Danny O’Connell – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Daniel Francis O’Connell put together a solid 12-year run in Major League Baseball, wrapping up his career after the 1962 season with the Washington Senators. The gritty infielder from Paterson, New Jersey, suited up for four different teams: the Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Braves, San Francisco Giants, and Washington Senators.

O’Connell ended up with a .260 batting average, 1,049 hits, and 320 RBIs over 1,143 games. He became a steady presence in the infield, even if he never quite turned into the star some folks predicted. His journey through professional baseball took him from promising rookie to veteran leader, as he navigated trades, military service, and the challenges of bouncing between cities.

O’Connell didn’t quite become the .300 hitter teams hoped for when they traded for him, but his story has a lot to say about pro baseball in the 1950s and early 1960s. He learned to play all over the infield and, in his later years, took younger guys under his wing. O’Connell’s career really reflects the unsung players who kept Major League Baseball running during that era.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Daniel Francis O’Connell grew up in a working-class Irish family in Paterson, New Jersey, born on January 21, 1929. His path from skinny teenager in a crowded row house to pro baseball started with his dad, who worked as a school janitor and pitched in semipro leagues.

Childhood and Upbringing

Danny O’Connell spent his childhood in a multigenerational home on Carlisle Avenue in Paterson. Three generations of the O’Connell family shared that row house, just a half hour from New York City.

His father, Daniel Francis O’Connell Jr., worked as a janitor but had pitched in semipro baseball. Danny’s mom was Myrtle Parliman. The family grew with the addition of Robert in 1934 and Alice two years later.

Danny’s dad often took the kids to see New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers games. Those trips made a big impression on young Danny and got him hooked on baseball.

The O’Connells lived simply, like many working-class Irish families back then. But they kept tight family ties, all under one roof.

High School and Amateur Baseball

Danny attended St. Bonaventure High School in Paterson on a basketball scholarship. He played third base on the baseball team and sometimes pitched.

His favorite player was Stan Hack, the Cubs’ third baseman, whose style Danny tried to copy. At the time, Danny was a wiry 5-foot-8 and weighed just 140 pounds.

He left high school before graduating to help support his family, taking a job at a local dye plant. That was pretty common for young men in his neighborhood.

Even after leaving school, his baseball skills drew the attention of pro scouts. They liked his defense and saw potential in his bat.

Minor League Development

In spring 1946, Brooklyn Dodgers scout Clyde Sukeforth signed 17-year-old O’Connell to his first pro contract. The deal came with a $1,500 bonus and $80 a month salary.

O’Connell started out with the Bloomingdale Troopers in the Class D North Atlantic League. Despite being small, he hit .327 with a .469 slugging percentage in his first season.

That performance got him promoted to the Three Rivers Royals in the Class C Canadian-American League in 1947. There, he hit .311, led the team with 151 hits, and racked up 195 total bases.

Minor League Progression:

• 1946: Bloomingdale Troopers (.327 average)
• 1947: Three Rivers Royals (.311 average, 151 hits)
• 1948: Greenville Spinners (.292 average)
• 1949: St. Paul Saints (.314 average, 17 home runs, 102 RBIs)

By 1949, O’Connell had turned into a real prospect with the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. Hitting .314 with 17 homers and 102 RBIs, he finished second in rookie of the year voting. The once-skinny kid had filled out to 5-foot-11 and 168 pounds, ready for his major league shot.

Major League Career Overview

Danny O’Connell played pro baseball from 1950 to 1962 and hit .260 over 1,143 games. His career included military service during the Korean War and wrapped up with the Washington Senators.

MLB Debut and Rookie Season

Daniel Francis O’Connell made his MLB debut on July 14, 1950, at Forbes Field. He started at third base against the New York Giants at just 21.

He made an immediate impact with an RBI single in his first at-bat off Sheldon Jones. In the fourth inning, he singled again off Sal Maglie and later scored.

Just two days later, he crushed his first big-league home run, a ninth-inning solo shot off Boston Braves pitcher Vern Bickford.

The Pirates shifted O’Connell to shortstop nine days after his debut. They did this after buying veteran third baseman Bob Dillinger from Philadelphia.

O’Connell batted .292 in 79 games and impressed folks with his glove. The Sporting News said he “played like a veteran” and called his fielding “miraculous.”

He won The Sporting News’ award for best rookie third baseman in the majors, showing “exceptional promise” during his half-season.

Military Service and Return

O’Connell enlisted in the US Army in February 1951 for two years during the Korean War. He served in the 3rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Myer, Virginia.

This regiment mainly handled ceremonial duties, stationed near Arlington National Cemetery. O’Connell played on the regimental baseball team with other major leaguers.

His teammates included pitcher Johnny Antonelli of the Braves and catcher Sam Calderone of the Giants. The Fort Myer team won the armed forces championship in 1952.

O’Connell earned MVP honors among 32 teams in the National Baseball Congress Tournament. The team swept all seven playoff games, beating Fort Leonard Wood for the title.

He returned to the Pirates in 1953 after his military service ended. Manager Fred Haney moved him to second base, a brand new position for O’Connell.

That year, O’Connell had his best season, hitting .294 and going on a 26-game hitting streak. During that streak, he batted .356 with 42 hits in 118 at-bats.

Retirement in 1962

O’Connell’s last major league season came with the Washington Senators in 1962. He played his final game on September 26, 1962, against the New York Yankees.

In that final game, O’Connell went hitless in his only at-bat. He was 33 when he stepped away from pro baseball.

The Senators released him after the season. O’Connell finished his career as a .260 hitter with 1,049 hits in 1,143 games.

He also scored 527 runs and drove in 320 RBIs over 12 seasons. O’Connell played for five different teams in the majors.

After retiring, O’Connell became player-manager for the Senators’ York White Roses in 1963. He later worked as a coach with the Senators.

Teams and Notable Transfers

Danny O’Connell played for four big-league teams over his 13-year career, starting with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1950 and ending with the Washington Senators in 1962. The biggest move came in 1953 when the Pirates traded him to Milwaukee in a massive deal involving six players and $100,000.

Pittsburgh Pirates Years

O’Connell debuted with the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 14, 1950, at Forbes Field against the New York Giants. He stood out right away, picking up an RBI single in his first at-bat off Sheldon Jones.

The young infielder showed a lot of promise as a rookie, hitting .292 in 79 games and earning a nod from The Sporting News as the best rookie third baseman.

O’Connell’s career got interrupted by military service from 1951 to 1952 during the Korean War. He served in the 3rd Infantry Regiment at Fort Myer, Virginia, and played on the regimental team that won the National Baseball Congress Tournament.

When he came back in 1953, O’Connell became a key player for Pittsburgh. Manager Fred Haney called him “our best ballplayer” and made him the team’s field captain.

His big moment came on August 17, 1953, when he started a 26-game hitting streak that ran until September 19. He hit .356 during that stretch and even received a car from friends in Paterson, New Jersey.

O’Connell finished 1953 with a .294 average, 26 doubles, and 7 home runs. That would stand as his best full season in the majors.

Milwaukee Braves Tenure

The Milwaukee Braves picked up O’Connell on December 26, 1953, in a huge trade that sent six players and $100,000 to Pittsburgh. The Braves wanted O’Connell as their everyday second baseman, hoping he’d hit .300 and be a leader in the field.

Things didn’t quite work out as planned. O’Connell put up batting averages of .279, .225, .239, and .235 from 1954 to 1957.

Playing for a contending team in Milwaukee brought its own kind of pressure. County Stadium games felt like “pressure games” where “every series was a World Series” for the Braves.

Even with the struggles at the plate, O’Connell held onto the second base job. The Braves kept trying to trade for All-Star Red Schoendienst but couldn’t make it happen right away.

O’Connell still had some highlights, like a ten-game hitting streak in 1954 where he hit .400 and earned Braves player of the week. In 1956, he managed to hit three triples off Robin Roberts in one game.

The Braves finally traded for Schoendienst on June 15, 1957, sending O’Connell, Bobby Thomson, and Ray Crone to the New York Giants.

New York and San Francisco Giants Period

O’Connell joined the Giants during their last season in New York before they moved to San Francisco. He spent parts of three seasons with the Giants from 1957 to 1959.

He continued to struggle at the plate, hitting .256 in 1957, .232 in 1958, and just .190 in 34 games in 1959 before landing at Triple-A Tacoma.

One memorable moment came on April 15, 1958, when O’Connell scored the first run in the first major league game ever played in California at Seal Stadium in San Francisco.

After hitting .312 for Tacoma in 1960, O’Connell got his release from the Giants. At 31, he convinced the new Washington Senators to give him a shot, selling them on his glove and reasonable salary.

Washington Senators Final Season

O’Connell found new life with the expansion Washington Senators from 1961 to 1962. He split time between second and third base and started 132 games in 1961.

His veteran experience proved valuable for the young franchise. In 1961, he led the Senators in hits with 128 and topped the American League in sacrifice hits with 15.

O’Connell played a smaller role in 1962, his last year as a player. The Senators let him go after the season, ending his playing days with a .260 career average.

After hanging up his spikes, O’Connell became player-manager for the York White Roses, the Senators’ Double-A team, in 1963. He later joined the big club as first-base coach from 1963 to 1964, then stepped away from baseball for good.

Statistical Achievements and Performance

Danny O’Connell finished his MLB career with a .260 batting average and 1,049 hits over 1,143 games from 1950 to 1962.

He put up his best offensive numbers early with Pittsburgh, batting .293 over two seasons.

Batting Average and On-Base Percentage

O’Connell hit .260 across his decade in the majors, showing steady contact skills.

In 1953 with Pittsburgh, he hit a career-best .294 in 149 games.

His .333 on-base percentage pointed to solid plate discipline and an eye for walks.

He drew 431 walks in his career, displaying patience that sometimes balanced out lower batting averages.

As a rookie in 1950, O’Connell had his best combined offensive season. He hit .292 with a .342 OBP in 79 games for Pittsburgh.

He struggled most at the plate in 1959 with San Francisco, managing only a .190 average in limited chances.

Still, he bounced back in 1961 with Washington, posting a .361 OBP even though he batted .260.

Runs and Hits

O’Connell scored 527 runs and collected 1,049 hits in 4,035 at-bats during his career.

His most productive year for hits came in 1953, when he racked up 173 for Pittsburgh.

That same season, he scored 88 runs, his career high.

On average, he scored 75 runs per 162 games, a sign of steady offensive value.

His hit numbers stayed pretty consistent across different teams.

With Milwaukee, he averaged 149 hits per 162 games over four years from 1954 to 1957.

O’Connell’s 1,049 career hits put him among the solid everyday players of his time.

He found ways to get on base and kept himself in the lineup for several franchises.

Doubles and Triples

O’Connell hit 181 doubles in his career, peaking with 30 in 1961 for Washington.

He used his gap power to supplement his contact approach at the plate.

He finished with 35 triples, and his top season for three-baggers was 1953, when he hit eight.

That showed decent speed and a knack for stretching hits.

His extra-base hit numbers were modest but steady.

He averaged 26 doubles and 5 triples per 162 games, which added up to a .351 career slugging percentage.

Altogether, he tallied 216 extra-base hits—doubles, triples, and homers—demonstrating more line-drive power than home run pop.

This style fit his role as a contact hitter who could drive in runs from the middle infield.

Home Runs and Stolen Bases

O’Connell hit 39 home runs over his 10-year career, never cracking double digits in a season.

He hit a career-high 8 homers as a rookie in 1950 with Pittsburgh.

Power just wasn’t his thing at the plate.

He averaged 6 home runs per 162 games, clearly not a slugger.

He swiped 48 bases and got caught 27 times.

His best year on the bases came in 1961, when he stole 15 bags for Washington.

With limited power and speed, O’Connell brought value with defense and consistent contact.

He averaged fewer than 5 steals a year, which was pretty typical for middle infielders back then.

Career Highlights and Records

Danny O’Connell hit some impressive milestones during his decade in the big leagues, like a 26-game hitting streak and scoring the first run in California’s MLB history.

His top recognition came from The Sporting News, naming him the majors’ best rookie third baseman after his standout 1950 debut.

Significant Games and Milestones

O’Connell’s 26-game hitting streak in 1953 still stands out.

He started the streak on August 17 at Ebbets Field with a single off Johnny Podres.

It wrapped up on September 19 against the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds.

During the streak, he batted .356 and had 42 hits in 118 at-bats.

He broke a 30-year-old Pirates record set by Charlie Grimm, who had 25 games in 1923.

On April 15, 1958, O’Connell made history by scoring the first run in the first big-league game in California at Seal Stadium, after the Giants moved west.

He debuted in the majors on July 14, 1950, at Forbes Field.

O’Connell made an immediate impression with an RBI single in his first at-bat off Sheldon Jones.

Awards and League Rankings

The Sporting News named O’Connell the best rookie third baseman in the majors in 1950.

He earned that after batting .292 in 79 games following his July call-up.

His military baseball days were also impressive. In 1952, O’Connell was MVP of the 32-team National Baseball Congress Tournament for Fort Myer.

Fort Myer won both the armed forces and National Baseball Congress Tournament championships, sweeping all seven playoff games and beating Fort Leonard Wood for the title.

O’Connell’s .260 career batting average put him among steady big leaguers.

He finished with 1,049 hits, 527 runs, and 320 RBIs in 1,143 games.

In 1953, he had his best season, batting .294 with 26 doubles and 7 homers, which helped earn him a trade to Milwaukee.

Personal Life, Legacy, and After Baseball

Daniel Francis O’Connell was born in Paterson, New Jersey, on January 21, 1929, and kept strong ties to the Garden State his whole life.

His career wound down with a short coaching stint before his untimely death at age 40 in 1969.

Personal Background

Danny O’Connell grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, learning the game before going pro.

He came from an industrial city but made a name for himself with several Major League clubs.

He married Vera, and together they raised four kids: Maureen, Danny Jr., Nancy, and John.

After baseball, O’Connell settled in Bloomfield, New Jersey, staying close to his roots in the Northeast.

The family lived quietly, away from the spotlight.

Maureen later married John Hurley, who eventually became president emeritus of Canisius University.

Death and Legacy

O’Connell’s life ended suddenly on October 2, 1969. He suffered a heart attack while driving in Clifton, New Jersey, and crashed his Ford into a utility pole.

He was just 40 years old when he died. The loss hit his wife Vera and their four children hard.

They buried O’Connell at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Montclair, New Jersey. His grave sits near the communities where he spent his life.

Decades later, Steve Wiegand’s 2024 book, “The Uncommon Life of Danny O’Connell,” brought his story back into the spotlight. The biography took a closer look at how so-called “average” players, like O’Connell, really shaped baseball’s history.

Wiegand pointed out that O’Connell scored the first run in West Coast Major League Baseball history. That happened on April 15, 1958, during the San Francisco Giants’ very first game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.