Elmer Singleton – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Elmer Singleton made his mark in baseball as a pitcher whose career stretched across 23 professional seasons. He wrapped up his Major League Baseball run in 1959. The right-hander from Ogden, Utah, pitched for four major league teams: the Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Senators, and Chicago Cubs.

His big league stats might not wow you, but his story really captures the grind of so many players who found their greatest moments in the minors yet still managed to reach the majors.

Singleton’s most remarkable achievement came in the Pacific Coast League, where he won 146 games and once carried a no-hitter into the 13th inning in 1952. That near no-hitter against Sacramento? It showed off the talent that kept him going for over two decades. People called him “Smoky” for his fastball, but it was the slider he picked up later that really became his bread and butter in the minors.

From his modest start in Plain City, Utah, to his last season with the Cubs in 1959, Singleton’s career highlighted the grit and ability needed to stick around in pro baseball for that long. His climb through the ranks, from local semipro teams to the big leagues, gives a glimpse into what baseball looked like in the 1940s and 1950s.

Early Life and Background

Bert Elmer Singleton was born June 26, 1918, in Ogden, Utah. His parents were Mormon farmers of English descent, living in the tiny community of Plain City.

He honed his athletic skills at Weber County High School. Football and basketball were the main focus there, but he found his love for baseball playing American Legion ball in Ogden.

Family and Childhood in Ogden and Plain City

Bert Elmer Singleton arrived in Ogden, Utah, about 40 miles north of Salt Lake City, on June 26, 1918. His parents, Joseph “J.B.” and Sylvia (Richardson) Singleton, were dedicated Mormons with deep English roots.

The family called Plain City home, a little farming town just northwest of Ogden. “Population 897 when I lived there,” Elmer once said. His parents spent their lives in that tight-knit rural spot.

Elmer grew up with two brothers who made it past infancy. Earl was older, and Don was the youngest. Their farming lifestyle shaped Elmer’s early years out in Weber County.

High School Athletics at Weber County High School

Elmer went to Weber County High School in the mid-1930s. The school poured most of its energy into football and basketball.

Baseball didn’t get much attention, but Elmer’s athleticism started to show. He had to look outside of school to really play baseball and improve his skills. He graduated in 1936.

The weak baseball program at school didn’t stop him for long. Elmer wanted to play, so he chased opportunities wherever he could find them.

Early Baseball Experiences and American Legion Play

While his high school mostly cared about football and basketball, Elmer started to stand out as an infielder and outfielder in Ogden’s American Legion baseball program. That gave him the competition he just couldn’t find in school.

After finishing high school in 1936, he joined the Plain City club in the county’s Farm Bureau League. Playing in that local semi-pro league gave him regular games and helped him get better.

“One day our pitcher was having trouble, so we swapped places,” Singleton remembered. That simple switch from the field to the mound ended up shaping his whole baseball journey. The Farm Bureau League became his personal training ground for what came next.

Path to Professional Baseball

Bert Elmer Singleton’s shot at pro baseball started in 1940. The New York Yankees saw his pitching skills and signed him as an amateur free agent.

He kicked off his career in the minors, bouncing around different teams and leagues for several seasons.

Signing with the New York Yankees

The Yankees picked up Elmer Singleton before the 1940 season. At 22, he caught the eye of their scouts, who liked what they saw in the righty from Ogden.

Getting signed by the Yankees was a big deal. They were already a powerhouse in Major League Baseball. For Singleton, it felt like a real shot at making it.

He probably didn’t expect his career to last 24 years. The Yankees’ farm system had a reputation for building up players. Signing with them set him on a long road through the minors.

Minor League Beginnings: Ogden and Wenatchee Chiefs

Singleton’s first pro stop was with the Wenatchee Chiefs in the Western International League in 1940. That rookie season was tough.

His stats weren’t great—he went 5-10 over 165 innings. Like most young pitchers, he needed time to adjust to pro ball.

Still, those early struggles taught him a lot. The Western International League threw him up against all sorts of hitters and situations, which helped him grow as a pitcher.

Development in the Western International and Pioneer Leagues

Singleton spent the next five years, from 1941 to 1945, working his way up through the minors. Those seasons were huge for his development.

His big breakthrough came in 1945 with the Kansas City Blues in the American Association. He finally put together a winning season, going 7-6 with a 2.43 ERA. That was a real sign he was getting somewhere.

Scouts from the majors started to take notice. With better control and results, he got traded to the Boston Braves on August 9, 1945. That deal ended his minor league apprenticeship and opened the door to the majors.

Major League Career Highlights

Elmer Singleton’s big league career covered parts of seven seasons from 1945 to 1959. He put together an 11-17 record while playing for four teams. His journey included a debut with the Boston Braves, some solid years with the Pittsburgh Pirates, a short run with the Washington Senators, and a final chapter with the Chicago Cubs.

Boston Braves Debut and Early MLB Years

Singleton made his MLB debut on August 20, 1945, at Braves Field in Boston. He came in during a 2-0 loss to the Cardinals and tossed a perfect ninth inning.

He showed flashes of promise early on, even though he struggled at times. On September 17, 1945, he picked up his first major league win by holding the Cincinnati Reds to six hits at Crosley Field. A broken finger cut his rookie season short, leaving him with a 1-4 record and a 4.82 ERA.

The 1946 season wasn’t any easier. Singleton pitched in just 15 games, starting two, and finished with a 0-1 record and a 3.74 ERA over 33⅔ innings. With playing time scarce, the Braves optioned him to the Indianapolis Indians in August.

On September 30, 1946, the Braves traded Singleton, Whitey Wietelmann, Stan Wentzel, and Billy Herman to Pittsburgh. That trade paid off for Boston, who got third baseman Bob Elliott, the 1947 NL MVP.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Trades and Performance

Singleton’s time with the Pirates started with a bit of drama on April 30, 1947. He came in for Hugh Mulcahy during a comeback win over Philadelphia and thought he’d earned the victory. At first, the official scorer gave him the win, but then reversed it after some controversy.

He picked up his first official Pirates win on May 18, 1947, when Frank Gustine’s walk-off double beat the Giants 7-6. Singleton ended 1947 with a 2-2 record and a 6.31 ERA in 36 games.

The 1948 season was his busiest with Pittsburgh. New manager Billy Meyer planned to use Singleton mostly out of the bullpen, maybe giving him a few starts. He kicked things off with a complete-game 7-1 win over Cincinnati, allowing just one hit over the last six innings.

Even with a strong start, Singleton couldn’t keep the momentum going. He wrapped up 1948 with a 4-6 record and a 4.97 ERA in 38 games, plus two saves. The Pirates sold him to the San Francisco Seals just before the 1949 season.

Seasons with the Washington Senators

Singleton spent a year and a half in the Pacific Coast League before making it back to the majors on June 25, 1950. The Washington Senators traded for him, sending Steve Nagy to San Francisco.

He pitched in 21 games for the Senators, mostly in relief. His best outing came on August 18 at Fenway Park, where he threw six scoreless innings after Al Sima left the game.

That performance nearly led to a comeback win. Washington rallied to tie it, but Singleton gave up a walk-off home run to Bobby Doerr in the 10th inning.

He finished the 1950 season with a 1-2 record and a 5.20 ERA. That was his last major league appearance for almost seven years, as he went back to the minors for a long stretch.

Chicago Cubs and Final MLB Years

Singleton closed out his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs from 1957 to 1959. At 39, he made it back to the majors after perfecting his slider in the minors.

The Cubs gave Singleton another shot at the big leagues. His experience and improved control made him a solid bullpen piece over those three seasons in Chicago.

His 1959 season marked the end of a career that lasted 23 years. Singleton finished his big league days with 160 strikeouts, showing off his fastball and that slider he’d worked so hard to master.

Getting back to the majors in his late thirties took real persistence. Those Cubs years capped off a career packed with minor league success, especially in the Pacific Coast League where he won 146 games.

Minor League Achievements and Pacific Coast League Success

Singleton’s minor league career lasted 14 seasons in the Pacific Coast League. He racked up 184 wins, 186 losses, and a 3.50 ERA in 526 games. His standout moment came in 1952, when he took a no-hitter into the 13th inning for the San Francisco Seals.

Indianapolis Indians and American Association Experience

Singleton joined the Indianapolis Indians in the Triple-A American Association during the 1946 season. The Boston Braves sent him there on August 14, 1946, after his limited time in the majors.

His stint with Indianapolis was short but mattered for his growth. Playing Triple-A ball gave him the experience to bridge the gap between the majors and minors.

The time in Indianapolis came during a period of change for Singleton. The Pirates traded for him on September 30, 1946, in a bigger deal that included Billy Herman and a few other players.

San Francisco Seals and International League Tenure

Singleton found his best years in the minors with the San Francisco Seals, starting in 1949. The Pirates actually sold him to the Seals just three weeks before the 1949 season opener, using him as partial payment for pitcher Bill Werle.

In 1952, Singleton gave fans his most unforgettable performance at Seals Stadium. On April 24, he pitched 12 and two-thirds innings of no-hit baseball against the Sacramento Solons. The game stayed scoreless through 12 innings, but Ed Bockman finally broke up the no-hitter with a sharp single in the 13th.

1952 Season Highlights:

• 17-15 record, 2.67 ERA
• 170 strikeouts (second in PCL)
• Five shutouts (tied for league lead)
• 22 complete games in 276 innings

His 1952 Mother’s Cookies baseball card called him “Smokey.” Singleton’s five shutouts that year included a one-hitter against the Hollywood Stars on June 13, where only Tom Saffell managed a fourth-inning single.

Seattle Rainiers and Pacific Coast League Recognition

The Toronto Maple Leafs, who were a St. Louis Browns affiliate in the International League, picked up Singleton for the 1951 season. He had a rough start, going 0-5 with a 7.15 ERA in 10 appearances, so they optioned him back to San Francisco in June.

Back with the Seals, Singleton changed things up and found his groove. He started using his slider as his main “out pitch” instead of relying on his sinking fastball, since he found it easier to control. This new approach led him to a 5-3 record with a 3.04 ERA in 20 appearances.

On August 26, 1951, in Sacramento, Singleton pitched a perfect seven-inning game. He allowed just a first-inning single to Bob Boyd, and otherwise, he was flawless.

Continued Play in Spokane, Sacramento, and Vancouver

Singleton kept pitching in the Pacific Coast League well into his 40s. After his last major league appearance in 1959 with the Chicago Cubs, he returned to the minors for four more seasons.

He played for several PCL teams, including Spokane, Sacramento, and Vancouver. Singleton wrapped up his final professional season with Seattle in 1963 at age 45, which is just wild longevity for a pro ballplayer.

Final Minor League Statistics:

• 184 wins, 186 losses
• 3.50 ERA
• 3,151 innings pitched
• 23 total professional seasons

Singleton’s persistence and pure love for the game kept him playing for over two decades. The Pacific Coast League gave him several chances to return to the majors, including that last shot with the Cubs in the late 1950s.

Career Statistics and Style of Play

Elmer Singleton put together modest, respectable numbers during his eight-season Major League Baseball career. He finished with an 11-17 record and a 4.83 ERA across 152 games. His path through four different teams really showed both his persistence and how transactional pro baseball could be in the 1940s and 1950s.

Major League Records and Notable Games

Singleton’s major league career stretched over 152 games from 1945 to 1959. He logged 11 wins and 17 losses with a 4.83 ERA.

He struck out 160 batters over his entire career. It’s not a huge number, but it fits the pitching style of his era.

He debuted on August 20, 1945, with the Boston Braves at age 27. Singleton made his final appearance on August 1, 1959, with the Chicago Cubs.

The right-handed pitcher stood 6 feet 2 inches and weighed 174 pounds. He threw and batted right-handed his whole career.

His best single season happened in 1955 with the Seattle Rainiers in the Pacific Coast League. That year, he went 19-12 with a 2.20 ERA and helped Seattle win the PCL pennant.

Pitching Style, Strengths, and Weaknesses

Singleton pitched right-handed and leaned on control instead of power. His 4.83 ERA in the majors hints that he struggled with consistency at the top level.

His minor league numbers, though, tell a different story. Over 24 professional seasons, he racked up 184 wins and 186 losses, with a much stronger 3.50 ERA.

Singleton pitched 3,151 innings in the minors. That kind of workload really shows his durability and commitment.

He dominated in the Pacific Coast League, especially in 1955 and 1956. In ’56, he finished 18-8 with a league-best 2.55 ERA.

The gap between his minor and major league stats suggests he might’ve lacked that extra velocity or movement to handle top hitters consistently.

Role in Team Trades and Transactions

Singleton bounced around teams quite a bit. He played for the Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Senators, and Chicago Cubs in the majors.

His first big league shot came after a trade. The New York Yankees organization traded him to the Boston Braves on August 9, 1945.

A six-player trade sent him from Boston to Pittsburgh on September 30, 1946. The Pirates then sold him to the San Francisco Seals on March 28, 1949.

The Washington Senators picked him up from San Francisco on June 25, 1950, in exchange for Steve Nagy. Washington later sold him off to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Singleton got his last major league chance through Cincinnati. The Redlegs bought him on October 14, 1956, then traded him a month later to the Chicago Cubs along with Ray Jablonski for Warren Hacker, Don Hoak, and Pete Whisenant.

Personal Life, Legacy, and Post-Retirement

Bert Elmer Singleton lived a life that went well beyond baseball, shaped by strong family roots in Utah and the tough years of wartime service. He spent 49 years married and eventually returned to his hometown of Ogden, where he spent his post-baseball life. His professional baseball career also got interrupted by World War II.

Family Life and Return to Ogden

Singleton married Elsie May Wold on January 10, 1939, starting a partnership that lasted 49 years until she passed away in 1988. Elsie came from a railroad family and brought Norwegian and Scottish roots into the mix.

They had two sons, Joe and Jerry, who grew up during Singleton’s playing days. His family gave him stability through his long baseball journey, which spanned 23 seasons in several leagues.

Singleton was born in Ogden, Utah, on June 26, 1918, and he kept close ties to his hometown all his life. His parents, Joseph “J.B.” and Sylvia Richardson Singleton, were Mormon farmers who stayed in Plain City, just 10 miles from Ogden.

After he retired from baseball, Singleton moved back to Ogden. He died there on January 5, 1996, at age 77, really coming full circle to his Utah roots.

World War II Impact and Civilian Work

World War II threw a wrench into Singleton’s baseball career during his prime. In 1943, the New York Yankees organization cut its minor league teams from nine to five because of the war.

Singleton went on the voluntarily retired list but stayed in the game. He pitched for the Brigham Peaches in the Utah Industrial League to keep his arm in shape during those years.

He worked civilian jobs to help the war effort too. In the winter of 1941, he drove a truck for a defense project’s general depot near Ogden. That let him contribute on the home front while staying close to baseball.

This interruption hit just as he was starting to find success at higher levels. He had just begun to make a name for himself as a pitcher when the war forced him out of pro ball, at least for a while.

Life After Baseball and Lasting Influence

Singleton wrapped up his professional career in 1959 with the Chicago Cubs. But honestly, his influence on baseball didn’t just stop there.

He dominated the Pacific Coast League, racking up 146 wins. That wild 12⅔-inning no-hitter attempt? People still talk about it—it really showed off his grit.

Early on, people called him “Smokey” because he threw so hard. Singleton once joked, “I could throw a baseball through a brick wall any time I could hit the wall.” That paints a picture, doesn’t it?

Later, he had to reinvent himself. He switched from being a power pitcher to relying on finesse, picking up a nasty slider as his “out pitch” instead of the sinking fastball. That kind of adaptability probably kept him in the game longer than most.

He played professionally for 23 seasons, from 1940 to 1963, only taking a break for the war. That’s a long time, especially back then when most guys hung it up way earlier.