Major League Baseball Player. He started his pro career as a switch-hitting shortstop in 1940 and the following year was a pitcher-second baseman for Bakersfield of the California League. He was a pitcher-shortstop until he entered military service for three years (1943-45). When he came back in 1946, he was 18-6 for Salt Lake City of the Pioneer League and played 16 games at shortstop. He was a pitcher only in 1947 for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League when he went 22-8 with a 3.23 earned run average. The Pittsburgh Pirates shelled out $100,000 for the right-hander's contract. Chesnes, then 26, had a fine rookie year with a 14-6 record, 3.57 ERA and 15 complete games in 23 starts. But the phenom tailed off to 7-13 with a 5.88 ERA in 1949 and then to 3-3 with a 5.54 ERA the next season. He was considered eccentric and a discipline problem by management. His three-year totals were 24-22 and a 4.66 ERA. He hit a decent .256 (44 for 172) with two homers.
Major League Baseball Player. He started his pro career as a switch-hitting shortstop in 1940 and the following year was a pitcher-second baseman for Bakersfield of the California League. He was a pitcher-shortstop until he entered military service for three years (1943-45). When he came back in 1946, he was 18-6 for Salt Lake City of the Pioneer League and played 16 games at shortstop. He was a pitcher only in 1947 for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League when he went 22-8 with a 3.23 earned run average. The Pittsburgh Pirates shelled out $100,000 for the right-hander's contract. Chesnes, then 26, had a fine rookie year with a 14-6 record, 3.57 ERA and 15 complete games in 23 starts. But the phenom tailed off to 7-13 with a 5.88 ERA in 1949 and then to 3-3 with a 5.54 ERA the next season. He was considered eccentric and a discipline problem by management. His three-year totals were 24-22 and a 4.66 ERA. He hit a decent .256 (44 for 172) with two homers.
Bio by: Ron Coons
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