Education
Catawba College.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Ron Blackburn
Edit ProfileCareer
Blackburn batted and threw right handed. He stood at 6" ½" and 160 pounds at the height of his career. He spent 11 seasons in the minor leagues and played two consecutive seasons for the Pirates.
His major league debut was on Opening Day 1958 against the Milwaukee Braves.
The first batter he faced was Hank Aaron, who hit a single off of Blackburn, but he managed to keep the next nine batters off base for his first victory. On the road for his two years with the Pirates his roommate was Bill Mazeroski.
During these two years, he also was a teammate of legendary outfielder Roberto Clemente. Blackburn played his last game for Pittsburgh on July 28, 1959.
Born on April 23, 1935 in Mount Airy, North Carolina, Blackburn was raised in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
Following his playing retirement In 1964, he became a teacher and baseball coach at Western Carolina University, where he also attended school. The family moved to Cullowhee, North Carolina a few years later before relocating back to Morganton, North Carolina, where he worked as recreation director at the Western Correction Center. Blackburn died on April 29, 1998 from health issues at age 63.
He is buried in Carolina Memorial Park, Concord, North Carolina.
