John Upham
![]() | This biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (March 2020) |
John Upham | |
---|---|
Pitcher/Outfielder | |
Born: Windsor, Ontario, Canada | December 29, 1940|
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
MLB debut | |
April 16, 1967, for the Chicago Cubs | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 25, 1968, for the Chicago Cubs | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 0-1 |
Strikeouts | 4 |
Earned run average | 5.40 |
Batting average | .308 |
Teams | |
|
John Leslie Upham (born December 29, 1940) is a former relief pitcher and outfielder in Major League Baseball who played in 1967 and 1968 for the Chicago Cubs. Listed at 6' 0", 180 lb., Upham batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
In his first major league season, Upham appeared in 5 games as a relief pitcher, and 3 as a pinch hitter. He was notably more successful as a pinch hitter (2-for-3) than as a pitcher (33.75 ERA). All his 3 batting appearances were as a pinch hitter in games where he did not appear as a pitcher, and he did not play a fielding position in those three games. Although Upham opened the season with the Cubs, he was sent down to the minor leagues in May and did not return to the majors that year.
Over a year later, in August 1968, Upham returned to the big leagues for 13 additional games with the Cubs. This time Upham was primarily used as a pinch hitter and pinch runner, but was also used as an outfielder and as a pitcher—he appeared in two games as pitcher, and in two games as an outfielder. For one of those outfielding appearances, Upham was a late-inning defensive replacement in left; for the other, he got the start in center field on August 18 and played the entire game at that position. This made Upham the majors' last "two-way player" (i.e., a player used regularly in non-blowout/non-extra-inning games as a both a pitcher and a fielder in the same season) for 35 years. Brooks Kieschnick was the majors next two-way player, for Milwaukee in 2003.
In a two-season career, Upham was a .308 hitter (4-for-13), scoring one run in 21 games. He did not register an extra-base hit, and did not drive in a run. In seven relief appearances, he posted a 0–1 record with a 5.40 ERA, giving up five earned runs on six hits and five walks while striking out four in 8.1 innings of work.
See also[]
External links[]
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Winter League)
- 1941 births
- Arizona Instructional League Cubs players
- Arkansas Travelers players
- Bakersfield Bears players
- Baseball people from Ontario
- Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
- Canadian expatriate baseball players in the United States
- Chattanooga Lookouts players
- Chicago Cubs players
- Dallas–Fort Worth Spurs players
- Detroit Mercy Titans baseball players
- Eugene Emeralds players
- Living people
- Major League Baseball outfielders
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Major League Baseball players from Canada
- Navegantes del Magallanes players
- Sportspeople from Windsor, Ontario
- Tacoma Cubs players
- Tampa Tarpons (1957–1987) players
- University of Detroit Mercy alumni
- Canadian expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
- Canadian baseball pitcher stubs