Bruce Dal Canton

Who was Bruce Dal Canton?

John Bruce Dal Canton, born in California, Pennsylvania, was a major league pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, and Chicago White Sox. He was inducted into the California University of Pennsylvania Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, and spent more than a decade as a coach in the Braves organization. From 1987-1990, he was the Braves pitching coach.

Dal Canton's career path to the major leagues was unusual in that he was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as the result of an open tryout. Dal Canton was teaching high school at the time of his signing.

In 11 seasons he had a 51–49 Win–Loss record, 316 Games, 15 Complete Games, 2 Shutouts, 102 Games Finished, 19 Saves, 931 ⅓ Innings Pitched, 894 Hits Allowed, 442 Runs Allowed, 380 Earned Runs Allowed, 48 Home Runs Allowed, 391 Walks, 485 Strikeouts, 23 Hit Batsmen, 46 Wild Pitches, 4,030 Batters Faced, 55 Intentional Walks, 5 Balks, a 3.67 ERA and a 1.380 WHIP. He led the American League in Wild Pitches in 1974.

On Friday, June 11, 2004, Dal Canton was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

Bruce Dal Canton died on October 7, 2008 at the age of 67 of esophageal cancer.