Don Pavletich

Donald Stephen Pavletich

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 209 lb.
• High School Nathan Hale High School (West Allis)
• Debut April 20, 1957
• Final Game September 1, 1971
• Born July 13, 1938 in Milwaukee, WI USA
• Died March 5, 2020 in Brookfield, WI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Don Pavletich was a backup catcher and first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds from 1962 to 1968. Don was signed to a $30,000 contract in 1956, during the time the bonus rule stipulated a bonus player had to remain on the big league roster for at least two years. He talked about his situation in Baseball's Biggest Blunder - The Bonus Rule of 1953-1957.

"I wasn't going to play, I knew that, and I went into the service from May of 1957 to February of 1959. When I came out in 1959 the bonus rule was gone. (Pavletich was on the military list from May 1957 to February 1959, missing all of the 1958 season and all but 1 appearance in 1957.) I got to play ball in the service and then had a chance to develop in the minor leagues. So it worked out for me, but I don't think there should have been a bonus rule."

Pavletich had his most productive years for the Reds in 1965 when he hit .319 in 68 games and in 1966 when he hit .294 with a dozen home runs in 83 games. On June 11, 1967, Don hit a pinch hit walk-off grand slam against the Houston Astros. This was the only grand slam of his career. He was also with the Chicago White Sox in 1969 and finished out his major league career with the Boston Red Sox in 1970 and 1971 with a career .254 hitting average and 46 home runs while appearing in 536 games.

Pavletich had also spent all or parts of five seasons in the minors with two good years, one with the Indianapolis Indians of the American Association in 1961 when he hit .295 with 22 home runs in 142 games, helping his team to the Association title and being chosen to catch in the All-Star game. 1964 was his last season in the minors, playing first base for the San Diego Padres of the Pacific Coast League where he hit .302 with 12 home runs in 71 games, also helping the team to the league title and playoff championship.

After baseball Pavletich became a loan officer for the Universal Mortgage Corporation in his native Milwaukee, WI and retired in Brookfield, WI where he died in 2020 at the age of 81.

Sources

Baseball Players of the 1950s

Related Sites

• Don Pavletich at the SABR Bio Project
• BR Minors page