Donald J. Schatzline - Basketball, Softball, Football, Track, Baseball

Year Inducted: 1992

Donald J. Schatzline attended Washington Jr. High School from 1935-1939, from grade six through grade nine.   Beginning in the sixth grade, he played starting guard on the basketball team, first string on the softball team and first team football, earning 10 letters.

During 1939-1942, while attending Port Huron High School, Don Schatzline excelled in basketball, baseball, football and ran in two track meets.  Playing basketball, he was starting guard for three years, and he was team captain during the 1940-1941 season.   He received All State honorable mention in 1940-1941, and All State in the 1941-1942 season.   Playing football, he played end and punter for three years.   Playing baseball, he was first team outfield for three years.   He was awarded 10 letters.

Don Schatzline received a basketball scholarship to the University of Michigan.  He played on the starting five of the 1942 freshman team.

After being drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1943, he served three years, landing on D-Day in Normandy, France.  When the war ended he played basketball, pitched softball and played outfield for the 29th Division team.  While pitching, he set an American record for pitching 105 innings without being scored upon.   In the championship game held at Mannheim, Germany against the 3rd Armor Division, Don Schatzline pitched the first 29 innings of the 39 inning game, leaving only after being injured while sliding into third base.

After his military career ended, Don Schatzline returned to Port Huron and continued with sports.  He played basketball for Mueller Brass and Chrysler in the Industrial League as well as participating in the City Recreational League in both basketball and softball.   He played in several AAU tournaments in Detroit and for the Washington Generals in exhibition games against the Harlem Globe Trotters.

Don Schatzline played baseball with the Port Huron Cardinals in the Blue Water League and Michigan – Ontario League, playing on a starting team which was managed by the late Jimmy Masters, Mr. Baseball of Port Huron.