Don Secrist

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Don Secrist

|position=Pitcher

|bats=Left

|throws=Left

|birth_date={{Birth date|1944|2|26}}

|birth_place=Seattle, Washington, U.S.

|death_date={{Death date and age|2025|1|30|1944|2|26}}

|death_place=Centralia, Illinois, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 11

|debutyear=1969

|debutteam=Chicago White Sox

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=June 27

|finalyear=1970

|finalteam=Chicago White Sox

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=0–1

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=5.93

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=32

|teams=

Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|1969}}–{{mlby|1970}})

}}

Donald Laverne Secrist (February 26, 1944 – January 30, 2025) was an American professional baseball player, a left-handed pitcher who appeared in 28 games played, all in relief, for the {{baseball year|1969}}–{{baseball year|1970}} Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball.

Biography

Secrist's pro career began with two outstanding seasons in minor league baseball. After signing with the Baltimore Orioles, he was undefeated in seven decisions with a 1.96 earned run average for the 1963 Aberdeen Pheasants of the Class A Northern League.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=secris001don|title=Don Secrist Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History - Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} Drafted in the 1963 minor league daft that by the Cincinnati Reds following that season, Secrist spent five more years in the Reds' farm system. In his last, in 1968, he went 11-2 for the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. Following that campaign, he was dealt with catcher Don Pavletich to the White Sox for pitcher Jack Fisher. Pitching in the Mexican Pacific League that winter, Secrist had 15 wins and won the MVP award.{{Citation |title=1968–69 Mexican Pacific League season |date=2023-10-04 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968%E2%80%9369_Mexican_Pacific_League_season |access-date=2025-03-27 |language=en}}

Secrist then spent much of the 1969 season with the MLB White Sox, making his debut during the home opener of the expansion Seattle Pilots at Sick's Stadium in his native city. He recorded his only MLB decision, a loss, on July 16 against the Minnesota Twins. Secrist pitched four innings that day and allowed only two runs, but he gave up the game-winning tally on a home run by Minnesota's Rich Reese.{{cite web|url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1969/B07161MIN1969.htm|title=Retrosheet Boxscore: Minnesota Twins 9, Chicago White Sox 8 (1)|website=www.retrosheet.org|date=July 16, 1969|access-date=February 6, 2025}} The next day, he broke his hand in another appearance against the Twins, ending his season with the Sox.{{Cite web |last=Gazdziak |first=~ Sam |date=2025-02-14 |title=Obituary: Don Secrist (1944-2025) |url=https://ripbaseball.com/2025/02/14/obituary-don-secrist-1944-2025/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=RIP Baseball |language=en}} In 1970, he appeared in nine more games for the White Sox during April, May and June before returning to the minor leagues. In 28 games and 54{{fraction|2|3}} innings pitched as a Major Leaguer, Secrist allowed 54 hits, nine home runs, and 26 bases on balls with 32 strikeouts. Her spent the 1971 season pitching for the Tacoma Cubs in the PCL and retired following the season.

After baseball, Secrist worked in the coal industry. Secrist died in Centralia, Illinois, on January 30, 2025, at the age of 80.{{cite web |title=Donald Laverne Secrist |url=https://www.searbyfuneralhomes.com/obituary/donald-laverne-secrist |website=Searby Funeral Homes |access-date=5 February 2025}}