Doug Piatt, '83

At Beaver Area HS, Doug lettered 4 years on the diamond.  In 1983, during his senior year, Doug helped the Bobcats win the WPIAL Championship, with the team going all the way to the PIAA Finals.  Doug was 10-2 that season, and when he wasn’t on the mound, played a rock solid 3rd base. 

Following graduation, Doug went to Panama City, FL to play at Gulf Coast Community College.  In 1984, he was a 3rd round choice of St. Louis in the winter draft, but he didn’t sign.  He left Gulf Coast to attend Western Kentucky University on a scholarship, where he enjoyed great success.

He was named Pitcher of the Month for a series of outstanding performances.  In 1988, Doug signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Indians.  He showed earned run averages of 2.21 with Waterloo, 2.51 with Kingston and 0.51 with Watertown, as he climbed the Indians’ chain.  He also earned Pitcher of the Month 4 times within those 2 seasons. 

This interested Montreal, who traded for him in the final month of the 1989 season.  Doug opened with West Palm Beach in 1991 and had a 0.99 ERA with 9 saves.  He made the Florida State League All Star Game.  He didn’t play in the game, because he was promoted to Jacksonville, where he again shined with a 2.20 ERA and 6 saves.  Doug was placed on the Montreal’s 40 man major league roster for 1991. 

Playing with AAA Indianapolis, he had 61 strikeouts and 13 saves in 47 innings, with a 3.45 ERA.  That brought him a promotion to Montreal, where he made his debut on June 11, 1991.  He pitched 2 shutout innings against Cincinnati.  Doug appeared in 21 games with the Expos that season, showing a fine ERA of 2.60.  He struck out 29 in 34.2 innings.  He didn’t return to the majors, but he accomplished what so few do.  He was inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame in 2008.

Doug resides in Leetsdale with his wife, Beth.  They have 5 sons: Deon, James, Nigel, Isaiah & Caleb