Dale Mitchell
| Birthdate | 8/23/1921 |
| Death Date | 1/5/1987 |
| Debut Year | 1946 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Dodgers, Indians |
| Position | Left Field |
In his 11-year career spanning from 1946-1956 Dale Mitchell hit .312 with 346 walks and just 119 strikeouts in 4,358 plate appearances.
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Dale Mitchell hit .336 with only 17 strikeouts in the 1948 Indians World Championship year
Dale Mitchell hit .336 with only 17 strikeouts in the 1948 Indians World Championship year
Dale Mitchell might best be remembered as the final out in Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series. He was much more than that.
In college at the University of Oklahoma, Mitchell set still-standing batting average records for the single-season (.507), and career (.467). The Sooners’ home park is named in his honor.
Mitchell broke into the big leagues with the Indians in 1946, hitting .432 (19-for-44) in 11 games. In his first full season in ’47 Mitchell hit .316 and garnered votes in MVP balloting.
The following year the Indians were World Series champs. Mitchell’s 204 hits was second-most in the American League as he hit .336 while striking out only 17 times in 656 plate appearances. In ’49 Mitchell was an All Star for the first time, leading the AL in hits and triples while reducing his strikeouts to 11 in 685 plate appearances.
In 4,358 plate appearances – 3,984 at bats – Mitchell walked 346 times while striking out only 119 times. The 2.91 walk-to-strikeout ratio is the 8th best best in MLB history.
That outstanding batting eye is important to keep in mind. Flash forward to 1956. The Dodgers bought Mitchell from Cleveland at the end of July for their post-season run. With the Yankees’ Don Larsen twirling his perfect game, Brooklyn skipper Walt Alston sent Mitchell up to pinch hit with two out in the 9th. Umpire Babe Pinelli was behind home plate for the final time of his career, though he would finish the series on the bases. On a pitch that appeared up and out of the strike zone, Pinelli’s called strike three on Mitchell, possessor of one of the keenest batting eyes in the history of the game.
In the collection is this government postcard signed by Dale Mitchell.
Satchel Paige pitched his 2nd career AL shutout the day Mitchell signed the card
Satchel Paige pitched his 2nd career AL shutout the day Mitchell signed the card
This side of the postcard signed by Dale Mitchell reveals a Cleveland postmark from August 20, 1948. That day Satchel Paige twirled his second career MLB shutout, a three-hit masterpiece over the White Sox.
His first was in his previous outing, giving the 41-year old Negro League legend his second consecutive shutout. Cards like this remain attractive to collectors because they verify the date and place that the card was handled, adding to the piece’s authenticity.
The Indians won 1-0 behind Larry Doby’s 4th inning RBI single that plated Lou Boudreau, producing the game’s only run. Mitchell collected two hits and raised his average to .333 on the season. He would finish the year with a career-high .336 mark.
Though Mitchell earned a ring, he struggled in the '48 World Series
Though Mitchell earned a ring, he struggled in the '48 World Series
Dale Mitchell earned his only World Series ring with the 1948 Cleveland Indians. His impressive .336 batting average played a key role in leading the team to 97 wins and a berth in the World Series against the Boston Braves.
Mitchell didn’t perform as well in the Fall Classic hitting .173 with a .240 on-base percentage. The normally reliable Mitchell went 4-for-23 with a double and a home run.
Shown here is a ticket to Game 4 of the 1948 World Series signed by 1948 MVP Lou Boudreau. The Indians player/manager played a part in the Indians 2-1 victory over the Boston Braves.
In the bottom of the first inning he hit a double down the right field line to score leadoff man Mitchell. Though Mitchell struggled at the plate overall, he did score a team-leading four times in the six-game tilt.
In the third inning of this Game 4 matchup Larry Doby added a solo home run that proved to be the difference.
Mitchell went 1-for-1 with a double and RBI in the first integrated All Star Game.
Mitchell went 1-for-1 with a double and RBI in the first integrated All Star Game.
Two years after he broke baseball’s color barrier, Jackie Robinson became one of a quartet of men to break the same barrier for the All Star Game. That 1949 contest featured Jackie as a starter at second base.
Dodger teammates catcher Roy Campanella and pitcher Don Newcombe also made the National League squad. The American League’s trailblazer was outfielder Larry Doby.
Doby’s Junior Circuit club prevailed in high-scoring 11-7 affair. Joe and Dom DiMaggio each had a double and a single while combining for four RBI and 3 runs scored. Dale Mitchell drove in the final run for the victors with a 7th inning double.
For the losing side, Stan Musial and Ralph Kiner each hit homers in front of the Brooklyn faithful at Ebbets Field.
The AL victory was it’s 12th win in the first 16 All Star contests. Virgil Trucks got the victory despite giving up two runs on three hits in his two innings of work.
Shown here is a 14-karat gold wristwatch given to American League President William Harridge. The inscription on the back of the watch reads, “All Star Game Brooklyn, July 12, 1949”.
Babe Pinelli called Dale Mitchell out on strikes for the last out in Don Larsen's perfect game
Babe Pinelli called Dale Mitchell out on strikes for the last out in Don Larsen's perfect game
The umpire who made the memorable – and some say questionable – third strike call during Dale Mitchell’s pinch hit at bat in Don Larsen’s perfect game was Babe Pinelli. A big league infielder from 1919-1927, Pinelli found lasting fame in his second baseball career calling balls and strikes. A veteran of 22 seasons as a National League arbiter, Pinelli worked six World Series and four All Star games.
Mitchell matched a keen batting eye with great plate discipline, making him one of the toughest hitters to catch looking. Indeed, his 2.91 walk-to-strikeout ratio ranks him 8th all time in Major League history. Replays of the last pitch seem to show the ball well off the plate and out of the strike zone.
After the ’56 World Series, Pinelli retired, often saying that there was no better way to go out than calling a perfect game in the Fall Classic.
In the collection is this index card signed by Pinelli. Interestingly, Pinelli refers to Larsen’s gem in the inscription.
“Best Wishes
Chief Umpire
Don Larsen – Perfect Game
1956 World Series
Yankees 2 – Dodgers 0”
Pinch hit Larson no hitter. Baby Pineli punched him out on a pitch that was outside the strike zone