| Craig Eaton |
Full Name: Craig Eaton
Born: September 7, 1954, Glendale, Ohio
Died: October 14, 2025, Jupiter, Fla.
School: Lake Worth HS in Lake Worth, Florida
Miami Dade CC in Miami, Florida
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| Click On Photo To Enlarge |
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| FSU Career |
| Baseball | |
Year No Pos Hgt Wgt B T Cl Ltr Hometown 1975 16 P 6-0 170 R R Jr * Lake Worth 1976 16 P 5-11 174 R R Sr * Lake Worth |
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| Comments |
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Craig Eaton Obituary. Posted by Taylor & Modeen Funeral Home, Jupiter, Fla. Craig was born to Bill and Lorraine Eaton on September 7, 1954 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He had two older siblings, Bill & Linda, and two younger brothers, Eric & Brian. Craig moved to Florida as a baby and in his youth, was a very active, natural athlete. He enjoyed fishing, diving, water skiing and baseball. He always had a soft spot for animals, often bringing home rabbits and other creatures needing care. He graduated from Lake Worth High School in 1972, and pitched for Miami Dade North and then Florida State University, playing in the College World Series before graduating from FSU in 1976. After college, Craig married his high-school sweetheart, Suzanne Sullivan. They traveled while Craig pitched for the Royals, Angels, Tigers and Expos. Craig retired from professional baseball and pursued a career as an insurance agent where he owned his own agency in Wellington, and ran it very successfully until he retired at the age of 60. Craig was very accomplished. He earned The Fireman of the Year Award (MVP Relief Pitching) during his time in baseball, and he threw the final out that won the Caribbean World Series, but his greatest achievement was effortlessly surviving having four beautiful daughters. He spent many summer weekends in Lake Placid, fishing, and being the best boat driver for tubing and skiing. He captained his own boat for about 10 years, giving his daughters priceless memories of snorkeling, catching tropical fish for his aquarium, sandbar frisbee, slumber parties with their friends, star-gazing and intracoastal cruising. At dusk, he would take his two dogs "hunting" on the golf course behind his home in Lake Worth, to chase squirrels & ducks. His kitty, Tiara loved him completely, bumping heads with him and curling up on his lap, every chance she got. His favorite vacation was cruising. He and Suzanne traveled all throughout the Caribbean, as far as Alaska & the Mediterranean, enjoying many adventures together. After retirement, Craig continued to be very active. He became a member of Jupiter Country Club and loved golf, being outside, gardening, crossword puzzles, deleting emails, grilling/cooking for his family, and spending time with his many loved ones. Craig was a faithful Christian and member of Journey Church Lake Worth & West Palm Beach. He volunteered as a youth pitching coach for various schools and groups. He was also quite handy, quick to offer help, fixing just about anything for anyone. His presence always brightened a room, bringing laughter and joy to every space he entered. He was happy, kind hearted, humble, had a wonderful sense of humor, and an unshakable, quiet strength. For these and countless other reasons, he will be incredibly missed. Craig is survived by his wife of over 48 years:
Suzanne, his daughters and their families: Jana & Christian von Hehn
(Victoria, Andreas & Katarina), Jennifer Reynolds (Weston & Violet),
Melissa & Kyle Owens (Alayna), Melanie & Trey Bivins (Gwen & Anelina), and
his siblings and their families. Craig has joined his parents, Bill &
Lorraine Eaton, and his older brother, Bill Eaton, in Heaven. |
| FSU Statistics |
| Baseball |
Pitching Statistics Year ERA W L APP GS CG SHO CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR AB B/AVG WP HBP BK SFA SHA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1975 2.76 3 4 11 5 1 0 0 1 49.0 40 21 15 38 32 0 2 0 0 1976 3.32 5 4 13 12 5 1 0 0 84.0 68 40 31 29 62 6 7 2 0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tot 3.11 8 8 24 17 6 1 0 1 133.0 108 61 46 67 94 0 0 6 0 .000 9 2 0 0 0 |
Fielding Statistics Year PO AST E FLD% DP ---------------------------- 1975 2 12 1 .933 1976 5 8 1 .929 ---------------------------- Tot 7 20 2 .931 0 |
| Baseball |
Game Statistics 1975 Date Opponent W L APP GS CG SHO CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feb 26 Saint Leo College 1 2.0 1 2 0 4 4 Mar 6 Jacksonville 1 1 Y 6.0 4 1 0 5 5 Mar 22 FL International 1 1.0 0 0 0 2 0 Mar 24 Michigan State 1 1.0 1 1 0 2 3 Mar 26 Miami 1 1 Y 1 8.0 7 2 2 5 5 Mar 31 Niagara 1 1 Y 8.0 6 2 2 3 5 Apr 8 South Alabama 1 1 Y 4.1 5 5 6 5 1 Apr 18 Stetson 1 1 Y 6.0 4 3 3 5 4 Apr 29 Florida 1 1 1.1 3 2 2 0 1 May 5 Georgia Southern 1 1 4.2 2 2 1 6 2 May 25 Miami 1 6.2 7 1 1 1 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tot 3 4 11 5 1 0 0 0 49.0 40 21 17 38 32 1976 Date Opponent W L APP GS CG SHO CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feb 22 Biscayne 1 Y 3.0 2 1 1 2 2 Mar 6 GA Southwestern St 1 Y 5.0 7 5 3 1 4 Mar 20 Valdosta State Coll 1 1 Y 1 1 9.0 5 0 0 1 7 Mar 24 Jacksonville 1 1 Y 1 9.0 8 5 5 4 9 Mar 30 Stetson 1 1 Y 6.0 5 6 4 4 3 Apr 4 Georgia Southern 1 4.1 2 1 0 0 4 Apr 9 Jacksonville 1 1 Y 6.1 11 6 4 3 1 Apr 13 Florida 1 1 Y 1 9.0 2 1 1 1 6 Apr 17 South Alabama 1 1 Y 1 6.1 5 1 0 1 9 Apr 21 Florida 1 1 Y 8.0 4 2 2 0 8 May 5 Miami 1 1 Y 5.0 5 5 4 2 1 May 9 Georgia Southern 1 1 Y 1 7.0 3 2 1 4 2 May 24 Jacksonville 1 Y 7.0 9 6 6 6 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tot 5 4 13 12 5 1 0 0 85.0 68 41 31 29 59 |
1975
Date Opponent BAT AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB HBP SO SF SH SB ATT PO A E
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Feb 26 Saint Leo College *a .000 1 0 0 1
Mar 6 Jacksonville * .000 1 P 0 0
Mar 22 FL International *a .000 1 0 0
Mar 24 Michigan State *a .000 1 0 0
Mar 26 Miami * .000 1 P 0 0
Mar 31 Niagara * .000 1 P 0 0
Apr 8 South Alabama * .000 1 P 0 0
Apr 18 Stetson * .000 1 P 0 0
Apr 29 Florida *a .000 1 0 0
May 5 Georgia Southern *a .000 1 0 0
May 25 Miami *a .000 1 0 0 0 2
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.000 11 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
1976
Date Opponent BAT AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB HBP SO SF SH SB ATT PO A E
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Feb 22 Biscayne * .000 1 P 0 0
Mar 6 GA Southwestern St * .000 1 P 0 0
Mar 20 Valdosta State Coll * .000 1 P 0 0
Mar 24 Jacksonville * .000 1 P 0 0
Mar 30 Stetson * .000 1 P 0 0 1
Apr 4 Georgia Southern *a .000 1 0 0
Apr 9 Jacksonville * .000 1 P 0 0
Apr 13 Florida * .000 1 P 0 0
Apr 17 South Alabama * .000 1 P 0 0
Apr 21 Florida * .000 1 P 0 0
May 5 Miami * .000 1 P 0 0
May 9 Georgia Southern * .000 1 P 0 0
May 24 Jacksonville * .000 1 P 0 0 0 1
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.000 13 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
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| Pro Career |
| Baseball | |
Height: 5-11 Weight: 175 Throws: Right Bats: Right Drafted: 1976, June Regular Draft, Free Agent, Kansas City Royals, P Debut: September 5, 1979 Year Abbr Team No Pos 1979 KCR Kansas City Royals 35 P |
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| Pro Statistics |
| Baseball |
Pitching Statistics Year Team ERA W L SV APP GS CG SHO IP R ER H 2B 3B HR BB SO AB Avg WP HBP BK SF SH --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1979 KCR 2.70 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 10.0 3 3 8 0 3 4 41 .211 0 0 0 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Year 2.70 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 10.0 3 3 8 0 0 0 3 4 41 .211 0 0 0 0 0 |
Batting Statistics Year Team AVG GP GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB ATT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1979 KCR .000 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Year .000 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 .000 0 0 0 0 |
Fielding Statistics Year Team Pos GP PO Ast E DP Fld% ------------------------------------------ 1979 KCR P 5 1 1 0 1 1.000 ------------------------------------------ 1 Year 5 1 1 0 1 1.000 |
Craig Eaton, beloved
husband, wonderful father to four daughters, and playful Poppi to eight
grandchildren, quietly passed away on Tuesday, October 14, 2025 in Jupiter,
Florida at the age of 71.