Cecil Upshaw – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

When Cecil Upshaw retired in 1975, he closed the book on a nine-year Major League Baseball run filled with both high points and grit. At 6’6″, this right-handed reliever from Spearsville, Louisiana, became a crucial bullpen piece for five teams between 1966 and 1975.

Upshaw’s 1969 season with the Atlanta Braves really stands out—he notched 27 saves and played a big part in the team’s National League West championship. His pro journey took him through the Atlanta Braves, Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, and Chicago White Sox. In total, he went 34-36 over 348 games.

What makes Upshaw’s story stick is his comeback after a freak basketball accident in 1970 that nearly ended his career. He badly injured his right ring finger but fought his way back to the mound after several surgeries and a whole season of rehab. That determination pretty much sums up his career and who he was.

Early Life and Background

Cecil Lee Upshaw Jr. was born October 22, 1942, in Spearsville, Louisiana. He was the only child of Cecil Lee Upshaw and Wilma Leanue Boatright.

That 6’6″ height? It helped him stand out in both basketball and baseball at Centenary College of Louisiana.

Birthplace and Family

Cecil Lee Upshaw Jr. entered the world in tiny Spearsville, Louisiana. His parents, Cecil Lee Upshaw and Wilma Leanue Boatright, raised him as their only kid.

The family later moved to Bossier City, Louisiana, and Upshaw attended Bossier City High School. Growing up in Louisiana in the 1940s and 50s, he developed his athletic skills in a state that loves its sports.

His height made him impossible to miss even as a kid. That physical edge stuck with him throughout his athletic life.

Education and College Baseball

After high school, Upshaw went to Centenary College in Shreveport. He studied business administration and played both basketball and baseball.

His baseball stats in college were nuts. During his sophomore and junior years, he put up a 12-4 record and struck out 204 batters in 126 innings, walking only 24. That’s some serious control.

At Centenary, he still holds records for a 1.18 career ERA and a 0.85 single-season ERA (from 1962). On the basketball court, he averaged 13.7 points and six rebounds.

He showed off as a two-sport athlete, but baseball clearly looked like his ticket to the pros.

Professional Baseball Career Overview

Cecil Upshaw pitched in the majors for nine seasons, from 1966 to 1975, always as a reliever. He finished with 34 wins, 36 losses, and 87 saves, posting a 3.13 ERA in 348 games.

Debut and Rookie Years

Upshaw made his MLB debut on October 1, 1966, for the Atlanta Braves, just 23 years old. He faced the Cincinnati Reds, pitched three innings, and didn’t give up a hit.

He’d come out of Centenary College before turning pro. That rookie year was short—he pitched in only one game.

But in 1967, things changed. Upshaw appeared in 30 games for Atlanta, going 2-3 with a 2.58 ERA and nine saves. That year, he proved he could be a steady hand in the bullpen.

By 1968, he’d become a key closer. He pitched in 52 games, saved 13, went 8-7, and put up a 2.47 ERA. He threw 116.2 innings, showing he could handle a heavy workload.

Teams Played For

Upshaw spent most of his career with the Atlanta Braves (1966-1969, 1971-1973). Seven seasons in Atlanta brought him 79 saves and a 3.01 ERA over 241 games.

He missed all of 1970 after that finger injury. When he came back in 1971, he had his best statistical year—11-6 record, 17 saves, and a 3.51 ERA.

The Houston Astros picked him up during 1973. He pitched in 35 games for Houston, posting a 4.46 ERA.

In 1974, he jumped to the American League, splitting time with the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees. He appeared in seven games for Cleveland, then moved to the Yankees and picked up six saves in 36 games.

His last season was with the Chicago White Sox in 1975. He pitched 29 games, went 1-1, saved one, and put up a 3.23 ERA before calling it quits.

Key Career Highlights

Upshaw’s biggest year was 1969—27 saves for the Braves, 62 games pitched, and a 2.91 ERA. He really locked down Atlanta’s bullpen that season.

He piled up 87 saves in his career, most of them (79) with Atlanta.

His best all-around year was probably 1971—11 wins, 41 games finished, and 17 saves. He was Atlanta’s go-to closer.

He proved durable, appearing in 348 games and throwing 563 innings, all out of the bullpen. His 3.13 ERA and 1.282 WHIP show he could get big league hitters out.

After the 1975 season with the White Sox, Upshaw walked away from pro baseball. He finished with 34 wins, 36 losses, and 323 strikeouts. He left a mark as a steady relief pitcher in both leagues.

Statistical Achievements and Performance

For nine MLB seasons, Cecil Upshaw made a name for himself as a reliable relief pitcher. He racked up 87 saves and a 3.13 ERA in 348 games, peaking with the Atlanta Braves as a closer and setup man.

Pitching Style and Role

Upshaw worked only as a reliever—never started a game in his 348 major league appearances. At 6’6″ and 205 pounds, he threw right-handed, using his size to create tough angles for hitters.

He mostly closed or set up games, especially with Atlanta from 1966 to 1973. He finished 230 games in his career, showing teams trusted him in high-pressure spots.

His best year was 1969: 27 saves, a 2.91 ERA, 62 games, and 105.1 innings pitched.

Career Statistics

Upshaw’s career numbers: 34 wins, 36 losses over nine years and five teams. He pitched 563 innings, struck out 323, and walked 177. That’s pretty good control for a reliever in his era.

His best stretch came with Atlanta, where he earned 79 of his 87 career saves. The Braves leaned on him as their main closer in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

Key Metrics: ERA, WHIP, Saves

Upshaw’s 3.13 career ERA was solid for a reliever in his day, when offense wasn’t as crazy as it is now. His best season ERA was 2.47 in 1968 over 116.2 innings.

His WHIP (walks plus hits per inning) was 1.282. He had decent control, though sometimes command issues crept in. In 1968, he posted his best WHIP—1.046.

Saves were his calling card—87 total. In 1969, his 27 saves put him near the top of the National League. From 1967 to 1969 and again in 1971-72, he averaged over 13 saves a season.

After leaving Atlanta, his save numbers dropped—just 8 in his last three years with four teams. His ERA+ of 113 means he was 13% better than league average for his career.

Notable Seasons and Career Turning Points

Cecil Upshaw’s career had clear phases—his peak with the Braves, a tough injury, and then a series of trades before the end in 1975.

Peak Years with Atlanta Braves

Upshaw hit his stride with Atlanta from 1967 to 1969. In 1967, he got called up from Richmond after saving 14 games in the minors. Right away, he earned a save and a win in his first three big league outings.

In 1968, he had to adjust after a rough 1-4 start. He checked his own notes on pitching mechanics, made some tweaks, and turned things around. He finished with an 8-7 record, 2.47 ERA, and 13 saves.

Then came 1969. Upshaw pitched in 62 games, saved 27, and tied for second in the National League. He helped the Braves win the NL West Division.

That year, he even hit his only career home run on May 25 against the Phillies. The Braves made it to the National League Championship Series, and Upshaw pitched in all three games versus the Mets.

Trades and Transitions

A bizarre injury in 1970 changed everything. While showing off basketball moves to teammates, he nearly sliced off his right ring finger on an awning. He needed five surgeries and missed the entire season.

He made it back in 1971 and went 11-6 with 17 saves. But his performance slowly faded. In 1973, the Braves sent him to the Houston Astros for outfielder Norm Miller after a rough 9.82 ERA start.

The Astros thought switching him from submarine to sidearm would help. It didn’t really work—he went 2-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 35 games.

After 1973, Houston traded him to the Cleveland Indians for Jerry Johnson. He didn’t last long in Cleveland before moving to the New York Yankees.

Final Season and Retirement in 1975

Upshaw’s last year was 1975 with the Chicago White Sox. By then, his fastball had lost zip, and his screwball wasn’t fooling hitters. Age and that old finger injury caught up with him.

He didn’t pitch much in Chicago and didn’t put up great numbers. The White Sox let him go during the season, and that was it for his big league career.

Upshaw finished with a 34-36 record and a 3.12 ERA in 348 games. He recorded 86 saves, all as a reliever after his rookie year.

The drop from his Atlanta peak to his final year shows how quickly things can change in pro baseball. Upshaw’s career really shows how injuries and time can catch up with even the most promising players.

Baseball Cards and Memorabilia

Cecil Upshaw’s baseball cards cover his nine-year MLB run from 1966 to 1975. Collectors can find 39 different cards, including four rookie cards, scattered across various databases.

Modern collectors usually track down these vintage cards at specialized shops like TBC Baseball Cards or in those affordable team dollar boxes. It’s a bit of a hunt, but that’s half the fun, isn’t it?

TBC Baseball Cards

TBC Baseball Cards carries a solid selection of Cecil Upshaw memorabilia for anyone who’s really into collecting. The shop specializes in vintage cards from the time Upshaw played, so it’s a good spot to look.

You can find Upshaw’s rookie cards from his 1968 season with the Atlanta Braves there. Those rookie cards are definitely among the most popular items in his collection.

The shop keeps detailed checklists of all known Upshaw cards. That covers his cards from 1966 through 1975, showing his time with five different teams.

Collectible Card Highlights

Upshaw’s most valuable cards come from his early years. His rookie cards from 1968 still grab the highest prices among collectors.

There are 37 variation cards beyond the four rookie cards. These variations have different photo crops, team swaps, and some special edition releases.

He showed up on cards from all the big manufacturers during his career. His 1975 Topps card marks one of his last appearances before he retired.

Key Card Categories:

• Rookie cards (4 total)
• Team variation cards (37 total)
• Final season cards (1975)

TBC Baseball Card Store and Team Dollar Boxes

The TBC Baseball Card Store organizes Upshaw cards into handy sections for collectors. You’ll find both graded and ungraded cards from his career in their inventory.

Team dollar boxes offer a cheap way for newcomers to jump in. You can usually spot common Upshaw cards from his days with the Braves, White Sox, Yankees, Astros, and Indians in those boxes.

Collectors use the store’s pricing guides to keep up with card values. TBC Baseball Card Store updates prices to follow recent sales and market shifts.

Shopping Options:

• Individual card purchases
• Team dollar box selections
• Complete set offerings
• Graded card options

Legacy and Personal Life

Cecil Upshaw lived a private, quiet life after baseball. He passed away at 52 from a heart attack in 1995 and was buried in Georgia.

Life After Retirement

After the Chicago White Sox released him in 1976, Cecil Upshaw left professional baseball for good. He didn’t follow the usual route of former players who go into coaching or broadcasting.

He settled in the Atlanta area, where he’d had his best years as a player. He really made a clean break from pro sports and chose a quieter life.

During retirement, Upshaw kept to himself. He avoided the spotlight and rarely gave interviews about his baseball days. That low-key approach matched how he was during his career.

His business administration degree from Centenary College of Louisiana helped in his life after baseball. The education he got before signing with the Milwaukee Braves gave him skills beyond the game.

Honors and Recognition

Cecil Upshaw’s baseball legacy mainly comes from his performance during the Atlanta Braves’ 1969 National League West championship season. He saved 27 games that year, tying for second in the National League.

He still holds career and single-season ERA records at Centenary College of Louisiana. His college stats included a wild 1.18 career ERA and a 0.85 mark in 1962.

Upshaw’s most memorable major league moment happened in 1969, when he hit his only career home run. That solo shot off Turk Farrell in May helped the Braves beat the Phillies 4-1.

He came back from a nasty finger injury in 1970, which showed his determination and grit. The injury almost ended his career, but he returned and pitched for several more seasons.

Death and Cemetery Information

Cecil Lee Upshaw Jr. died on February 7, 1995, in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He was just 52 years old, which feels surprisingly young for a former pro athlete.

A heart attack took his life. Upshaw was buried at Eternal Hills Memory Gardens in Snellville, Georgia.

This cemetery sits in the Atlanta metro area. After retiring, he’d settled down there and called it home.

His final resting place really shows his bond with Atlanta. That’s the city where he found his biggest success pitching relief for the Braves from 1966 to 1973.