John Easton (baseball)

John David Easton (March 4, 1933 – July 28, 2001) was an American professional baseball player. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies after graduating from Princeton University and appeared in four Major League Baseball games — one as a pinch runner in 1955 and three as a pinch hitter in 1959. He went hitless in three at bats and failed to score a run as a baserunner.

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Easton threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg). An outfielder in professional baseball, he graduated from Trenton Central High School and Princeton's Class of 1955. He played basketball at Princeton and also captained the Tigers' baseball team.^[1] He made his MLB debut only days after signing his first pro contract, pinch running for veteran catcher Andy Seminick in the second inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He was not able to advance from second base when the Phils' rally was snuffed out by an inning-ending double play. However, Marv Blaylock, who replaced Easton in the lineup, would score the only run of the game thirteen innings later, as the Phillies won, 1–0.^[2]

Easton did not play in 1956 and much of 1957, serving in the United States Navy,^[1] but had an all-star year in 1958 for the Class A Williamsport Grays of the Eastern League, winning the batting title (.321) with 152 hits including 35 doubles, ten triples and 13 home runs.^[3] It earned him a second stint with the Major League Phillies to start the 1959 campaign, but in three pinch hitting appearances, Easton struck out three times.^[4] He was sent back to the minors, and he retired after the 1959 campaign.

Easton graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from Princeton^[1] and became a manager for a public utility, the Public Service Gas & Electric Company, retiring in 1995.^[1] He died at 68 from melanoma in 2001.^[1]

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference

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