# Dick Ellsworth

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{{short description|American baseball player (1940–2022)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name       = Dick Ellsworth
| position   = [Pitcher](/source/Pitcher)
| image      = Dick Ellsworth.jpg
| birth_date  = {{birth date|1940|3|22}}
| birth_place = [Lusk, Wyoming](/source/Lusk%2C_Wyoming), U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|10|10|1940|3|22}}
| death_place = [Fresno, California](/source/Fresno%2C_California), U.S.
| bats       = Left
| throws     = Left
| debutleague = MLB
| debutdate  = June 22
| debutyear  = 1958
| debutteam  = Chicago Cubs
| finalleague = MLB
| finaldate  = June 23
| finalyear  = 1971
| finalteam  = Milwaukee Brewers
| stat2label = [Earned run average](/source/Earned_run_average)
| stat2value = 3.72
| statleague = MLB
| stat1label = [Win–loss record](/source/Win%E2%80%93loss_record_(pitching))
| stat1value = 115–137
| stat3label = [Strikeout](/source/Strikeout)s
| stat3value = 1,140
| teams      =
* [Chicago Cubs](/source/Chicago_Cubs) ({{mlby|1958}}–{{mlby|1966}})
* [Philadelphia Phillies](/source/Philadelphia_Phillies) ({{mlby|1967}})
* [Boston Red Sox](/source/Boston_Red_Sox) ({{mlby|1968}}–{{mlby|1969}})
* [Cleveland Indians](/source/Cleveland_Indians) ({{mlby|1969}}–{{mlby|1970}})
* [Milwaukee Brewers](/source/Milwaukee_Brewers) ({{mlby|1970}}–{{mlby|1971}})
|highlights=
* [All-Star](/source/Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game) ([1964](/source/1964_Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game))
}}

'''Richard Clark Ellsworth''' (March 22, 1940 – October 10, 2022) was an American professional [baseball](/source/baseball) [starting pitcher](/source/starting_pitcher), who played in [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) (MLB) for the [Chicago Cubs](/source/Chicago_Cubs) (1958, 1960–1966), [Philadelphia Phillies](/source/Philadelphia_Phillies) (1967), [Boston Red Sox](/source/Boston_Red_Sox) (1968–1969), [Cleveland Indians](/source/Cleveland_Indians) (1969–1970), and [Milwaukee Brewers](/source/Milwaukee_Brewers) (1970–1971). Ellsworth was an [All-Star](/source/Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game) in 1964.

==Career==
Ellsworth was born in [Lusk, Wyoming](/source/Lusk%2C_Wyoming). When he was three years old, his family moved to [Fresno, California](/source/Fresno%2C_California).<ref name="sabr">{{Cite web |last=Skelton |first=David E. |title=Dick Ellsworth |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/dick-ellsworth/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Society for American Baseball Research |language=en-US}}</ref> He played amateur baseball in Fresno as a teammate with future major leaguers [Jim Maloney](/source/Jim_Maloney) and [Pat Corrales](/source/Pat_Corrales).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crane |first=Omer |date=1979-05-14 |title=Dick Ellsworth – A Jock Who Made It |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-dick-ellsworth-a-jock-w/156922238/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=The Fresno Bee |pages=95 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref> Ellsworth graduated from [Fresno High School](/source/Fresno_High_School) in 1958.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dick Ellsworth Stats, Height, Weight, Research & History |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=ellswdi01 |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Baseball Almanac |language=en-us}}</ref>

In 1958, [Gene Handley](/source/Gene_Handley) [scouted](/source/scout_(sport)) and signed Ellsworth for the [Chicago Cubs](/source/Chicago_Cubs) for a reported [signing bonus](/source/signing_bonus) of $70,000.<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{Cite news |date=1958-06-18 |title=Sport Thinks |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-sport-thinks/156922366/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=The Fresno Bee |pages=16 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref> After pitching well in an exhibition game against the [Chicago White Sox](/source/Chicago_White_Sox), the Cubs had Ellsworth make his major league debut on June 22 against the [Cincinnati Reds](/source/Cincinnati_Reds). Ellsworth allowed four runs, two [wild pitch](/source/wild_pitch)es, and one [hit by pitch](/source/hit_by_pitch) before the Cubs took him out of the game.<ref name=sabr/> The Cubs sent him to the [Fort Worth Cats](/source/Fort_Worth_Cats_(Texas_League)) of the [Double A](/source/Double_A_(baseball)) [Texas League](/source/Texas_League).<ref>{{Cite news |date=1958-07-22 |title=Cats' Ellsworth To Hurl Tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-cats-ellsworth/156922391/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |pages=13 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref> After he spent the rest of the 1958 season and the entire 1959 season in the minor leagues, the Cubs promoted him to the major leagues for good in 1960.<ref name=sabr/>

Ellsworth won the [National League Player of the Month Award](/source/Major_League_Baseball_Player_of_the_Month_Award) in May 1963 as he allowed six [earned run](/source/earned_run)s in 42 [innings pitched](/source/innings_pitched).<ref>{{Cite news |date=1963-06-09 |title=Pitcher Ellsworth Player of Month |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-pitcher-ellsworth-player-of/156922408/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=The Courier |pages=46 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref> For the 1963 season, he had a 22–10 [win–loss record](/source/win%E2%80%93loss_record_(pitching)) and a 2.10 [earned run average](/source/earned_run_average) (ERA). After the season, he won the [Associated Press](/source/Associated_Press)' Comeback Player of the Year Award, as he had finished the 1962 season with a 9–20 record. On July 28, 1963, Cubs' lefty Dick Ellsworth struck out Stan Musial three times in the Cubs' 5-1 victory over the Cardinals in a game played at Wrigley Field.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1963-10-15 |title=Dick Ellsworth Named N.L. Comeback Player |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/vineland-times-journal-dick-ellsworth-na/156922429/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=Vineland Times Journal |pages=4 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Ellsworth made the [National League All-Star](/source/Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game) team in [1964](/source/1964_Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game).<ref>{{Cite news |date=1964-07-05 |title=National All-Stars |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-lauderdale-news-national-all-stars/156922457/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=Fort Lauderdale News |pages=54 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

After the 1966 season, the Cubs traded Ellsworth to the [Philadelphia Phillies](/source/Philadelphia_Phillies) for [Ray Culp](/source/Ray_Culp).<ref>{{Cite news |date=1966-12-08 |title=Phils Trade Hurler Ray Culp To Cubs For Dick Ellsworth |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-paducah-sun-phils-trade-hurler-ray-c/156922519/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=The Paducah Sun |pages=44 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He had a 6–7 record and a 4.39 ERA for Philadelphia. After the 1967 season, the Phillies traded Ellsworth and [Gene Oliver](/source/Gene_Oliver) to the [Boston Red Sox](/source/Boston_Red_Sox) for [Mike Ryan](/source/Mike_Ryan_(catcher)) and cash considerations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1967-12-16 |title=Phillies Trade Ellsworth And Oliver To Red Sox For Catcher Ryan, Cash |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-phillies-trade-ellswo/156922571/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=The Sacramento Bee |pages=22 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He was traded along with [Ken Harrelson](/source/Ken_Harrelson) and [Juan Pizarro](/source/Juan_Pizarro_(baseball)) from the Red Sox to the [Cleveland Indians](/source/Cleveland_Indians) for [Sonny Siebert](/source/Sonny_Siebert), [Vicente Romo](/source/Vicente_Romo) and [Joe Azcue](/source/Joe_Azcue) on April 19, 1969.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Bill |date=1969-04-20 |title=Bosox Fill Key Spots In Deal With Cleveland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/hartford-courant-bosox-fill-key-spots-in/156922616/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=Hartford Courant |pages=10 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref> On August 7, 1970, the [Milwaukee Brewers](/source/Milwaukee_Brewers) purchased Ellsworth from Cleveland.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1970-08-08 |title=Brewers Obtain Dick Ellsworth |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-express-brewers-obtain-dick-ells/156922650/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=Evening Express |pages=11 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Ellsworth returned to Milwaukee for the 1971 season. He had a 4.91 ERA for Milwaukee, and was placed on [waivers](/source/waivers_(baseball)) in June.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1971-06-25 |title=Brewers Waive Dick Ellsworth |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune-brewers-waive-dick-ellsworth/156922677/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=The Tribune |pages=18 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com) |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

In 1963, Ellsworth was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |title=Current and Past Inductees |url=http://www.fresnoahof.org/current-past-inductees |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731195939/https://www.fresnoahof.org/current-past-inductees |archive-date=July 31, 2017 |access-date= |website=Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame}}</ref>

==Personal life==
During the baseball off-seasons during his career, Ellsworth sold [Serta](/source/Serta_(company)) mattresses.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1963-10-10 |title=Dick Ellsworth 'Pitches' Here |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-palladium-dick-ellsworth-pit/156922722/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=The Herald-Palladium |pages=26 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref> After his playing career, Ellsworth went into real estate. In 2005, Ellsworth joined an ownership group that purchased the [Fresno Grizzlies](/source/Fresno_Grizzlies) of the [Pacific Coast League](/source/Pacific_Coast_League).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Jeff |date=2005-08-28 |title=Ellsworth has path back into game |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-ellsworth-has-path-back-i/156922750/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=The Fresno Bee |pages=C1 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hostetter |first=George |last2=Leedy |first2=Matt |date=2006-10-14 |title=Fresno Baseball Club looks beyond the Grizzlies after buying the team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fresno-bee-fresno-baseball-club-look/156922773/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=The Fresno Bee |pages=A1 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref>

He was the father of former MLB pitcher [Steve Ellsworth](/source/Steve_Ellsworth).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Newman |first=Howie |date=1988-04-10 |title=Ellsworth has paid his dues |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/sun-journal-ellsworth-has-paid-his-dues/111202574/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=Sun-Journal |pages=23 |via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)}}</ref>

Ellsworth died in Fresno on October 10, 2022, at the age of 82.<ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Clark Ellsworth obituary |url=https://www.chapelofthelight.com/obituaries/Richard-Ellsworth-3/ |website=Chapel of the Light |access-date=October 12, 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{baseballstats|mlb=113824|espn=21321|br=e/ellswdi01|fangraphs=1003754|brm=ellswo001ric|retro=E/Pellsd101}}

{{S-start}}
{{S-ach}}
{{Succession box| before = [Jack Sanford](/source/Jack_Sanford) | title = [Major League Player of the Month](/source/Major_League_Baseball_Player_of_the_Month_Award)| years = May 1963| after = [Ron Santo](/source/Ron_Santo)}}
{{S-end}}
{{Boston Red Sox Opening Day starting pitchers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellsworth, Dick}}
Category:1940 births
Category:2022 deaths
Category:Baseball players from Wyoming
Category:Boston Red Sox players
Category:Businesspeople from California
Category:Chicago Cubs players
Category:Cleveland Indians players
Category:Fort Worth Cats players
Category:Houston Buffs players
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Milwaukee Brewers players
Category:National League All-Stars
Category:People from Lusk, Wyoming
Category:Philadelphia Phillies players
Category:Baseball players from Fresno, California
Category:20th-century American sportsmen

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dick Ellsworth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Ellsworth) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Ellsworth?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.