MS SC652

Richard Atley Donald was the only Major League baseball player born in Morton, Mississippi, who pitched for the New York Yankees from 1938-1945 and served as a Yankee Scout from 1946-1975.

Donald won 12 consecutive games as a rookie in 1939 (still a league record for rookie pitchers), was named to the 1939 All-Rookie Team, and led the American League with an .813 winning percentage (13-3 record).

Donald finished with a 65-33 career record for the Yankees (.663 winning percentage) and earned World Series rings in 1939, 1941, and 1943.

As a scout, Donald signed several prominent players to the Yankees including Ron Blomberg (first designated hitter in American League history) and Ron Guidry (who broke Donald's consecutive wins record with 13 straight victories in 1978).

Resolution recognizes Donald on the centennial of his birth (August 19, 1910) and extends best wishes to his widow Betty Donald and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.