Don Arlich

1961 North St. Paul graduate and former Houston Astros pitcher Don Arlich was born in Wayne, Michigan on February 15, 1943.

Arlich went 15-0 for the 1961 State Champion North High Polars—a team that also featured Twins curator Clyde Doepner.

Arlich signed with Houston out of high school and made his major league debut four years later, starting the second-to-last game of the 1965 season versus the Cardinals at the Astrodome. The first batter he faced was former St. Cloud Rox star Lou Brock, who popped out to shortstop leading off a 1-2-3 first inning. Arlich held the Cardinals to two runs on five hits and a walk over six innings, and was in line for the win before St. Louis rallied against the Houston bullpen.

It was the only start Arlich would make in the majors. He made it back to “The Show” for a cup of coffee midway through the 1966 season, making seven appearances out of the bullpen.

Perhaps Arlich’s greatest contribution to the major league history books was helping a young Joe Morgan learn to hit lefties while they were both in the Houston organization.

Arlich stuck it out in the minors until 1969, playing his final two and a half seasons in the Atlanta organization (where he was teammates with Tom House).

Following his nine-year pro baseball career, Arlich became a math teacher at Park High School in Cottage Grove, MN. One of his students included the actor Seann William Scott (Stifler in American Pie).

Though Mr. Arlich never had him in class, eight-year major leaguer Kerry Ligtenberg graduated from Park High School in 1989.