Don Kessinger (1960)

6x Major League Baseball All-Star player; manager of Chicago White Sox in 1979; high school All-American and NFHS National High School Hall of Fame inductee

What is Don Kessinger (1960) known for?

Don Kessinger is a notable alumnus from Forrest City High School, based in Forrest City, Arkansas. Born on July 17, 1942, in Forrest City, Arkansas, this multitalented sportsman went on to carve an illustrious career in Major League Baseball, both as a player and manager.

Don Kessinger's stellar baseball career took flight when he made his Major League Baseball debut on September 7, 1964, for the Chicago Cubs. As a player, he was part of the Chicago Cubs from 1964 to 1975, following which he played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1976-1977), and then the Chicago White Sox (1977-1979). His last MLB appearance was on July 31, 1979, for the Chicago White Sox. Kessinger maintained impressive MLB statistics, with a batting average of .252, hitting 14 home runs, and batting in 527 runs. Apart from this, he held a managerial record of 46 wins and 60 losses, reflecting a winning percentage of .434.

His time in the sports field was highlighted by several achievements. He was six times All-Star player (1968 to 1972, and 1974) and won the Gold Glove Award twice (1969, 1970). He is remembered fondly as a six-time all-star player and a two-time Gold Glove Award winner during his time with the Chicago Cubs. His excellent performance has even earned him a place in the coveted Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame.

One of the highpoints of Kessinger's career was his nine consecutive seasons partnership with second baseman Glenn Beckert. He is also fondly remembered as the last player-manager in American League history.

As a student at Forrest City High School, Don Kessinger was an all-state and All-America athlete in four sports. After graduating high school in 1960, he attended the University of Mississippi. During his collegiate years, he earned All-Conference, All-SEC, and All-America honors in both basketball and baseball for the Rebels and was a part of the Sigma Nu fraternity.

His talent and dedication to the sport were evident from the early years, and he was signed by the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent on June 19, 1964. He started off in the minor leagues with the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs for the 1965 season but was recalled by the Cubs in June of that year and assumed his role as their starting shortstop. He would then work alongside Cubs' second baseman Glenn Beckert for nine consecutive seasons.

Throughout his career, Kessinger showed tremendous potential and growth. The 1966 season saw Kessinger struggling with his hitting until the new Cubs manager, Leo Durocher, encouraged him to become a switch hitter. This helped him improve his game and subsequently etch his name firmly in the annals of American baseball history. Indeed, Don Kessinger's long-standing contribution to the sport has made him an undeniable part of baseball lore.