Johnny Ray Seale (born November 14, 1938), nicknamed "Durango Kid", is a former

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

pitcher. He pitched in eight games over two seasons, and , for the Detroit Tigers. He is the only Durango High School graduate to play for

Early Life

Seale was born in Edgewater, Colorado but grew up in Durango, Colorado, where he attended Durango High School, participating in multiple sports including wrestling, football and baseball, as well as being active representing Durango in state and national

4-H 4-H is a U.S.-based network of youth organizations whose mission is "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development". Its name is a reference to the occurrence of the initial letter H four times i ...

competitions. He graduated Durango High School in 1957.

Career

Seale began his baseball career in 1958, being drafted as an amateur by the Washington Senators, first playing with that team's D League affiliate in Gainesville, Florida. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs organization in 1959, and in one notable game for the

Paris Lakers The Paris Lakers were a minor league baseball team based in Paris, Illinois from 1950 to 1959. The Lakers played as members of the Midwest League from 1956 to 1959 and its predecessor, the Mississippi–Ohio Valley League from 1950 to 1955. The L ...

Seale struck out 20 batters in a game against the

Dubuque Packers Minor league baseball teams have operated in the city of Dubuque, Iowa under a variety of names in various leagues, playing in 52 seasons between 1879 and 1976. Dubuque teams were an affiliate of the Houston Astros (1975–1976), Kansas City Royal ...

. Seale played 11 seasons in the minor leagues, earning a 65-68 career pitching record, generating 934 strikeouts over 1,195 innings pitched. He was traded to the Tiger organization in 1960, and made his debut with that MLB team on September 20, 1964. On September 23rd of that year Seale earned his first and only MLB win against the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...

, striking out four batters over four innings for a 10-3 Tiger win. Seale completed his professional baseball career in 1968 with the Charlotte Hornets.

Personal Life

Seale continued his agricultural pursuits post-baseball, exhibiting prized livestock in regional fairs through Ben Seale & Sons. He also worked in construction and raised goats with his wife Peppy. Seale's son Marvin, also a Durango High School graduate, was drafted by the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

organization in 1998, playing in that team's minor league organization for seven season, culminating in 2003 with the Binghampton Mets.Marvin Seale
''Baseball Cube''. Retrieved December 9, 2023

Sources

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seale, Johnnie Major League Baseball pitchers Detroit Tigers players Gainesville G-Men players Paris Lakers players Durham Bulls players Birmingham Barons players Tulsa Oilers (baseball) players Denver Bears players Syracuse Chiefs players Indianapolis Indians players Seattle Angels players Charlotte Hornets (baseball) players Baseball players from Colorado 1938 births Living people