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Donald Eulon Kessinger (born July 17, 1942 in Forrest City, Arkansas) is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. Kessinger, a six-time All-Star, graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he was initiated into the Sigma Nu Fraternity, and was signed by the Chicago Cubs as an amateur free agent in 1964.

Kessinger was not particularly renowned for his offensive production, but played an excellent defensive game at shortstop. In three different seasons with the Cubs, he turned 100 or more double plays. He won the Gold Glove for shortstops in 1969 and 1970.

Eventually Kessinger went on to play for the crosstown Chicago White Sox, becoming a player-manager in 1979. However, he resigned before the end of the season and retired as a player on August 2, 1979. In 1978, he earned the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.

Personal

Don Kessinger's son Keith Kessinger had a brief career as a major league baseball player.

Don Kessinger was hired prior to the 1991 season as head baseball coach at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi. Kessinger would spend six years as the Ole Miss skipper, leading the Rebels to four 30-win seasons. His 1995 team produced a school record for wins, going 40-22 and earning the school’s first NCAA Regional bid since 1977. Ole Miss finished on the verge of its first World Series appearance since 1972, placing second at the NCAA Atlantic I Regional behind host-Florida State. Following the 1996 season, Kessinger resigned his head coaching position to take an administrative post within the athletic department. He finished with a six-year record of 185-153.

He now owns a real estate business in Oxford, Mississippi.

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference