John Purdin – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

John Purdin’s baseball career didn’t last long, but it sure delivered some unforgettable moments. The right-handed pitcher from Lynx, Ohio, left his mark with the Los Angeles Dodgers over five years, wrapping up in 1969. Fans still talk about his flashes of brilliance and, honestly, the unpredictability that comes with pro sports.

Purdin finished up in 1969 after pitching in 59 games across four seasons with the Dodgers. He put together a 6-4 record and a 3.90 ERA. Not bad for a small-town kid who made it all the way to the majors.

Starting from a rural Ohio background, Purdin’s journey included highlights like a two-hit shutout against the Cubs in his rookie year and a World Series ring in 1965. That’s the kind of story baseball folks love to revisit.

John Purdin’s life shows what it’s really like for a player who tasted both the high points of baseball glory and the tough reality of a career cut short. He went from serving in the US Air Force in Germany to making his last MLB appearance on August 1, 1969.

His path through pro baseball feels familiar to anyone who’s chased big-league dreams—full of hope, setbacks, and the grind.

Early Life and Background

John Nolan Purdin’s story started in 1942 in Dayton, Ohio. His family moved to Lynx when he was just a baby, so he grew up in a tiny town, far from the spotlight.

He started showing off his athletic talents in high school, playing several sports before zeroing in on baseball as a junior.

Family and Origins

John Nolan Purdin was born July 16, 1942, in Dayton, Ohio. His parents soon moved the family to Lynx, a close-knit community in Adams County.

He grew up surrounded by the quiet of rural Ohio. His family also had ties to Blue Creek, another small town nearby.

Key Details:

• Birth Location: Dayton, Ohio
• Childhood Home: Lynx, Adams County, Ohio
• Family Move: Occurred during infancy

Lynx gave Purdin a sense of community and shaped his early years as an athlete.

High School Baseball Career

At Jefferson High School, Purdin played both basketball and baseball. He was a natural, but it wasn’t until his junior year that he started pitching.

Once he got on the mound, coaches and scouts quickly saw his potential. His pitching skills really took off after the switch.

Scouts from the majors started showing up. By the time he graduated in 1960, Purdin had already caught the eye of the Detroit Tigers, who signed him right after high school at just 17.

Military Service and Discovery

After a short stint with the Tigers, Purdin headed off to serve three years in the Army. He wound up in Wiesbaden, Germany.

While stationed there, he kept playing baseball in a military league. That experience let him keep sharpening his pitching even while overseas.

He pitched well enough in Germany to get noticed by Dodgers president Walter O’Malley. That connection would turn out to be a game-changer.

When Purdin returned home, Dodgers scout Cliff Alexander found him back in Lynx. Alexander saw his potential and signed him as an amateur free agent before the 1964 season.

Professional Baseball Career

John Nolan Purdin spent his entire pro baseball career, from 1964 to 1969, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He put up a 6-4 record, a 3.90 ERA, and 68 strikeouts in 59 major league games.

Minor League Development

The Dodgers signed Purdin as an amateur free agent before 1964. He’d already spent time pitching for the Wiesbaden Flyers at the Air Force base in Germany.

In the minors, Purdin had some standout moments. In 1964, he threw a seven-inning perfect game against Lexington, striking out 11 in the process.

At Salisbury, he went 14-3 with a 1.91 ERA and struck out 182 batters in 137 innings. He only walked 27, showing off impressive control.

In 1967, pitching for the Spokane Indians, he led the Pacific Coast League in starts (31) and shutouts (6). That season proved he could handle a heavy workload.

MLB Debut with Los Angeles Dodgers

Purdin made his big league debut on September 16, 1964, at 22 years old. He came in against the Pirates, tossed two innings of no-hit relief, and struck out Vern Law and Donn Clendenon.

Just two weeks later, on September 30, he shut out the Cubs on two hits. Only Dick Bertell managed singles off him, in the 3rd and 5th innings.

That rookie season gave Dodgers fans a reason to believe he was something special. He showed he could pitch out of the bullpen or start, which the team needed.

Notable Performances and Achievements

The highlight of Purdin’s career came in 1965, when he was part of the Dodgers’ World Series championship team. That’s the dream for any player.

Career Statistics:

• Win-Loss Record: 6-4
• ERA: 3.90
• Strikeouts: 68
• Games Played: 59

His last MLB game came on August 1, 1969, against the Cardinals. He pitched 2 innings, gave up 3 hits and 2 walks, and allowed 1 run.

Purdin played with the Dodgers from 1964-65, then again from 1968-69. The break in his big league time probably came from more seasoning in the minors.

Role and Playing Style

Purdin pitched right-handed, stood 6-2, and weighed 185 pounds. He batted right too—pretty standard for pitchers back then.

He mostly worked out of the bullpen, but started a few games when needed. That flexibility helped the Dodgers during his stint.

Purdin showed good control and stayed calm under pressure. His debut and shutout proved he could handle tough spots.

He leaned more on control than raw power. His minor league stats, with more strikeouts than walks, back that up.

1969 Season and Retirement

Purdin’s last season with the Dodgers, in 1969, marked the end of his short but memorable MLB career. Injuries seemed to limit his appearances, and at just 27, he stepped away from pro baseball.

Final MLB Appearances

In the 1969 season, Purdin only pitched in nine games for the Dodgers. His final outing came on August 1 against St. Louis.

He went 2 innings, gave up 3 hits, 2 walks, and 1 run. That kind of summed up his tough 1969—he finished with a 6.01 ERA over 16.1 innings.

Game Distribution:

• April: 1 game
• May: 2 games
• June: 1 game
• July: 4 games
• August: 1 game (final appearance)

His splits showed some struggles. At home, he pitched 3 games with a 6.75 ERA in 5.1 innings. On the road, he managed 6 games and a 5.73 ERA over 11 innings.

Decision to Retire

Injuries seem to have played a big part in his decision to retire. Purdin only pitched nine times for the Dodgers in 1969, plus six games with Triple-A Spokane.

Retiring at 27 feels early, but with declining numbers and physical issues, it probably made sense. He’d built a career record of 6-4 over 59 games.

That last year, he gave up 7 home runs in just 16.1 innings—a big jump from his earlier seasons.

Statistical Overview

Purdin’s stats with the Dodgers from 1964-69 paint the picture of a pitcher who flashed promise but couldn’t quite find consistency. Still, he put together a respectable record for his short time in the majors.

Pitching Records

He wrapped up his career with a 6-4 record and a 3.90 ERA over 58 games. He threw 110.2 innings, struck out 68, and walked 52.

His best year was 1964, when he posted a 0.56 ERA in three games. That season, he went 2-0 with a shutout and a complete game in just 16 innings.

The next year, 1965, was rough. His ERA shot up to 6.75 in 11 games, giving up 26 hits and 13 walks in 22.2 innings.

After missing ’66 and ’67, Purdin came back in 1968 and pitched better. He worked mostly in relief, appeared in 35 games, and posted a 3.07 ERA with 2 saves.

In 1969, he only made 9 appearances and finished with a 6.06 ERA before calling it a career.

Batting and Fielding Statistics

Purdin never made an error in the majors, finishing with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. He handled 17 chances—4 putouts and 13 assists—without a slip-up.

He kept runners honest too, allowing 3 stolen bases and throwing out 3, for a 50% caught stealing rate.

He also picked off one baserunner, showing he paid attention to the little things.

Career Milestones

Purdin debuted on September 16, 1964, tossing two innings of no-hit relief against the Pirates. He struck out notable hitters Vern Law and Donn Clendenon.

His biggest moment came in 1965, as part of the Dodgers’ World Series-winning squad. That’s a memory that sticks.

The 1964 shutout was the high point of his pitching. It hinted at more to come, but things didn’t quite break that way.

He pitched his last game on August 1, 1969, against the Cardinals—2 innings, 3 hits, and 1 earned run.

Purdin finished with a career WHIP of 1.31 and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 1.31. For his era, that’s solid enough, even if he never became a star.

Life After Baseball

John Purdin walked away from professional baseball in 1969 after five seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He chose a private life far from the spotlight until he died in 2010 at age 67 in Charleston, South Carolina.

Post-Retirement Activities

Not much is out there about John Nolan Purdin’s life after baseball. After his major league career ended in 1969, he kept to himself and stayed out of the public eye.

He eventually put down roots in Charleston, South Carolina. That was quite a change from his Ohio beginnings and his California baseball years.

He spent a long time in Charleston before his passing. Unlike a lot of former big leaguers who stick around the game as coaches or commentators, Purdin seems to have left baseball behind completely.

There’s no record of him coaching, teaching, or getting involved with sports at all after he retired. Whatever he did for work after baseball, he kept it private.

Honestly, that wasn’t unusual for players from his era. Many just moved on to regular jobs and didn’t seek out attention.

Personal Life and Legacy

John Purdin died on March 28, 2010, in Charleston, South Carolina, when he was 67. His passing closed the chapter on a quiet post-baseball life that spanned more than forty years.

He was cremated after his death. No one seems to know where his ashes ended up, which fits with how private he was later in life.

People in Adams County, Ohio, still remember him. He grew up there, and local baseball fans and historians celebrate how he made it from tiny Lynx to the big leagues.

Key Legacy Points:

• First pro athlete from Lynx, Ohio to reach the majors
• Showed that small-town athletes could make it big
• Became an inspiration for young players in Adams County

Purdin’s story is really about determination and sticking with it. He started out as a high school basketball player, then became a major league pitcher, and his journey still inspires youth baseball programs around home.

Recognition and Impact

John Purdin didn’t have a long Major League Baseball career, but he definitely made lasting impressions on his hometown and on the Los Angeles Dodgers. His rise from small-town Ohio to the majors is still inspiring, and the Dodgers benefited from his pitching depth in the mid-1960s.

Honors and Remembrance

People in Adams County, Ohio, still talk about John Purdin. His remarkable rise from Lynx to the majors means a lot to local fans and athletes.

They remember him for more than just his stats. He stuck with his dreams even when things didn’t go his way.

He got signed by the Detroit Tigers at 17, but when that chance fell through, he didn’t quit. Instead, he spent three years in the Army and played in a military league in Wiesbaden, Germany.

That experience really mattered. It caught the eye of Dodgers president Walter O’Malley.

Purdin’s impressive debut came on September 16, 1964, when he threw two innings of no-hit relief against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Just two weeks later, he delivered a two-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs.

Influence on Los Angeles Dodgers History

John Purdin joined the Los Angeles Dodgers at a time when competition ran high in the franchise. He pitched both as a starter and out of the bullpen, giving the team valuable depth from 1964 to 1969.

Across five seasons, Purdin put up a 6-4 record in 59 games. The Dodgers counted on his versatility, plugging him into different pitching roles whenever they needed a boost.

He made a mark in the minors, too. In Salisbury, North Carolina, he racked up a 14-3 record with a 1.91 ERA and struck out 182 batters over 137 innings.

In 1967, Purdin started more games and threw more shutouts than anyone else in the Pacific Coast League while pitching for the Spokane Indians. That season really showed how much he could offer the Dodgers, both in the minors and as a potential contributor in the majors.