| Don Bessent | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1931-03-13)March 13, 1931 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. | |
| Died: July 7, 1990(1990-07-07) (aged 59) Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 17, 1955, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 1958, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 14–7 |
| Earned run average | 4.05 |
| Strikeouts | 118 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Fred Donald Bessent (March 13, 1931 – July 7, 1990) was an Americanpitcher inMajor League Baseball. He pitched from 1955 to 1958 with theBrooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers.
He was signed by theNew York Yankees out of high school, and in his first professional season he pitched ano-hitter[1] while going 22–7 in Class D. The following season, he moved up to the Class BNorfolk Tars and went 11–2 with a 2.04earned run average.[2] Bessent then developed a spinal condition and was unable to pitch in 1952. He underwent surgery and was subsequently drafted by the Dodgers.
From 1953 to 1955, Bessent pitched for theSt. Paul Saints of theAmerican Association. He was called up to the majors in July 1955 and immediately pitched well. That season, he went 8–1 with a 2.70 ERA, mostly coming out of the bullpen. He also pitched 31⁄3 scoreless innings in the1955 World Series, and the Dodgers won their first championship.
Bessent pitched just as well in 1956, going 4–3 with nine saves and a 2.50 ERA. The Dodgers won anotherNational League pennant but lost theWorld Series to theNew York Yankees, despite Bessent's win in Game 2. He pitched the final seven innings of a 13–8 slugfest after both teams' starting pitchers were knocked out in the second inning.
In 1957, he dropped off sharply, posting a 5.73 ERA in 44 innings. He began to develop arm problems shortly afterwards and played his final major league game in September 1958. He retired in 1962, after several unsuccessful seasons in the minors.
Bessent returned to Jacksonville and became a sales representative. He died ofalcohol poisoning in 1990.[3] He had three daughters, who remained in Jacksonville following his death.[3]