Don McCormack: America’s Greatest Baseball Player?

Don McCormack was one of the best baseball players of his generation. But is he the greatest player in American history?

Early Life and Career

Donald James “Don” McCormack was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 17, 1909. He was the youngest of three sons of James and Annie McCormack. His father was an Irish immigrant who worked as a streetcar conductor; his mother was born in Brooklyn to Irish parents. McCormack’s older brothers, James and Joseph, were born in 1906 and 1908, respectively.

Don’s early life

Don was born on August 16, 1926, in Hartford, Connecticut. He was the youngest of four children. His father worked as a machinist and his mother was a stay-at-home mom. Don’s older brothers and sisters often teased him and called him “the baby.” When he was five years old, his family moved to West Hartford. He began playing baseball when he was six years old.

Don attended West Hartford Elementary School and then Center Junior High School. He excelled in both academics and athletics. In high school, he played baseball, basketball, and football. He graduated from Hall High School in 1944.

After high school, Don enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps. He served in the Philippines during World War II. When he returned home from the war, he enrolled at the University of Hartford. He played baseball for the university’s team. In 1948, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education.

Don’s college career

Don played college baseball for Wichita State University. He is the only player in Wichita State history to be named a First Team All-American two years in a row. After his junior year, he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the MLB draft. He chose not to sign with the Royals and instead returned to Wichita State for his senior year. In his senior year, he led the Shockers to their first ever College World Series appearance.

Don’s professional career

McCormack began his professional career in the minor leagues with theCleveland Indians organization in 1957. He played for several of the Indians’ farm teams over the next few years before being traded to the Chicago Cubs in 1960. McCormack made his major league debut with the Cubs in 1961 and quickly establish himself as one of the best hitters in baseball. He was traded back to the Indians in 1962 and spent the next several years as one of the team’s most productive players.

McCormack’s greatest season came in 1966 when he won the American League batting title with a .353 average. He also led the league in hits (215) and doubles (52) that year and was named to the All-Star team for the first time. The following year, 1967, McCormack had another excellent season, hitting .340 with 19 home runs and 103 RBIs. He was once again named to the All-Star team and finished second in voting for the AL Most Valuable Player Award.

In 1968, McCormack had another superb season, hitting .301 with 29 home runs and 121 RBIs. He was once again named to the All-Star team and finished fourth in voting for the AL MVP Award. After another solid season in 1969, McCormack was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers prior to the 1970 season.

Why Don Was the Greatest

Don McCormack is often considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He played for the New York Yankees from 1950 to 1958, and was a nine-time All-Star. He won the World Series five times, and was the American League MVP in 1953. He retired with a .298 batting average, 1,511 hits, and 320 home runs.

Don’s batting average

Don McCormack was one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In his prime, he had a batting average of .366, which is still the highest in history. He was also a great fielder and an excellent base runner. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1968.

Don’s home run record

Don McCormack is widely considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all time. In his prime, he was a powerful hitter and an excellent fielder. He holds the record for most home runs in a season, and his career batting average is still among the best in history. He was also a gifted pitcher, winning two Cy Young Awards.

Don was born in San Francisco in 1943. He grew up in a working-class neighborhood and attended local schools. His father was a truck driver and his mother worked as a secretary. Don was an average student, but he excelled at sports. He played organized baseball for the first time when he was eight years old.

Don quickly developed into a star player. He played on several junior league and high school teams before being drafted by the New York Yankees in 1961. He made his major league debut with the Yankees in 1964, but he was traded to the Chicago Cubs after just one season.

It was with the Cubs that Don truly became one of the game’s best players. In 1970, he won the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award after hitting 49 home runs and leading the league with 140 RBIs. He helped lead the Cubs to the postseason in 1984 and 1985, but they lost both times in dramatic fashion.

Don retired from baseball in 1987, but he remains active in the game as an analyst for Fox Sports Network. His impact on baseball is still felt today, and he is widely considered to be one of America’s greatest baseball players.

Don’s fielding percentage

Don was an amazing fielder, with a career .977 fielding percentage. He was also a three-time Gold Glove winner.

Later Life and Legacy

McCormack’s contract with the Milwaukee Braves was not renewed after the 1957 season, and he became a free agent. He received offers from a number of teams, but none of them were for the salary that he wanted, so he decided to retire. He became a broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox in 1958. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

Don’s later life

Don eventually retired from baseball in 1961. He was only 42 years old, but he had already accomplished more than most people could ever dream of. After he retired, he stayed active by coaching Little League teams and giving private lessons to young players. He also became a spokesman for various companies, including Chevrolet and Kodak. In addition, he started his own chain of sporting goods stores called “Don McCormack’s All-American Sport Shop.”

Despite all his success, Don was never one to forget his roots. He remained close to his family and friends from Paterson, New Jersey, and was always happy to lend a helping hand. In fact, he was such a beloved figure in his hometown that they named a street after him in 2010.

Don passed away in 2013 at the age of 82. Although he is no longer with us, his legacy as one of the greatest baseball players of all time will live on forever.

Don’s legacy

Don McCormack is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. He holds many records, including the most hits in a career (3,154), most runs batted in (2,297), and most home runs (772). He also held the record for most hits in a season (266), until it was broken by Ichiro Suzuki in 2004. McCormack was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987.

After his retirement from baseball, McCormack became a successful businessman. He opened a chain of successful car dealerships and also became a successful real estate developer. He was also a generous philanthropist, donating millions of dollars to charities, including the United Way and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

McCormack passed away in 2013 at the age of 84. His legacy as one of the greatest baseball players of all time will continue to live on.