Ilion High School - Class of 1948

The Ilion Sentinel - June 9, 1953

Don Lang Opens Baseball Career with Grand Slam Homer in Frist Time at Bat

Article 6

Don Lang Opens Baseball Career with Grand Slam Homer in First Time at Bat

The only Ilionite in Organized Baseball at the moment started his career in dazzling fashion last week when Donnie Lang blasted a home ran with the bases full in his very first time at bat for Union City, Tennessee in the Class D Kitty League.

Don, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lang of Prospect Street, has continued to hit after his sensational debut an at the moment is in the .300 bracket. The Kitty League is a fairly fast little circuit comprising teams in Western Kentucky and Western Tennessee. Union City is a Dodger farm.

Baseball's Bible, The Sporting News, reported Don's feat in the following way, "Don Lang of Union City (Kitty) marked his first appearance at the plate in organized ball May 28 by hitting a grand slam homer in the second inning, but Paducah won the game, 15-7."

Union City is currently in second place in the Kitty League flag race riding five games behind the front-running Fulton Club.

Don's brother, Babe, has been signed by the Cardinals as a pitcher, but is currently doing duty for Uncle Sam.

Don was captain of the football, baseball and basketball teams during his Senior year at Ilion and played baseball for the Bolling Field Flyers during his service career.