Former major league pitcher Don Hood passed away last Saturday, according to an obituary from a South Carolina funeral home. He was 73 years old.
A native of Florence, South Carolina, Hood was a first-round pick of the Orioles in the 1969 draft. He reached the majors within four years, debuting during his age-23 season. The left-hander started four of eight appearances for Baltimore as a rookie. He’d make 20 appearances (18 in relief) the next season.
After the 1974 campaign, the O’s dealt Hood alongside former MVP Boog Powell to the Indians for catcher Dave Duncan. Hood would spend the bulk of his career in Cleveland, pitching there for four-plus seasons. His best year came in 1977, when he pitched to an even 3.00 ERA over 105 innings. He worked mostly in long relief for the Indians but twice started 19 games in a season, including a career-high 154 2/3 frames during the ’78 campaign.
Halfway through the 1979 season, Cleveland flipped Hood to the Yankees for first baseman Cliff Johnson. Hood posted a 3.07 ERA in 67 1/3 frames during his only partial season in the Bronx. He bounced around late in his career via free agency, signing with the Cardinals and Royals. He closed his career with a personal-best 2.27 ERA in 47 2/3 frames for the 1983 Royals.
Hood played parts of ten years in the big leagues. He pitched in 297 games, starting 72 of them. Over 848 1/3 innings, he worked to a 3.79 ERA with 374 strikeouts. Hood won 34 contests and finished 84 games.
MLBTR sends our condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.
I remember him mostly in Cleveland. Good mustache. RIP.
Dan Severn style stache!
Great mustache. A baseball card classic.
Another guy from when I first got interested in baseball as a kid is no longer with us. Condolences to his family and friends. RIP.
RIP
Pitched a beautiful 2 hitter vs. Mickey Lolich and a pretty good Tigers team in his rookie year for his only shutout of his career.
R.I.P. Don
I still have a few Don Hood Cleveland Topps cards around somewhere rockin’ the wind breaker under the jersey. Condolences.
Hood was an excellent hitter in the minor leagues. In the 1973 ALCS Hood did not get into a game as a pitcher but was used as a pinch runner. He was used as a pinch runner several times in 1974-75. He finally pitched in the NL in 1980 and batted .200.
In 1972 with Rochester he batted .279 with a .436 OBP in 56 plate appearances. In 229 lifetime minor league plate appearances he compiled a .356 OBP with 4 triples good for a .670 OPS.
Remember him from all those years ago. Rest In Peace.
He was absolutely awesome in stratomatic baseball back when I was a kid. RIP
Haha. I traded Buddy Bell for Don in a 1979 season league. I needed a left handed reliever and Buddy hit into one too many DPs for me. The league folded soon after due to disinterest.
Lol Used to play APBA baseball as kid, staying up all summer long playing those dice gms, sum of happiest times are of my brother n I n hours spent trading players n playing those fun gms, good times
RIP Don
All the ol players R leaving us, they filled a young boys heart full of imagination & hope n began my Life’s love for baseball, can still see Don Hood’s Royals baseball card in my head RIP
I remember him via baseball cards also. I am 60 now, but was 10 years old in 1973 when hank Aaron, Darrel evans, and Dave Johnson all hit 40 homers for the Braves. That cemented my love of stats and also my lifelong love of baseball
I saw him beat the Yankees in 1975. Memorable game for me.