Don Pepper

Donald Hoyte Pepper (born October 8, 1943) is an American former professional baseball player. He was a first baseman whose seven-year (1962–1968) professional career included a four-game trial in the majors with the Detroit Tigers in 1966. Pepper batted left handed and threw right-handed, at 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and 215 pounds (98 kg).

Pepper graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1961 and signed with the Tigers for $15,000 (equivalent to $146,900 in 2022).[1]

Pepper's career was spent with the Detroit organization. In his best season, 1966 with the Double-A Montgomery Rebels, he batted .302 and reached career highs in home runs (19) and runs batted in (87). Called up to the Tigers after the post-September 1 roster expansion, Pepper was a pinch hitter in three contests (he grounded out, struck out, and flied out in his three at bats). In his fourth game, he was a defensive replacement for veteran Tiger first baseman Norm Cash, but did not bat.[2]

At age 24, Pepper made the cover of Sports Illustrated in March 1968, along with Johnny Bench, Cisco Carlos, Alan Foster, and Mike Torrez, as "The Best Rookies of 1968."[3]

In 1969, Pepper refused a minor league assignment and retired, moving home to Wilton, New York to work on his family's turkey farm.[1]

He is the father of Dottie Pepper,[4] a professional golfer and golf commentator.