John Easton (baseball)

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=John Easton

|position=Pinch hitter/Pinch runner

|image=John Easton (baseball).jpg

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{Birth date|1933|3|4}}

|birth_place=Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.

|death_date={{Death date and age|2001|7|28|1933|3|4}}

|death_place=Princeton, New Jersey, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=June 19

|debutyear=1955

|debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=April 26

|finalyear=1959

|finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=At bats

|stat1value=3

|stat2label=Hits

|stat2value=0

|stat3label=Runs scored

|stat3value=0

|teams=

Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|1955}}; {{mlby|1959}})

}}

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 (MLB) games — one as a pinch runner in {{baseball year|1955}} and three as a pinch hitter in {{baseball year|1959}} — all for the Phillies. Easton went hitless in three at bats and failed to score a run as a baserunner. He threw and batted right-handed, standing {{convert|6|ft|2|in}} tall and weighing {{convert|185|lb}}, during his playing days.

Easton graduated from Trenton Central High School and was a member of Princeton's Class of 1955. He also played varsity basketball for the Tigers and captained their baseball team.{{cite web|url=https://paw.princeton.edu/memorial/john-david-easton-’55|title=Memorial: John David Easton '55|date=2019|publisher=Princeton Alumni Weekly|work=paw.princeton.edu|access-date=March 11, 2019}}

Easton made his MLB debut only days after signing his first pro contract, pinch running for veteran catcher Andy Seminick in the second inning of the first game of a doubleheader, against the Chicago Cubs, at Wrigley Field. Easton 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 had replaced Easton in the lineup, would score the only run of the game, thirteen innings later, as the Phillies won, 1–0.{{cite web|url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1955/B06191CHN1955.htm|title=Retrosheet Boxscore: Philadelphia Phillies 1, Chicago Cubs 0 (Game 1)|date=June 19, 1955|publisher=Retrosheet|work=retrosheet.org|access-date=February 10, 2020}}

Easton did not play in 1956 and much of 1957, serving in the United States Navy, but had an all-star year in {{baseball year|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.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=easton001joh|title=John Easton Minor Leagues Statistics & History|date=2020|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=February 10, 2020}} That earned him a second stint with the Phillies, to start the 1959 campaign, but in three pinch hitting appearances, Easton struck out all three times.{{cite web|url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1959/Ieastj1020021959.htm|title=The 1959 PHI N Regular Season Batting Log for John Easton|date=2020|publisher=Retrosheet|work=retrosheet.org|access-date=February 10, 2020}} He was sent back to the minor leagues, and retired after the 1959 season.

Easton graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from Princeton and became a manager for Public Service Electric & Gas Company (P S E & G) (a public utility), retiring in 1995. A resident of Hopewell Township, Mercer County, New Jersey, he died at age 68 after battling melanoma on July 28, 2001.