Donald Cardwell Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

Don Cardwell
This article was written by Matthew Silverman and is presented in part, courtesy of the Society for American Baseball Research

Don Cardwell seemed the definition of a journeyman pitcher, but his career intertwined with the stuff of legend. He threw a no-hitter two days after being traded, he grabbed love beads off Ron Swoboda’s neck at the height of the 1960s culture clash, and Cardwell, who always liked to swing the bat, became the back end of a memorable doubleheader sweep by the ’69 Miracle Mets in which the only run in each game was knocked in by the pitcher. It was a long and interesting career for Cardwell that culminated with him being the senior member of a staff that pulled off one of the most unlikely world championships ever.

Donald Eugene Cardwell was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on December 7, 1935. He was the seventh of eight children of Charlie H. and Lillian Denny Cardwell. Obviously, he gravitated toward baseball, but Cardwell also lettered in basketball and football at James A. Gray High School. He later became a near scratch golfer.

After graduation in 1954, he was signed by Phillies scout Wes Livengood and his first stop was Class-D ball in Pulaski, Virginia. He earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Appalachian League. The following year he married his high school sweetheart, Sylvia Greer, who would be his wife for 52 years. They immediately left for Plant City, Florida, for spring training.