John O’Donoghue – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

John O’Donoghue is honestly a pretty fascinating figure in baseball history. He really embodied the journeyman pitcher, carving out a solid nine-year career in Major League Baseball from 1963 to 1971.

This lefty from Kansas City, Missouri, threw his last pitch on June 22, 1971, for the Montreal Expos. That marked the end of a career that took him across six different franchises during one of baseball’s most unpredictable eras.

O’Donoghue played during the final years of the Kansas City Athletics, saw the birth of the Seattle Pilots, and experienced the early Montreal Expos days. He got a front-row seat to baseball’s rapid changes in the 1960s and early ’70s.

Standing 6’4″, he put up a 39-55 record with a 4.07 ERA and 377 strikeouts. His career highlight? An All-Star selection in 1965.

Beyond stats, O’Donoghue’s story is about more than just numbers. He grew from a struggling minor leaguer into a major league starter, then became a reliable reliever, and eventually moved into coaching and business after baseball.

His journey through the sport says a lot about the challenges and small victories that pro athletes faced during a time when baseball was changing fast.

Early Life and Amateur Career

John Eugene O’Donoghue was born on October 7, 1939, in Kansas City, Missouri. He developed his baseball chops there before earning some attention at the University of Missouri.

His college career peaked when he shined in the 1958 College World Series. That performance led to his signing with the Kansas City Athletics in 1959.

Childhood in Kansas City

O’Donoghue grew up in Kansas City during the 1940s and 1950s. The city had a strong baseball culture, giving young players like him plenty of opportunities to develop.

Kansas City boasted a rich baseball tradition back then. Professional teams and countless youth leagues kept the sport alive and competitive.

He developed as a left-handed pitcher during those years. His pitching ability started to stand out in his teens as he worked through local baseball programs.

With his height and build, he looked pretty imposing on the mound even as a kid. Growing up in Kansas City’s baseball scene set him up for later success in college ball.

University of Missouri Years

O’Donoghue went to the University of Missouri and pitched for the Tigers. His sophomore season in 1958 turned out to be his breakout year.

The Tigers made a run all the way to the College World Series final that year. O’Donoghue played a key part in getting Missouri to the championship round.

In the College World Series, he faced the USC Trojans twice in the finals. He pitched eight innings in the first loss to USC, then came back the next night to pitch five more innings in a 12-inning defeat.

Even though he allowed only one run in five innings during the second game, Missouri lost both matchups to USC. Still, O’Donoghue’s performance helped Missouri reach the third round and established him as a top college pitcher.

He became the first Missouri Tiger to later play in a Major League All-Star game after that College World Series appearance.

Signing with Kansas City Athletics

The Kansas City Athletics signed O’Donoghue as an amateur free agent before the 1959 season. He was just 19 years old when he joined their organization.

Signing with the Athletics brought him back home, since Kansas City was where he grew up playing ball. The team saw his potential based on his college career.

O’Donoghue entered the Athletics’ minor league system in 1959. The organization liked his left-handed arm, even though pro baseball would throw plenty of challenges his way.

His signing kicked off a long journey through the minors. O’Donoghue spent four years working on his game in the Athletics’ farm system before he finally made it to the major leagues in 1963.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

John O’Donoghue pitched in the majors from 1963 to 1971. He finished with a 39-55 record, a 4.07 ERA, and pitched in 263 games.

He started as a pitcher for the Kansas City Athletics, then moved mostly to relief roles with five other teams. Those included the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers, and Montreal Expos.

Debut and Initial Seasons

O’Donoghue made his big league debut on September 29, 1963, starting for the Kansas City Athletics against Cleveland. He went six innings, allowed just one earned run, but ended up taking the loss in a 2-1 game.

He got his first major league win on May 12, 1964, at Dodger Stadium against the Angels. O’Donoghue started, pitched seven innings, and gave up two unearned runs in a 6-2 win.

From 1963 to 1965 with Kansas City, O’Donoghue posted a 19-33 record with a 4.38 ERA. Even though he had more losses than wins, he got picked for the 1965 American League All-Star team (he didn’t pitch in the game, but still).

The Athletics traded him to Cleveland in April 1966 for pitcher Ralph Terry. With the Indians from 1966-1967, he improved to a 14-17 record and a 3.51 ERA.

His best outing came on August 19, 1967, when he threw a one-hit shutout against Detroit at Tiger Stadium. He struck out 11 and walked two in a 5-0 win.

Transition from Starter to Reliever

O’Donoghue’s role changed a lot after he joined Baltimore in 1968. From 1963-1967, he started 93 of his 139 games. But from 1968-1971, he came out of the bullpen in 115 of 118 appearances.

The Orioles got O’Donoghue and Gordon Lund from Cleveland for Eddie Fisher on November 28, 1967. He struggled in Baltimore, posting a 6.14 ERA in just 22 innings in 1968.

In 1969, Baltimore traded him to the expansion Seattle Pilots on April 30. O’Donoghue found some success as a reliever in Seattle, putting up a 2-2 record with six saves and a 2.96 ERA in 55 games.

He even became a character in Jim Bouton’s famous book Ball Four, which chronicled that wild 1969 Seattle Pilots season. The team turned into the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970, and O’Donoghue kept working out of the bullpen.

Final Season and Retirement in 1971

O’Donoghue joined the Montreal Expos on June 15, 1970, after they acquired him from Milwaukee. He split his time between Montreal and their Triple-A club, starting 12 games in the minors and finishing with a 6-5 record and a 2.83 ERA.

With the Expos in 1970, he pitched in nine games, started three, and went 2-3 with a 5.24 ERA. His last season came in 1971 with Montreal, where he pitched 17.1 innings in 13 games.

O’Donoghue pitched his last MLB inning on June 22, 1971, against the Braves. He tossed one scoreless inning—no hits, no walks, no strikeouts.

The Expos released him on June 30, 1971. That brought his nine-year major league career to a close.

Over 263 games, O’Donoghue racked up 377 strikeouts. His best season WHIP was 1.171 in 1967.

Team-by-Team Journey

John O’Donoghue pitched for six different organizations during his nine-year MLB career, from 1963 to 1971. He started out with the Kansas City Athletics, hit his stride with the Cleveland Indians, and then moved into a relief role with the Orioles before wrapping up with the Pilots, Brewers, and Expos.

Kansas City Athletics and Kansas City A’s

O’Donoghue signed with the Kansas City Athletics as an amateur free agent in 1959. He spent four tough years in their minor league system, finishing with a combined 26-39 record and a 5.54 ERA.

He finally broke through in 1963 at age 24. Pitching in the Eastern and Pacific Coast Leagues, he posted a 14-11 record and a 3.10 ERA. That earned him a call-up to the big club.

He made his MLB debut on September 29, 1963, starting against Cleveland at Municipal Stadium. He allowed just one earned run over six innings but took the loss in a 2-1 game.

O’Donoghue played two full seasons with the A’s in 1964 and 1965. His first big league win came on May 12, 1964, at Dodger Stadium against the Angels. He went seven innings and got the 6-2 win.

Career Stats with Kansas City:

• Record: 19-33
• ERA: 4.38
• All-Star selection: 1965

Even though he went 9-18 in 1965, O’Donoghue still made his only All-Star team. His 18 losses tied him for the American League lead that season.

Cleveland Indians (CLE)

The Athletics traded O’Donoghue and cash to Cleveland for Ralph Terry in April 1966. Those two seasons with the Indians turned out to be the best stretch of his career.

O’Donoghue went 14-17 with a 3.51 ERA while with Cleveland. He mostly worked as a starter, making 93 starts in 139 games from 1963 to 1967.

His best game as a big leaguer came on August 19, 1967, against Detroit. He threw a one-hit shutout at Tiger Stadium, striking out 11 and walking two. That Tigers lineup had some real hitters—Al Kaline, Willie Horton, Eddie Mathews.

Bill Freehan got Detroit’s only hit, a single in the second inning. The Indians won 5-0, and that game is probably O’Donoghue’s career highlight.

In 1967, he had his best numbers: 8-9 record, 3.24 ERA, and a personal-best WHIP of 1.171. He made 17 starts and 16 relief appearances that year.

Baltimore Orioles (BAL)

The Indians traded O’Donoghue and Gordon Lund to Baltimore for Eddie Fisher and two minor leaguers on November 28, 1967. His time with the Orioles saw him move from starting to strictly relieving.

O’Donoghue split the 1968 season between Baltimore and their Triple-A team in Rochester. With the Red Wings, he put up a 2-4 record, a 2.38 ERA, and one shutout in seven starts.

He didn’t start any games for the Orioles in 1968. He pitched 22 innings out of the bullpen, posting a 6.14 ERA and earning two saves.

The Orioles even created the “John O’Donoghue Long Ball Award” in 1969—a tongue-in-cheek prize for pitchers who gave up home runs. Jim Palmer once explained it was named after O’Donoghue, who had a knack for throwing pitches that got hit hard.

From 1968 to 1971, O’Donoghue worked almost exclusively as a reliever, appearing in 115 of 118 games out of the bullpen.

Seattle Pilots and Milwaukee Brewers (MIL)

O’Donoghue kicked off 1969 at Rochester, but on April 30, the expansion Seattle Pilots traded for him. They got him, Tom Fisher, and Lloyd Fourroux in exchange for Gerry Schoen and Mike Ferraro.

He ended up as a main character in Jim Bouton’s baseball classic “Ball Four,” which followed the 1969 Seattle Pilots season. Bouton remembered O’Donoghue saying as they boarded the team bus to Yankee Stadium, “Well, boys, here we start our tour of the funny farm.”

1969 Seattle Pilots Statistics:

• Record: 2-2
• ERA: 2.96
• Saves: 6
• Games: 55 (all relief appearances)
• Innings: 70

That season ranked among O’Donoghue’s best as a relief pitcher. He posted a career-low 2.96 ERA and picked up six saves.

When the Pilots packed up and became the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970, O’Donoghue stuck with the team. He pitched in 25 games for Milwaukee, went 2-0, and had a 5.01 ERA before they traded him mid-season.

Montreal Expos (MON)

On June 15, 1970, the Brewers sent O’Donoghue to the Montreal Expos for Jose Herrera. That move shifted him from the American League to the National League.

He split the rest of 1970 between the Expos and their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons/Winnipeg Whips. In Triple-A, he went back to starting and put up a 6-5 record with a 2.83 ERA in 12 starts.

With Montreal that year, O’Donoghue appeared in nine games and started three. He finished with a 2-3 record and a 5.24 ERA.

His final year in professional baseball came in 1971. He pitched 17.1 innings over 13 games for the Expos, all in relief. His last MLB appearance happened on June 22, 1971, against the Atlanta Braves.

Notable Career Highlights and Achievements

John O’Donoghue spent nine years in the majors, highlighted by an All-Star selection in 1965 and a dominant one-hitter against the Detroit Tigers in 1967.

He struck out 377 batters and even hit three home runs as a pitcher, including one off future Hall of Famer Denny McLain.

All-Star Selection

O’Donoghue made the 1965 American League All-Star team while pitching for the Kansas City Athletics. That honor came during a tough season—he went 9-18 with a 3.95 ERA.

Despite all the losses, the All-Star nod really showed his talent on a struggling Athletics squad. His 18 losses tied him for the American League lead with Bill Monbouquette and Dave Morehead.

He became the first Missouri Tiger player to reach a Major League All-Star game. He didn’t get to pitch in the game, but the selection itself was the high point of his career.

Memorable Games and Performances

O’Donoghue’s best game happened on August 19, 1967 at Tiger Stadium. He threw a complete game one-hitter, striking out 11 and walking just two in a 5-0 win over Detroit.

That Tigers lineup was tough, with Hall of Famers Al Kaline and Eddie Mathews, and stars like Willie Horton and Bill Freehan. Freehan’s single in the second inning was the only hit O’Donoghue gave up.

His 377 career strikeouts showed he could miss bats. From 1963 to 1967, he started 93 of his 139 games, then shifted to relief work.

Batting Feats and Home Runs

As a pitcher, O’Donoghue hit .170 (35-for-206) with three home runs in his career. He hit his first two homers off Buster Narum.

His most memorable home run came against Denny McLain, the 1968 AL Cy Young winner and 31-game winner. That one made it onto his baseball card stats for good reason.

He held several All-Stars to low averages, like Paul Blair, Tony Kubek, and Roger Maris, who went just .140 (19-for-136) against him. Hall of Famers Luis Aparicio, Lou Brock, Frank Robinson, and Carl Yastrzemski hit only .204 (11-for-54).

Quotes and Notable Teammates

O’Donoghue played a big role in Jim Bouton’s famous book “Ball Four“ about the 1969 Seattle Pilots. Bouton quoted him on June 13, 1969, saying, “Well, boys, here we start our tour of the funny farm,” as they got on the bus to Yankee Stadium.

Bouton described O’Donoghue’s interactions with fans, calling him the “Chief kid-shooer” who spent more time shooing kids away than signing autographs. The Baltimore Orioles even created the “John O’Donoghue Long Ball Award” in his name.

Jim Palmer explained that the award got its name “in honor of the former Indian who had a tendency to throw fat pitches that ended up getting hit so hard they sometimes didn’t land in the same county as the baseball park.”

Statistical Legacy

John O’Donoghue pitched nine seasons in the majors, finishing with a 39-55 record and a 4.07 ERA over 751 innings. He struggled with consistency, but he showed flashes of effectiveness, especially with the Cleveland Indians.

Season-by-Season Statistics

O’Donoghue’s career started with promise but gradually declined. He debuted with the Kansas City Athletics in 1963, putting up a 1.50 ERA in limited action.

In 1964, he played his first full season, going 10-14 with a 4.92 ERA and logging 173.2 innings as a starter.

The 1965 season was a mixed bag. He earned his only All-Star selection but went 9-18 with a 3.95 ERA. Those 18 losses led the league and showed just how tough things were on that Athletics team.

Cleveland picked him up in 1966, and he found some consistency there. His 1967 campaign saw him go 8-9 with a 3.24 ERA, his best as a regular starter.

His stint with the Baltimore Orioles in 1968 didn’t go well—he posted a 6.14 ERA in relief. Things improved with the Seattle Pilots in 1969, when he took on a relief role and recorded six saves.

Key Metrics: ERA, WHIP, WAR, and Strikeouts

O’Donoghue’s career ERA of 4.07 was a bit below average for his era. He pitched best during his Cleveland years (1966-1967), putting up a 3.51 ERA.

His WHIP stood at 1.385, which pointed to control issues. He improved that number during his time in Cleveland, dropping it to 1.194 as he cut back on walks.

He finished with a career WAR of 3.7, with a single-season high of 1.9 in 1967. Most of that positive value came during his Cleveland years, where he put up 2.8 WAR over two seasons.

O’Donoghue racked up 377 strikeouts in his career, averaging 4.5 per nine innings. His strikeout rate peaked at 5.9 per nine innings during his relief work with Seattle, which suggests he was more effective in shorter outings.

Comparisons with Contemporary Pitchers

O’Donoghue’s numbers put him in the middle tier of 1960s pitchers. His 4.07 ERA didn’t match up with AL stars like Jim Palmer (2.86 career ERA), but it was in line with plenty of rotation regulars from that era.

Switching from the AL to the NL late in his career didn’t really change his results. With the Montreal Expos (1970-1971), he posted a 4.99 ERA, so his struggles seemed to follow him regardless of league.

The Major League Baseball scene in the 1960s was all about pitching, so O’Donoghue’s numbers look modest by comparison. His 88 ERA+ meant he performed 12% below league average for his career.

Still, he was durable, piling up 751 innings even with inconsistent results. That kind of workload was more common before pitch counts and bullpen specialization took over.

Life and Legacy After Baseball

After nine seasons in the majors, John O’Donoghue moved into coaching and educational programs that kept him close to the game. His family built a multi-generational baseball legacy through his son’s pro career, and his playing days became part of baseball’s collectible history.

Post-Retirement Activities

O’Donoghue wrapped up his playing career with the Montreal Expos in 1971, but he stayed in baseball as a coach. He worked in the Eastern League with the Bowie team during 1993 and 1994.

He also got involved in unique baseball experiences for older fans. O’Donoghue joined an “Elderhostel” vacation program in the Bradenton/Sarasota area, offering baseball fans over 55 a full experience for $569.

The package included:

• Four spring training game tickets
• Five nights of meals and lodging
• Meet and greet sessions with former players
• Interaction with Negro League veteran Leon Harris

These educational trips gave O’Donoghue a chance to share his experiences with fans who wanted to learn about baseball history from former players.

Family and Baseball Connections

O’Donoghue’s athletic legacy stretched beyond his own career. His son, John Preston O’Donoghue, followed him into the majors.

John Jr. signed with the Baltimore Orioles as an undrafted free agent out of LSU in 1990. He debuted in the big leagues in 1993 at age 24, pitching 11 games and logging 19⅔ innings.

The family’s athletic streak didn’t stop at baseball. O’Donoghue’s grandson, Landon Archangelo, played football as a quarterback at Shippensburg University.

Both John Sr. and John Jr. pitched at LSU and appeared in the College World Series. That’s a pretty unique father-son connection in both college and pro ball.

Cultural Impact and Collectibles

O’Donoghue’s brief time with the Milwaukee Brewers became a quirky part of baseball memorabilia history. Only four known cards or items show him in a Brewers uniform, making them tough finds for collectors.

His collectibles include:

• Two Mike Andersen Postcards from 1970, each with a different photo
• Two additional baseball cards from his Brewers stint

These rare items capture his short but memorable time in Milwaukee during 1970. They also represent the early days of the Brewers franchise.

Because his Brewers memorabilia is so scarce, collectors who focus on team history really value these cards. They’re a reminder of the players who helped launch the franchise.

Net Worth and Financial Standing

John O’Donoghue’s finances reflect the reality of playing pro baseball in the 1960s and early ’70s. Salaries were much lower than today, and most players relied on their contracts as their main income.

Estimated Net Worth

Details about John O’Donoghue’s net worth are pretty private. Players from his era usually earned modest salaries compared to today’s stars.

In the 1960s, average MLB salaries ranged from $19,000 to $29,000 a year. O’Donoghue played nine seasons for several teams, so he probably earned somewhere in that range during his career.

His long run in the majors, from 1963 to 1971, gave him steady income while he played. But without modern free agency, players couldn’t really negotiate for higher pay.

The financial security of players from that era often depended on what they did after baseball. Many went into coaching, business, or other jobs to keep up their standard of living after they retired.

Career Earnings and Contracts

O’Donoghue’s career earnings pretty much matched what you’d expect for players from his era. The Kansas City Athletics picked him up as an amateur free agent in 1959, and I bet that signing bonus wasn’t anything huge.

He bounced around a lot—Kansas City, Cleveland, Baltimore, Seattle, Milwaukee, Montreal. Teams clearly saw enough value to keep him on their rosters, but the trades usually stuck to similar salary setups.

Back then, the reserve clause system locked players in, so they couldn’t really shop around for better deals. That made it tough to earn what players started getting after free agency kicked in during the mid-1970s.

Pitchers like O’Donoghue probably started out making about $10,000 a year in the early ’60s. By his last season in 1971, he might’ve been earning something closer to $25,000 or maybe $30,000.

Over nine years, he pulled in steady pay while he was at his best. All told, his career earnings probably landed somewhere between $150,000 and $200,000 before taxes.

Endorsements and Investments

Back in O’Donoghue’s era, most players barely saw any endorsement opportunities. Only the biggest stars landed product deals or advertising gigs.

Sometimes, a local business would team up with a player for a quick promotional appearance. Honestly, these gigs paid very little compared to what modern athletes make from endorsements.

There’s just no public record of O’Donoghue’s investments. Players back then usually put their money into things like real estate or maybe a small business.

Athletes didn’t have dedicated financial advisors, so they had to handle their own investments. A few former players opened restaurants or sporting goods shops, or they jumped into insurance or sales jobs.

After retirement, players basically had to figure out their finances on their own. No fancy pension plans or union benefits—so they really needed to plan carefully if they wanted any long-term security.