Don Buddin – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Don Buddin’s name might not echo through baseball halls like some other shortstops from his era, but his six-season career still tells a story of grit and perseverance in America’s pastime.

From 1956 to 1962, Buddin wore the uniforms of three teams during a pretty transformative time in Major League Baseball, including the expansion Houston Colt .45s in their very first season.

Buddin called it quits in 1962 after splitting his final season between the Houston Colt .45s and Detroit Tigers. That marked the end of a journey that started with a lot of promise, but honestly, his defensive struggles and the Fenway Park boos often overshadowed his efforts.

He hit .241 for his career and, yeah, he led the league in errors more than once. Still, he managed to deliver some moments that reminded fans why the Red Sox believed in that young shortstop from South Carolina.

If you look at his journey—from signing as an 18-year-old amateur to his last game—it really highlights the challenges players faced trying to make it during baseball’s so-called golden age.

Buddin’s path included military service, cross-country trades, and the unique experience of playing in a franchise’s first-ever National League game. There’s a lot to learn from his determination and how the sport itself was changing in the late ’50s and early ’60s.

Early Life and Baseball Beginnings

Donald Thomas Buddin was born May 5, 1934, in Turbeville, South Carolina. He grew up in a baseball-loving family and became a standout multi-sport athlete at Olanta High School.

His performance on the diamond caught the attention of major league scouts. Right after graduation, he landed a pretty lucrative contract with the Boston Red Sox.

Childhood in South Carolina

Don Buddin grew up in a close-knit family of seven in Turbeville. His dad, Carlisle Buddin, worked as an insurance salesman for Liberty Life and played semipro baseball back in the day.

His mom, Carrie Willis Buddin, was a homemaker and always backed Don’s athletic dreams. Don, the second-born, had an older brother who played baseball too, but never really chased it professionally.

The Buddin family supported Don’s baseball ambitions completely. Carlisle had pitched at The Citadel, so they understood what it took to compete.

That foundation shaped Don’s early development as a player. The family’s encouragement made a difference as he started showing real talent on local fields.

High School Achievements

Don attended Olanta High School, in a small South Carolina community of about 400 people. He graduated in 1952 after establishing himself as a top prospect in the region.

At Olanta, Don played several positions: infield, shortstop, and pitcher. His versatility and skills drew plenty of attention from scouts.

High School Accomplishments:

• Named All-American in baseball
• Also earned All-American honors in football
• Sometimes a dozen or more scouts would show up just to watch him play

He got football scholarship offers from South Carolina and Clemson, but he stuck with baseball. People described him as “perhaps the most highly rated prospect the Red Sox signed in the early 1950s.”

Signing with Boston Red Sox

Red Sox scout Mace Brown kept tabs on Buddin for over a year before he graduated. The day after Don finished high school, several teams got 15-minute meetings with him and his dad.

They held the meetings in the town undertaker’s parlor, the only air-conditioned spot in Olanta. Boston put $50,000 on the table, which was a hefty sum back then.

Key reasons Buddin picked Boston:

• That $50,000 signing bonus
• Fenway Park’s left-field wall fit his right-handed swing
• A shot at the shortstop job

At 18, Buddin signed with the Red Sox and headed straight to Boston for a two-week workout with the team. They sent him to Roanoke in the Piedmont League under manager Owen Scheetz to start his pro career.

Major League Career Overview

Don Buddin played six seasons in the majors from 1956 to 1962, mostly as a shortstop for the Boston Red Sox.

He also played for the Houston Colt .45s and Detroit Tigers in his final year, 1962.

Debut with Boston Red Sox

Buddin made his MLB debut on April 17, 1956, at age 21 with the Red Sox. He faced the Orioles in his first game and went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

His rookie year looked promising. He played in 114 games, batted .239, hit five homers, and drove in 37 runs as Boston’s shortstop.

He missed all of 1957 due to military service, which definitely interrupted his early development.

When Buddin returned in 1958, he took over as the Red Sox’s regular shortstop. He played 136 games that season and bumped up his offensive numbers with 12 home runs and 43 RBIs.

Role as Shortstop

From 1958 through 1961, Buddin held down the shortstop job in Boston. He started at least 108 games at short every season.

His defense was solid but not exactly spectacular. In 1959, he made 35 errors—more than average for the position—but he could turn double plays and had decent range.

The Red Sox counted on Buddin’s steady presence at shortstop during those years. In 1959, he played 150 games, showing his durability.

His best offensive season came in 1961, when he hit .263 with a .394 on-base percentage. That year, he really showed he could get on base and help the offense.

Position in MLB

Buddin played for three teams during his career. He spent five seasons with Boston (1956, 1958-1961), then moved on to Houston and Detroit in 1962.

He started at shortstop for Houston in their first official National League game on April 10, 1962. The Colt .45s beat the Cubs 11-2 in that historic debut.

He split his final season between Houston and Detroit, playing 40 games for the Colt .45s and 31 for the Tigers before retiring.

Buddin finished with a .241 career batting average, 41 homers, and 225 RBIs across 711 games. People knew him as a reliable player who always gave effort during his six years in the big leagues.

Transition to Houston Colt .45s

Don Buddin’s move to Houston marked a big moment in his career, as the expansion franchise geared up for its first season.

The Boston Red Sox traded him to Houston on November 26, 1961, for Eddie Bressoud, setting him up to be the team’s first shortstop.

Expansion Draft and Trade Details

Houston picked up possible shortstop options in the 1961 National League expansion draft. Their first pick was Eddie Bressoud from San Francisco, and their fifth was Bob Lillis from St. Louis.

Bressoud never actually played shortstop for Houston. On November 26, 1961, they sent him to Boston for Don Buddin.

That move gave Houston an experienced shortstop. Buddin had spent most of his career with Boston from 1956 and 1958-1961.

The trade ended up working out for Boston. Bressoud hit .277 with 14 home runs in 1962 and made the All-Star team in 1964.

First Shortstop for Houston Colt .45s

On April 10, 1962, Don Buddin made history as Houston Colt .45s’ first shortstop. He was almost 28 years old when he took the field at Colt Stadium for the team’s inaugural game against the Cubs.

Game details:

• Batting order: Eighth
• Defense: Errorless, nothing flashy but steady
• At the plate: 0-for-3

The Colt .45s cruised past the Cubs 11-2, racking up 13 hits. Only Buddin and pitcher Bobby Shantz went hitless that day.

Even though he didn’t get a hit, Buddin’s defense helped lock down the win.

Inaugural 1962 Season Performances

Buddin’s time in Houston was short and, honestly, a struggle. He played just 40 games before the team decided to move on.

1962 Houston stats:

• Games: 40
• Batting average: .163
• Performance: Well below expectations

His hitting troubles led Houston to let him go. On July 20, 1962, the Colt .45s sold his contract to the Detroit Tigers.

After joining Detroit, Buddin did a little better. He bumped his combined 1962 average up to .196 by the end of the season.

That year marked the end of his major league career. He finished with a .241 average across six seasons.

Key Moments and Team Interactions

Buddin’s career really was shaped by the people around him—teammates and managers who stuck by him through tough stretches. His last move to Detroit came after Houston grew frustrated with his performance.

Notable Teammates and Contemporaries

In Boston, Buddin played with some notable double-play partners. Billy Goodman was his second baseman in 1956 and brought some veteran presence to the infield.

From 1958 to 1960, Buddin teamed up with Pete Runnels at second base. Runnels later won two AL batting titles. Buddin admitted, “they weren’t the greatest defensively, but you know, they did a good job.”

He really liked playing with Chuck Schilling, who joined him in 1961. Buddin said, “Chuck was great! Great fielder, great double-play man.”

Manager Pinky Higgins was Buddin’s biggest supporter in Boston. Higgins had managed him in Louisville and told owner Tom Yawkey, “You’re going to like that little Buddin. He’s a peppery kid who is a battler down to the last pitch.”

Trade to Detroit Tigers

The Red Sox sent Buddin to Houston for Eddie Bressoud on November 26, 1961, right after Buddin’s best offensive season.

In Houston, Buddin really struggled, hitting just .163 in 40 games. The Colt .45s didn’t wait long to move on.

On July 20, 1962, Houston sold his contract to the Detroit Tigers. That pretty much ended his big league career after a short stint in Detroit.

It’s wild how quickly things can change in baseball. Buddin went from Boston’s regular shortstop to being sold by his second team in less than a year.

Retirement and Personal Life

Don Buddin’s professional baseball career wrapped up in 1962 after brief stops with the Houston Colt .45s and Detroit Tigers.

After retiring, he headed home to South Carolina and stayed close to the game through community events and Old Timers Games.

Retirement from Professional Baseball

Buddin’s big league days ended in 1962 after he played for three teams that season. Houston picked him up in a trade with Boston for Eddie Bressoud.

He struggled in Houston, hitting just .163 in 40 games, so the team sold his contract to Detroit on July 20, 1962.

The Tigers became his last stop in the majors. After six seasons, Buddin retired from professional baseball at age 28.

His career numbers: .241 batting average, 41 home runs, and 559 games played. He definitely had his share of fielding errors in Boston, but he also flashed some surprising power from the shortstop spot.

Post-Baseball Activities

After he retired, Buddin headed back to South Carolina. He kept close to his family, living quietly with two sisters, three children, and seven grandchildren around him in his later years.

He stayed involved with baseball by volunteering and participating in community events. Buddin joined Old Timers Games, which gave him a chance to see old teammates and enjoy the game without all the pressure.

He put a lot of heart into helping others, especially through his work with the Special Olympics. Buddin believed in using sports for good, supporting athletes with disabilities whenever he could.

Buddin never made a return to Fenway Park after his playing days ended. The rough relationship with Boston fans, who often booed him, probably kept him away from the ballpark where he spent most of his major league career.

He died on June 30, 2011, at age 77 in South Carolina.

Legacy and Death

Don Buddin’s baseball career left a pretty mixed legacy. He had some defensive struggles and his offensive stats were modest. He passed away in 2011 at age 77 in South Carolina, where he’d spent his last years.

Career Statistics and Impact

Buddin wrapped up his six-season career with a .241 batting average and 41 home runs. His best year at the plate came in 1958, when he hit 12 home runs.

The next season, he managed his career-high 53 RBIs.

People mostly remember Buddin for his defense. He led the American League in errors by shortstops twice, making 31 errors in 1958 and 35 errors in 1959.

Even with those fielding issues, Buddin played in Houston’s first official National League game on April 10, 1962. He didn’t get a hit in three at-bats, but he played error-free and helped turn a double play in the 11-2 win over the Chicago Cubs.

Boston fans often booed Buddin because of his problems in the field. His defensive struggles really overshadowed anything he did with the bat during his years with the Red Sox from 1956 to 1961.

Death and Burial Information

Don Buddin died on June 30, 2011, when he was 77. Kelton Floyd from Floyd Funeral Home in Olanta, South Carolina, confirmed it.

Buddin was born in Olanta, South Carolina. He’d lived in Greenville for 36 years before he passed away.

His parents were Carlisle Alga Buddin and Carrie Lucille Willis Buddin.

The Boston Red Sox signed Buddin in 1952, back when he was just 18. He spent 13 years playing professional baseball, counting his time in the minors.

His death really closed the book on a certain era of the 1950s Red Sox. Buddin kind of embodied the ups and downs of Boston baseball back then, didn’t he?