Blix Donnelly – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Most baseball fans probably haven’t heard much about Blix Donnelly. Still, this right-handed pitcher from Minnesota carved out one of the more interesting careers in 1940s baseball. Sylvester Urban “Blix” Donnelly retired from Major League Baseball in 1951, wrapping up an eight-season run that included a World Series championship with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1944. His road to the majors was far from typical. He didn’t even make his debut until he was 30, after years bouncing around the minors.

Donnelly’s baseball journey started in small-town Minnesota and eventually landed him on baseball’s biggest stage. He played for three major league teams: the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Boston Braves.

What really sets his story apart isn’t just the late start. It’s how he seized the moment when he finally got his shot.

His career paints a picture of what pro baseball looked like in the 1940s and early ‘50s. From those first games in Minnesota to his last season with the Braves, Donnelly’s path proves that talent and grit could still take you far, even when the odds seemed long.

Early Life and Background

Sylvester Urban “Blix” Donnelly was born January 21, 1914, in Olivia, Minnesota, a small farming town. He grew up surrounded by family and the rhythms of rural life, and his high school athletic days laid the groundwork for his future in professional baseball.

Childhood in Olivia, Minnesota

Blix grew up in Olivia, a farming community in southwestern Minnesota. The town had about 1,500 people back then.

He was the oldest of three sons born to Charles and Elizabeth Donnelly in 1914. Charles, his dad, worked as a barber and had moved from Wisconsin to Minnesota. Elizabeth, his mom, was Minnesota-born, the daughter of French immigrants, and she married Charles in 1913.

Gordon, Blix’s younger brother, was born in 1916, and John came along in 1924.

As a kid, Blix picked up the barber trade from his father. That skill came in handy later, since he could cut hair to make money during baseball’s off-seasons.

His dad started calling him “Blix,” but nobody really knows why. The nickname stuck—he used it throughout his baseball career.

High School Baseball Years

Donnelly went to Olivia Public High School and played a bunch of sports. He was on the football, basketball, and baseball teams.

Baseball became his main thing. He pitched for the school’s baseball team.

His pitching skills really stood out during the summer of 1932. After graduating in May, he led Olivia’s junior-league team to the state playoffs.

That tournament showed just how good he was at striking guys out. In their final game, even though Olivia lost 12-7 to a South St. Paul team, Donnelly struck out 21 batters.

That South St. Paul team had future major leaguer Mickey Rocco. Even in defeat, Donnelly’s performance turned heads.

Path to Professional Baseball

After high school, Donnelly worked for two years and pitched for Olivia’s town team. He picked up extra cash by pitching for other nearby teams too.

The summer of 1934 changed everything. George Thompson, an umpire, noticed Donnelly’s arm and invited him to a three-day baseball school at Nicollet Park in Minneapolis.

Thompson picked 30 players from outside the Twin Cities to attend free. The school had 268 players in total that year, including future big leaguers Jimmy Pofahl and Mickey Rocco.

Mike Kelley and the Minneapolis Millers staff ran the school. Donnelly wasn’t big—just 5’10” and 165 pounds—but his fastball made the Millers’ coaches take notice.

That exposure finally got him a tryout and a contract with Superior, Wisconsin of the Northern League in 1935.

Minor League Career

Donnelly spent nine years grinding it out in the minors before he reached the majors. He built a reputation as a strikeout pitcher with sharp command. His journey took him through several teams and leagues, and he racked up some eye-popping numbers.

Notable Teams and Performance

Donnelly started his pro career in 1935 with Superior, Wisconsin, after attending that Minneapolis baseball school. He showed promise right away, earning a trade to Duluth for the 1936 season.

His time in Duluth wasn’t easy, but he learned a lot. He went 11-19, but he struck out 232 batters in just 214 innings. That’s basically a strikeout per inning—pretty wild, even if his win-loss record didn’t look great.

He kept developing his stuff as he moved through different minor league teams. His fastball and breaking ball combo gave hitters fits.

Donnelly’s persistence through all those teams and leagues really shows how much he wanted to make it. Every stop gave him experience that paid off later.

Breakthrough in the Western Association

The 1941 season with Class C Springfield in the Western Association was Donnelly’s breakout year. He put up a 28-6 record—just dominant.

He set a Western Association record with 304 strikeouts that year. He also led the league in innings pitched, complete games, and wins.

His performance was so strong that he got promoted late in the season to Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League. Even after the move, he managed to pitch three more games at a higher level.

That season proved Donnelly belonged in the upper levels of pro ball. Scouts and executives took notice, especially after those 304 strikeouts.

Achievements and No-Hitters

Donnelly had some crazy highlights in the minors. He threw three no-hitters in nine seasons. That’s not something you see every day.

One of his best games came when he struck out 19 batters—an incredible single-game feat by any standard.

Those kinds of performances made Donnelly one of the most feared pitchers in the minors. He drew crowds wherever he went.

He was consistently excellent, no matter which team or league he played in. By 1944, he had finally earned his shot with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Major League Debut and St. Louis Cardinals Years

Blix Donnelly finally made it to the majors in 1944 at age 30, after nearly a decade in the minors. His debut with the St. Louis Cardinals kicked off a three-year run that included a World Series win and some memorable October moments.

Joining MLB as a 30-Year-Old Rookie

Donnelly debuted in the big leagues on May 6, 1944, with the St. Louis Cardinals. World War II opened the door for older players, since many regulars were off serving.

The Cardinals organization got Donnelly when Branch Rickey bought the Duluth franchise in 1936. Donnelly worked his way up through stops in Sacramento and Rochester.

He wasn’t a big guy for a pitcher—just 5’10” and 165 pounds—but his 4-F draft status (exempt from service) gave him a shot during wartime.

Scouts liked his fastball and curveball. The Cardinals moved him from a starter to a reliever when he made the majors.

Key Performances with the Cardinals

In his 1944 rookie year, Donnelly pitched in 27 games (only four starts). He ended up with a 2.12 ERA, two wins, one loss, and four saves.

His best year as a starter came in 1945. He made 23 starts for the Cardinals, went 8-10, and even got a nod on The Sporting News midseason All-Star team.

Notable 1945 Performance:

• One-hitter against the Phillies on June 27
• Career-high 23 starts

In 1946, the Cardinals’ strong pitching staff pushed Donnelly back into the bullpen. A sore arm slowed him down, and the Cardinals sold him to the Philadelphia Phillies for $7,500 during the All-Star break.

Role in the 1944 World Series

Donnelly’s biggest moment came in the 1944 World Series against the St. Louis Browns. He pitched two scoreless innings in Game One, but Game Two really made his name.

He came in during the eighth inning with the score tied 2-2. He struck out the first two batters and got Mark Christman swinging to end the inning.

Then came the 11th inning. With a runner on second, Donnelly barehanded a bunt and fired to third for the out—a gutsy, highlight-reel play.

Game Two Stats:

• 3.1 innings pitched
• 5 strikeouts
• 1 walk
• Got the win

The Cardinals scored in the bottom of the 11th, and Donnelly got the victory. That defensive play was called one of the best in World Series history. The Cardinals took the series in six games.

Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Braves

Donnelly’s career changed course in 1946 when the Cardinals sold him to the Phillies after a heated exchange with manager Eddie Dyer. He spent five seasons with the Phillies and finished up with the Boston Braves in 1951.

Transition to the Philadelphia Phillies

On July 6, 1946, Donnelly’s time with the Cardinals ended. After being pulled from a game, he threatened to hit manager Eddie Dyer with a baseball. Not long after, the Cardinals sold him to the Phillies.

The move to Philadelphia shifted his career in a big way. At 32, he wasn’t the up-and-coming pitcher who helped the Cardinals win the 1944 World Series. Now, he was a veteran presence on a rebuilding Phillies team.

Adjusting to the new team wasn’t easy. He had to fit in with new teammates and coaches. His role changed too—he went from a key player on a championship squad to more of a utility pitcher on a team still finding its way.

Contributions to the Phillies’ Success

Donnelly pitched as both a spot starter and reliever for the Phillies from 1946 to 1950. His versatility made him valuable. He gave the Phillies veteran pitching depth when they needed it.

He was especially useful in close games and tough spots. The Phillies leaned on him to pitch in whatever role was needed.

Key Stats with Philadelphia:

• Years: 1946-1950
• Role: Spot starter and reliever
• ERA: Part of his career 3.49 ERA

Still, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. On September 4, 1949, Donnelly started the second game of a doubleheader against the Braves and got pulled after the first five batters reached base.

Final Season with the Boston Braves

In 1951, Donnelly joined the Boston Braves for his final season in the majors. At 37, he was nearing the end. The Braves gave him one last chance to pitch at the top level.

His time in Boston was short but meaningful. He brought plenty of experience to a team looking for steady arms. His last big league game came on May 3, 1951, capping an eight-year major league career.

Career Totals:

• Record: 27-36
• ERA: 3.49
• Strikeouts: 296
• Games: 190

After the Braves let him go, Donnelly wasn’t quite done with baseball. He finished out 1951 with the International League Baltimore Orioles, posting a 7-6 record and a 4.07 ERA. That last minor league stint helped him ease out of pro ball.

Career Overview and Statistics

Blix Donnelly put together an eight-year run in Major League Baseball from 1944 to 1951. You can see his pro record: 27 wins, 36 losses, and a 3.49 ERA over 190 games. He worked as both a starter and reliever for three National League teams.

MLB Career Statistics

Donnelly pitched in 190 Major League games during his time in the big leagues. He threw 691.2 innings, not a small feat by any stretch.

He picked up 27 wins and 36 losses, which gave him a .429 winning percentage. As a right-hander, Donnelly struck out 296 batters and walked 306, so his strikeout-to-walk ratio sat just under 1.

He managed to finish 27 games and notched 7 shutouts. Those are solid numbers for his era.

Philadelphia really brought out his best seasons. He spent five years there and picked up most of his career wins as a Phillie.

Pitching Style and ERA

Donnelly kept a career ERA of 3.49, which was just a bit above average for his time. In 1944, pitching for St. Louis, he posted his best ERA at 2.12 over 27 games.

He moved between starting and relief roles throughout his career. Donnelly started 75 games and picked up 12 saves in relief.

If you look at his pitching stats, he allowed 8.6 hits per nine innings. Control sometimes gave him trouble, as he walked 4.0 batters per nine innings.

His 1947 season with Philadelphia stands out. He put up 3.4 WAR and a 2.98 ERA over 38 games, which is impressive.

Notable Records and Milestones

Donnelly’s biggest moment came in 1944 when he won the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched in two World Series games, going 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA.

In those games, he threw 6 innings, gave up just 2 hits and 1 walk, and struck out 9 hitters. That postseason effort really became the highlight of his career.

He started his MLB journey at age 30, which is a bit late compared to most players. Donnelly made his debut on May 6, 1944, with the Cardinals.

He wrapped up his last game in 1951 with the Boston Braves at age 37. His career stretched across the post-World War II era, and he played alongside plenty of returning veterans.

Retirement and Legacy

Blix Donnelly finished his career with the Boston Braves in 1951. That ended an 18-year baseball journey, covering both the minors and majors. After baseball, he settled back in Minnesota, and his World Series performance still gets mentioned in baseball circles.

Life After Baseball

Donnelly went home to Olivia, Minnesota after he retired from pro baseball in 1951. He stayed in that small farming community for the rest of his life.

He didn’t just sit around, either. Donnelly ran a barbershop, a trade he picked up from his dad, Charles, who had also been a barber in Olivia.

He tried his hand at a bunch of sales jobs, like water-conditioners and outboard motors. He even owned a business selling anhydrous ammonia to local farmers.

Baseball never really left his life. In 1952, he spent a short stint as a player-coach for Baltimore, but after that, he stepped away from the game for good.

Donnelly lived quietly in Olivia until he passed away on June 20, 1976, at age 62 from cancer. His wife Helen and son James survived him.

Contribution to Baseball History

Donnelly’s biggest impact on the game came during the 1944 World Series. His performance in Game Two still gets talked about as one of the best relief outings in Series history.

At 30 years old, he entered the game in the eighth inning with the score tied 2-2. He struck out some crucial hitters and pulled off a bare-handed defensive play that people called one of the best in World Series history.

In the 11th inning, he fielded a bunt with his bare hand and fired to third base to get the runner. That play helped the Cardinals hang on for the win.

Donnelly’s World Series victory marked the high point for a guy who spent nine years grinding in the minors. The Cardinals went on to win the Series in six games, and Donnelly’s efforts played a huge part in that success.

Recognition and Influence

The town of Olivia threw a special celebration to honor Donnelly’s World Series success. On October 24, 1944, more than 1,000 people packed into the Olivia Armory to show how much his achievement meant to their small hometown.

The Sporting News picked Donnelly for its midseason All-Star team in 1945. They liked what he brought as a starting pitcher for the Cardinals, especially during his standout season as a regular starter.

Donnelly finished his career with 27 wins and 36 losses in 190 major league games. Over eight years, he racked up 296 strikeouts and proved himself as a reliable pitcher during the World War II era.

His story shows just how much perseverance matters in pro baseball. Coming from a small Minnesota town and playing 18 years of professional ball, he reached World Series glory—something that still inspires fans and players from little communities everywhere.