run average	3.69
Strikeouts	519
Saves	64
Teams
Chicago Cubs (1953) Brooklyn Dodgers (1957) Chicago Cubs (1957–1964)
Career highlights and awards
2× All-Star (1959, 1959²)

Donald Ray (Don) Elston (April 6, 1929 – January 2, 1995) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs (1953, 1957, 1958–64) and Brooklyn Dodgers (1957). Elston batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Campbellstown, Ohio.

A hard-thrower pitcher, Elston played for perennially weak Chicago Cubs teams for most of his nine-year major league career. He began as a starter, but after switching to the bullpen, he became one of the best relievers in the National League. He led the league with 69 relief appearances in 1958, setting a club mark, and In 1959, he tied with teammate Bill Henry with 65 appearances for the league lead. In that season Elston had a career-high 10 victories and was selected for the All-Star Game. He came in the ninth inning of the first game to preserve a 5–4 victory over the American League.

In 450 career games, Elston posted a 49–54 record with a 3.70 ERA and 63 saves.

Elston died in Arlington Heights, Illinois, at the age of 65.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors) or Venezuelan Professional Baseball League batting and pitching statistics
• Baseball Library
• 1959 All-Star Game play-by-play