John O'Donoghue

Who is John O'Donoghue?

John Eugene O'Donoghue is an American former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He was signed by the Kansas City Athletics as an amateur free agent before the 1959 season and pitched for the Kansas City A's, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers, and Montreal Expos. During a 9-year baseball career, O'Donoghue compiled 39 wins, 377 strikeouts, and a 4.07 earned run average. At the plate, he was 35-for-206 with 3 home runs, the first two against Buster Narum and the third off Denny McLain.

O'Donoghue was primarily a starting pitcher during the first half of his major league career, and almost exclusively a reliever during the second half. From 1963-1967, he started in 93 of his 139 games, and from 1968-1971 relieved in 115 of his 118 games.

He struggled greatly during his first four minor league seasons, from rookie ball to Double-A. He had a combined record of 26-39 with an earned run average of 5.54. In 499 innings pitched he had given up 307 earned runs, struck out 360, and walked 358. In 1963, at the age of 24, it all began to come together.