Don Minnick

 ( 1931 Births ) 

Donald Athey Minnick (April 14, 1931 – September 2, 2016) was an American professional baseball pitcher who worked in two Major League Baseball (MLB) games pitched for the Washington Senators in . A right-handed, Minnick was listed as tall and .

Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Minnick began his professional career in the Cleveland Indians' organization in . He missed the 1952 and 1953 minor leagues seasons performing United States Army service during the Korean War. He also attended Duke University.

When he returned to baseball, he posted back-to-back strong seasons (earned run averages of 2.88 and 2.78) in the Eastern League, including a 20–4 won–lost record in . But after a poor campaign in higher-classification leagues, Cleveland released him. The Senators picked him up and sent him to Double-A Chattanooga for . Minnick made the Southern Association All-Star team during a season in which he won 17 games and lost 6, with a 3.09 ERA.

Recalled by Washington in September, Minnick's debut came in relief pitcher on the 23rd against the Boston Red Sox at Griffith Stadium. He entered the game in the sixth inning with Washington trailing 9–3, and Minnick retired six of the seven batters he faced, issuing only a base on balls to Hall of Famer Ted Williams. "Boston Red Sox 9, Washington Senators 4", Retrosheet box score (September 23, 1957) He was rewarded with a starting pitcher five days later against the Baltimore Orioles, again at Griffith Stadium. Minnick struggled in the first inning, allowing a three-run home run to Gus Triandos. But he held Baltimore to those three runs for the next six innings, allowing only two hits. But in the eighth, Baltimore pulled away to an 8–1 lead, scoring five runs (though only two were earned run) off Minnick. The Senators eventually fell 9–1, with Minnick taking the loss. "Baltimore Orioles 9, Washington Senators 1", Retrosheet box score (September 28, 1957)

It was his last MLB opportunity. Minnick pitched into 1959 in the Washington organization. In Minnick's two MLB games, he posted an 0–1 (4.82) record, permitting 14 hits and two bases on balls, with seven , in 9 innings pitched. After baseball, Minnick and his wife, Helen, settled in Rocky Mount, Virginia, where he operated a trucking company and they raised their family. He died in 2016, aged 85.