Upshaw was among the top ten in saves four times in the National League between 1968 and 1972. He was primarily a sidearm pitcher.
In the Braves’ division-winning 1969 campaign, Upshaw had a 6–4 win–loss record, with a 2.91 earned run average (ERA), and a career-high 27 saves (to finish second in the league).[2][1]
Upshaw‘s career was cut short due to an unfortunate incident in 1970. He and two other Braves players were walking down a San Diego sidewalk and one of the other players bet him he could not jump up and touch an overhead awning. Upshaw did reach the awning, but a ring on his pitching hand became caught on a projection sticking out from the awning which tore ligaments in his hand.[3] He never fully recovered, but was considered one of the better relief pitchers in major league baseball up to that time.
^Tucker, Tim (August 8, 2019). "Revisiting the Atlanta Braves' first division champions, 50 years later". ajc.com. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
^Herskowitz, Mickey (June 1, 2001). "Perhaps Astros' luck has taken good turn". chron.com. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
^"Atlanta trades Upshaw to Astros," The Associated Press (AP), Monday, April 23, 1973. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
^Durso, Joseph. "4 Trades Made at Meetings," The New York Times, Tuesday, December 4, 1973. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
^Chass, Murray. "Yankee‐Indian Trade Brings Confusion, Anger and Leaves 2d‐Base Question," The New York Times, Sunday, April 28, 1974. Retrieved April 20, 2020
^Durso, Joseph. "Major Leagues Set Up Expansion Committee," The New York Times, Friday, December 6, 1974. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
^"Cecil Upshaw; Pitcher, 53". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 10, 1995. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
External linksedit
Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
Cecil Upshaw at SABR (Baseball BioProject)
Cecil Upshaw at Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Professional Baseball League)
cecil, upshaw, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, april, 2015, learn, when, rem. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2015 Learn how and when to remove this template message Cecil Lee Upshaw Jr October 22 1942 February 7 1995 was an American professional baseball right handed relief pitcher who had a nine year career in Major League Baseball MLB 1966 1969 1971 1975 for the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros of the National League NL and the Cleveland Indians New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox of the American League AL 1 Cecil UpshawPitcherBorn 1942 10 22 October 22 1942Spearsville Louisiana U S Died February 7 1995 1995 02 07 aged 52 Lawrenceville Georgia U S Batted RightThrew RightMLB debutOctober 1 1966 for the Atlanta BravesLast MLB appearanceSeptember 28 1975 for the Chicago White SoxMLB statisticsWin loss record34 36Earned run average3 13Strikeouts323Saves86TeamsAtlanta Braves 1966 1969 1971 1973 Houston Astros 1973 Cleveland Indians 1974 New York Yankees 1974 Chicago White Sox 1975 Born in Spearsville Louisiana Upshaw attended Bossier High School Louisiana and played college baseball at Centenary College of Louisiana in Shreveport He is a member of the Centenary Athletics Hall of Fame While at Centenary Upshaw was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity Upshaw was among the top ten in saves four times in the National League between 1968 and 1972 He was primarily a sidearm pitcher In the Braves division winning 1969 campaign Upshaw had a 6 4 win loss record with a 2 91 earned run average ERA and a career high 27 saves to finish second in the league 2 1 Upshaw s career was cut short due to an unfortunate incident in 1970 He and two other Braves players were walking down a San Diego sidewalk and one of the other players bet him he could not jump up and touch an overhead awning Upshaw did reach the awning but a ring on his pitching hand became caught on a projection sticking out from the awning which tore ligaments in his hand 3 He never fully recovered but was considered one of the better relief pitchers in major league baseball up to that time Upshaw was traded four times within a span of two years including at two consecutive Winter Meetings First from the Braves to the Astros for Norm Miller on April 22 1973 4 Then from the Astros to the Indians for Jerry Johnson on December 3 1973 5 He was acquired along with Chris Chambliss and Dick Tidrow by the Yankees from the Indians for Fritz Peterson Steve Kline Fred Beene and Tom Buskey on April 26 1974 The Yankees were criticized for giving away four pitchers as opposed to the two it got in return and a failure to land a starting second baseman 6 Finally from the Yankees to the White Sox for Eddie Leon on December 5 1974 7 Upshaw finished his career with 87 saves He had a career ERA of 3 13 Upshaw pitched 563 career innings in 348 games 1 On February 7 1995 Upshaw died at age 52 as the result of a heart attack in Lawrenceville Georgia 8 1 References edit a b c d Cecil Upshaw Stats Baseball Reference com Sports Reference LLC 2020 Retrieved February 11 2020 Tucker Tim August 8 2019 Revisiting the Atlanta Braves first division champions 50 years later ajc com The Atlanta Journal Constitution Retrieved February 11 2020 Herskowitz Mickey June 1 2001 Perhaps Astros luck has taken good turn chron com Houston Chronicle Retrieved February 11 2020 Atlanta trades Upshaw to Astros The Associated Press AP Monday April 23 1973 Retrieved February 22 2023 Durso Joseph 4 Trades Made at Meetings The New York Times Tuesday December 4 1973 Retrieved January 26 2023 Chass Murray Yankee Indian Trade Brings Confusion Anger and Leaves 2d Base Question The New York Times Sunday April 28 1974 Retrieved April 20 2020 Durso Joseph Major Leagues Set Up Expansion Committee The New York Times Friday December 6 1974 Retrieved September 27 2022 Cecil Upshaw Pitcher 53 The New York Times Associated Press February 10 1995 Retrieved February 11 2020 External links editCareer statistics and player information from MLB or ESPN or Baseball Reference or Fangraphs or Baseball Reference Minors or Retrosheet Cecil Upshaw at SABR Baseball BioProject Cecil Upshaw at Pura Pelota Venezuelan Professional Baseball League Cecil Upshaw at The Deadball Era Cecil Upshaw at Find a Grave Centenary Athletics Kappa Sigma Alumni Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cecil Upshaw amp oldid 1198061453, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
