- Cecil Upshaw
Cecil Lee Upshaw Jr. (
October 22 1942 -February 7 1995 ) was an American right-handedrelief pitcher inMajor League Baseball who had a nine-year career (1966-1969, 1971-1975). Born inSpearsville, Louisiana , he played with theAtlanta Braves andHouston Astros , both of theNational League , and theCleveland Indians ,New York Yankees andChicago White Sox , all of theAmerican League .Upshaw was among the top ten in saves four times in the National League between 1968 and 1972. Upshaw was primarily a side-arm pitcher.
Upshaw finished his career with 86 saves. He had a career earned run average of 3.13. He pitched 563 innings in 348 games.
His career was actually cut short due to an unfortunate incident in 1971, or 1972. He and two other Braves players were walking down an Atlanta sidewalk and one of the other players bet him he couldn't jump up and touch an overhead awning. He did reach the awning, but a ring on his pitching hand ring finger got caught on a projection off of the awning and tore ligaments in his hand. He never fully recovered, but was considered one of the better pitchers in major league baseball up to that time.
He died at age 52 of a heart attack in
Lawrenceville, Georgia .He is survived by his children: Carole Upshaw McDaniel, Cecil Lee Upshaw III, Amelia Upshaw Manchester, and four grandchildren.
ee also
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Chicago White Sox all-time roster External links
*baseball-reference|id=u/upshace01
* [http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/Upshaw.Cecil.Obit.html The Deadball Era]
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