Dale Mitchell – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Dale Mitchell finished his Major League Baseball career in 1956 after eleven seasons. He built a reputation as one of the most consistent contact hitters of his time.

This left fielder from Colony, Oklahoma, spent most of his career with the Cleveland Indians. He wrapped up his playing days with the Brooklyn Dodgers in his last season.

Mitchell retired with a .312 career batting average. Only Ted Williams and Stan Musial hit better from 1946 to 1960. He showed incredible plate discipline, striking out just 119 times in 3,984 at-bats.

Pitchers struggled to get him out. He led the American League in hits and singles several times and made two All-Star teams.

Mitchell’s retirement story is a mix of triumph and heartbreak. He celebrated a World Series title with Cleveland in 1948, then ended up as the final out in Don Larsen’s perfect game during the 1956 World Series.

He started as a standout college player at the University of Oklahoma. After baseball, he found success in the business world, showing he could excel off the field too.

Early Life and Education

Dale Mitchell grew up in a small Oklahoma farming town. He was born in Colony on August 23, 1921, into a poor tenant farming family.

Even with few resources, his athletic talent showed up early. He set records at Cloud Chief High School and the University of Oklahoma.

Childhood in Oklahoma

Mitchell spent his childhood in Colony, Oklahoma, a tiny farming town set up for Native Americans in 1886. His parents, John H. and Mary Mitchell, worked as tenant farmers and faced tough times financially.

When Mitchell was born, Colony had just 200 to 250 residents. Most were small farmers trying to make ends meet.

Colony offered only basic services like a bank, blacksmith shop, newspaper, and small hotel. Mitchell often felt isolated as a kid, with few kids his age around.

His dad bought him a first baseman’s glove so he could practice as a lefty. Sometimes, neighboring farmers would stop by to hit fly balls for him to chase across the fields.

At age 10, Mitchell had a bad accident walking home from school. A car hit him as he crossed the road, breaking his left collarbone and cutting his face.

He missed two months of school but bounced back and returned to sports.

High School Baseball Beginnings

Mitchell attended Cloud Chief High School, which served a sprawling 40-square-mile district. Even so, the school had only about 160 students.

That was enough to field sports teams. Mitchell shined in several sports, earning 12 athletic letters before graduation.

He played baseball, basketball, and track, and his all-around ability made him a standout. His best feat might have been in track and field.

He set a state record in the 100-yard dash at 9.8 seconds. That speed later became an asset on the baseball diamond.

Word of Mitchell’s athletic achievements spread throughout the region. People started calling him the “Cloud Chief Clouter,” and pro scouts took notice.

He also made all-state in basketball, showing off his versatility.

Collegiate Achievements

After high school, Mitchell married his classmate Margaret Emerson. They moved to Norman, Oklahoma, where he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma in 1940.

As a freshman, he wasn’t eligible for varsity sports, but he played semipro baseball with the Oklahoma Natural Gas club in the summer. Coach Roy Deal helped him improve his hitting stance and technique.

Mitchell’s sophomore season with the Sooners was a breakout. He hit .420 and continued running track, giving up basketball to focus on baseball.

He learned to handle outside pitches and left-handed pitching better. Then World War II interrupted everything.

The Army Air Force drafted him at age 21. He served three years in Europe.

After the war, Mitchell came back to Oklahoma and had a spectacular final college season. He batted .507—a University of Oklahoma record that still stands.

Mitchell’s career batting average at Oklahoma was .467, another school record. His college numbers showed just how good a hitter he was and set him up for the pros.

Cleveland Indians Career

Mitchell spent almost his entire 11-year MLB career with the Cleveland Indians. He became one of the top left fielders in the American League.

He finished his time in Cleveland with a .312 average and helped the Indians win 111 games in 1954.

Signing and Rookie Season

Dale Mitchell made a huge leap from college to the big leagues in 1946. After hitting .507 at Oklahoma, he quickly moved through the Indians’ system.

He started with the Class AA Oklahoma City Indians, then got called up to Cleveland that summer. Mitchell debuted on September 15, 1946, at age 25, facing the Philadelphia Athletics.

In that first game, he went 3-for-5 with an RBI. The Indians realized they had landed a special player.

Mitchell’s smooth jump from college to the majors was rare back then.

Becoming a Left Fielder Star

Mitchell soon became Cleveland’s everyday left fielder and a reliable bat in the lineup. He hit and threw left-handed, standing 6-1 and weighing 195 pounds.

He kept up his high batting average, hitting .323 in 1952 and .300 in 1953. Mitchell’s speed on the bases and steady fielding in left helped the Indians stay in the pennant race.

He didn’t make many mistakes in the field. His consistency kept Cleveland competitive through the 1950s.

Key Achievements and All-Star Appearances

Mitchell’s best season came in 1954, when the Indians set an American League record with 111 wins in 154 games. The team won the pennant, and Mitchell’s hitting and fielding made a big impact.

His .312 career average put him among the best hitters of his time. Only Ted Williams and Stan Musial did better from 1946 to 1960.

Mitchell made multiple All-Star teams with Cleveland. He rarely struck out, ending his career with a 34-1 strikeout ratio, which ranks seventh all-time in baseball.

World Series Highlights and Notable Moments

Dale Mitchell played in three World Series, winning a championship with the Cleveland Indians in 1948 and making his final appearance in 1956 with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

His World Series story has both high points and one of baseball’s most talked-about final outs.

1948 World Series Victory

Mitchell played a big role in Cleveland’s 1948 World Series win. He hit .336 during the regular season and struck out only 17 times.

The Indians beat the Boston Braves in six games. Mitchell’s ability to put the ball in play made him a steady presence during the title run.

That season really established him as a top contact hitter. The championship marked the peak of his career with Cleveland.

Memorable Hits and Pinch-Hitting Roles

Mitchell’s most famous World Series moment happened on October 8, 1956. He became the final out in Don Larsen’s perfect game.

Even though Mitchell was one of the hardest players to strike out, he took a called third strike as a pinch-hitter for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The strikeout stirred controversy, with many people thinking the pitch was outside. Mitchell had only 119 strikeouts in 3,984 career at-bats—not exactly the guy you’d expect to end a perfect game.

He joined the Dodgers near the end of July 1956 after a long run with the Indians. That World Series ended up being his last appearance as a player.

Final Season and Retirement

Mitchell finished his career in 1956. The Brooklyn Dodgers bought his contract from Cleveland in July.

His last season became memorable for his role as the final out in one of baseball’s most famous games.

Trade to Brooklyn Dodgers

The Brooklyn Dodgers picked up Mitchell’s contract from the Indians late in the 1956 season. By then, Mitchell was 34 and had played almost every game as an Indian—1,108 out of 1,127.

He hit .292 for the Dodgers in his short stint. Not bad for a veteran getting used to a new team.

Leaving Cleveland after more than a decade was a big change for Mitchell. His move to Brooklyn turned out to be historically significant, though probably not in the way he imagined.

Role in the 1956 World Series

Mitchell’s most talked-about moment happened in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series against the New York Yankees. Don Larsen was throwing a perfect game, and Mitchell came up as a pinch hitter for Sal Maglie.

He took a called third strike to finish Don Larsen’s perfect game. That made him the last out in the only perfect game in World Series history.

Mitchell always insisted the pitch was outside. With just 119 strikeouts in 3,984 at-bats, he seemed like the last guy you’d expect to strike out in that spot.

The Dodgers lost the series in seven games. Mitchell pinch-hit in Game 7, then retired from baseball after the series.

Don Larsen’s Perfect Game and Legacy

Dale Mitchell’s last at-bat came during one of baseball’s most unforgettable moments. Don Larsen threw the only perfect game in World Series history on October 8, 1956.

Mitchell’s strikeout to end the game put him on the wrong side of history, but it also made him part of a legendary achievement.

Mitchell’s At-Bat in the Perfect Game

Mitchell stepped in as a pinch-hitter for Dodgers pitcher Sal Maglie in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs and the perfect game on the line, he faced Don Larsen’s 97th pitch.

The umpire called strike three. Mitchell thought the ball was outside and turned to argue, but home plate umpire Babe Pinelli had already left the plate.

Yankees catcher Yogi Berra was already sprinting to hug Larsen. The perfect game was complete, and Mitchell was the final out.

Mitchell’s son Bo watched from the first-base line. His mother told him not to reveal who his dad was to the Yankee Stadium crowd. She worried about the reaction if Mitchell broke up the perfect game.

Teammate Pee Wee Reese tried to comfort Mitchell in the dugout. Reese said people would talk about the game forever.

Mitchell replied, “That’s nice, but I’m on the wrong side of history.”

Lasting Impact on Baseball History

Don Larsen threw the only no-hitter in World Series history. It took him just two hours and six minutes at Yankee Stadium, with 64,519 fans watching.

The Yankees clinched the 1956 World Series 4-3 over the Brooklyn Dodgers thanks to this game. Mickey Mantle’s fourth-inning home run brought in the decisive runs for the 2-0 win.

Larsen’s career stats make his perfect game feel even more surreal. He ended up with an 81-91 record and a 3.78 ERA over 14 seasons.

People still talk about this perfect game as a once-in-a-lifetime feat for a pitcher who was, honestly, pretty average most days.

Mitchell’s part in the perfect game kind of overshadowed his own impressive stats. He batted .312 over 11 seasons and struck out just 119 times in 3,984 at-bats.

His knack for making contact put him just behind Hall of Famer Nellie Fox for the fewest strikeouts per at-bat since 1946.

The perfect game turned into baseball folklore. Yogi Berra leaping into Larsen’s arms gave us one of the sport’s most unforgettable images.

Mitchell struck out to end the game, and that at-bat marked the end of his career, since he retired after the 1956 season.

Life After Baseball and Honors

After retiring from professional baseball in 1956, Dale Mitchell jumped into the oil business. He eventually became president of Western Cement, a division of Martin-Marietta.

The University of Oklahoma named a baseball park after him, thanks to his son Dale E. Mitchell, who funded the project.

Business Ventures and Personal Life

Mitchell dove into the oil business right after baseball. He climbed up to president of Western Cement, which was part of Martin-Marietta Corporation.

He stepped down from Western Cement in 1981. By then, he’d spent 25 years in the business world after his baseball career wrapped up.

Since 1975, heart problems started to trouble him. These health issues stuck with him for over a decade.

Mitchell lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his wife June. Their family included sons Dale E. Mitchell and Dudley, plus daughter Lana.

On January 5, 1987, Mitchell died of a heart attack in Tulsa at 65. His wife, three children, and two stepchildren from Tulsa and Dallas survived him.

University of Oklahoma Ballpark Dedication

The University of Oklahoma named its baseball facility after Mitchell. The L. Dale Mitchell Baseball Park honors both his college and pro career.

Mitchell’s son, Dale E. Mitchell, who worked as a banker in Oklahoma City, donated the money to build the park. That family gift helped create a lasting tribute to his father’s baseball legacy.

Mitchell once said having the ballpark named for him was “the biggest honor of his life.” The dedication meant more to him than many of his professional milestones.

The ballpark celebrates a player who still holds University of Oklahoma records. Mitchell’s career batting average of .467 and his single-season record of .507 haven’t been broken at the school.

Remembering Dale Mitchell

Casey Stengel picked Mitchell as the left fielder on his all-opponent team. Mitchell always said this was one of his proudest moments in baseball.

The Sporting News spotlighted Mitchell as one of just 10 living players since World War II to hit over .300 in seven seasons. They gave him this nod the summer before he passed away.

A lot of folks remember Mitchell as the last out in Don Larsen’s perfect game during the 1956 World Series. NBC’s Today Show even asked him to come on with Larsen and Yogi Berra to talk about that historic day.

Mitchell turned down the invitation, telling producers, “I’m not flying any 2,000 miles to talk about striking out.” You can really sense he wanted people to focus on his whole career, not just one tough moment.