Dick Ellsworth
Encyclopedia
Richard Clark Ellsworth (born March 22, 1940 in Lusk, Wyoming
) is a former starting pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played from through for the Chicago Cubs
(1958, 1960–66), Philadelphia Phillies
(1967), Boston Red Sox
(1968–69), Cleveland Indians
(1969–70) and Milwaukee Brewers
(1970–71). Ellsworth batted and threw left-handed. He is the father of Steve Ellsworth
. Ellsworth attended Fresno High School
in California, alongside fellow pitcher Jim Maloney
. In a 13-season career, Ellsworth posted a 115-137 record with 1140 strikeout
s and a 3.72 ERA
in 2155.2 innings
.
Ellsworth made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs in 1958. His most productive season came in 1963, when he won 22 games (after losing 20 in 1962), with a 2.11 ERA.
A popular player at Wrigley Field
, Ellsworth made the National League All-Star
team in . His career faded after that, except for one year with the Boston Red Sox
, when he was 16-7 with an ERA of 3.03. He retired in 1971 after playing for the Phillies, Red Sox, Indians and Brewers.
In his 1966 Topps baseball card, No. 447 that year, was issued for Ellsworth, with his playing statistics and a brief biographical sketch. However, the photo on the card was not of Ellsworth—it was of Ken Hubbs
, the Cubs' star infielder who had died about two years before.
Dick won 84 games, the most by a Cub pitcher in the 1960s. He also led the team in starts for the 60s with 235, complete games with 71 and innings pitched with 1,611. He also led the Cubs in strikeouts three years in a row, with a high of 185 in 1963.
Lusk, Wyoming
Lusk is a town in Niobrara County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 1,447 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Niobrara County. The town was laid out in June 1886 by engineers working on the Wyoming Central Railway. It was named after Frank S...
) is a former starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played from through for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
(1958, 1960–66), Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1967), Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1968–69), Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1969–70) and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(1970–71). Ellsworth batted and threw left-handed. He is the father of Steve Ellsworth
Steve Ellsworth
Steven Clark Ellsworth is the son of Dick Ellsworth and is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox in 1988....
. Ellsworth attended Fresno High School
Fresno High School
Fresno High School is a four-year secondary school located in Fresno, California. Fresno High is the oldest high school in the Fresno metropolitan area and one of the few International Baccalaureate schools; in addition it continues to be the most populous and most diverse campus in Fresno. Dr....
in California, alongside fellow pitcher Jim Maloney
Jim Maloney
James William Maloney is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Cincinnati Reds and California Angels...
. In a 13-season career, Ellsworth posted a 115-137 record with 1140 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 3.72 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 2155.2 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
.
Ellsworth made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs in 1958. His most productive season came in 1963, when he won 22 games (after losing 20 in 1962), with a 2.11 ERA.
A popular player at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
, Ellsworth made the National League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team in . His career faded after that, except for one year with the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, when he was 16-7 with an ERA of 3.03. He retired in 1971 after playing for the Phillies, Red Sox, Indians and Brewers.
In his 1966 Topps baseball card, No. 447 that year, was issued for Ellsworth, with his playing statistics and a brief biographical sketch. However, the photo on the card was not of Ellsworth—it was of Ken Hubbs
Ken Hubbs
Kenneth Douglass Hubbs was an American second baseman who played from to for the Chicago Cubs in the National League. He was killed in a plane crash near Provo, Utah prior to the 1964 season....
, the Cubs' star infielder who had died about two years before.
Dick won 84 games, the most by a Cub pitcher in the 1960s. He also led the team in starts for the 60s with 235, complete games with 71 and innings pitched with 1,611. He also led the Cubs in strikeouts three years in a row, with a high of 185 in 1963.