Duane Pillette

Duane Xavier Pillette
(Dee)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 3", Weight 205 lb.
• School Santa Clara University
• High School San Diego High School
• Debut July 19, 1949
• Final Game September 16, 1956
• Born July 24, 1922 in Detroit, MI USA
• Died May 6, 2011 in San Jose, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Son of Herman Pillette, long and lanky Duane Pillette pitched eight seasons in the majors and 11 in the minors. He lost three years to service in World War II after college. Duane and Herman are the only father-son duo to each lead a major league in losses for a season. An uncle, Ted Pillette, also pitched in the minors.

Pillette was at San Diego High School; he was two-and-a-half years older than Bob Usher, who also attended there. Usher broke into the majors three years earlier, though. Duane went to Santa Clara University, where his time there overlapped with that of Dino Restelli.

He spent 1946-49 with the Newark Bears and the Portland Beavers. Duane was a rookie with the New York Yankees in 1949 but did not appear in the 1949 World Series.

Though not a particularly dominant pitcher, he pitched for poor hitting teams throughout most of his career. Pillette pitched the last game in St. Louis Browns history in 1953, and earned the first win for the Baltimore Orioles after they moved from St. Louis in 1954. His first year in Baltimore would prove to be his best overall season, as he finished 10-14 despite a sterling 3.12 ERA.

His father Herman had tried to discourage him from baseball, saying, "It's a bum's game - I should know."

One source: Duane Pillette.

Notable Achievements

• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1952)
• Won a World Series with the New York Yankees in 1949 (he did not play in the World Series)

Related Sites

• Duane Pillette at the SABR Bio Project