On this day in 1930 Donald Eugene Conley was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma.He went to Washington State University before signing with the Boston Braves as an amateur free agent in 1951 and making his major league debut in 1952.
Conley's best full major league season may have been his first one, as he posted a 2.96 ERA, was an NL All Star and a Rookie of the Year candidate for the 1954 Milwaukee Braves. Conley pitched 194.1 innings that season despite appearing in just 28 games (averaging seven innings per appearance), and received votes for league MVP.
All told Conley pitched in 142 games over five seasons as a Milwaukee Brave, posting a 3.49 ERA and making two All Star Game appearances. Overall he pitched in eleven major league seasons, and also played six seasons in the NBA.
Conley turns 82 today. With help from the B-Ref Play Index we'd also like to wish a happy birthday to 1961-62 Milwaukee Braves manager Birdie Tebbetts, who would have turned 100.
On this day in 1964 the Milwaukee Braves officially started their relocation process, as they signed a 25-year lease for Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta which would begin in 1966. We covered that event in this space last year.