Zebulon Vance Eaton (February 2, 1920 – December 17, 1989), nicknamed "Red", was an American right-handed pitcher. He played professional baseball for 11 seasons between 1939 and 1956, including two seasons in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers in 1944 and 1945.
After the United States entered World War II, Eaton enlisted in the Army; he played for an Army baseball team at Camp Wolters. He received a medical discharge in December 1943.[2]
Upon being discharged from the Army, Eaton signed with the Detroit Tigers. He played in six games for the Tigers in 1944 with no decisions and a 5.74 earned run average (ERA).[1]
In 1945, he played in 17 games and had a record of 4–2 with an improved ERA of 4.05. Eaton also contributed as a hitter in 1945, with two home runs, 10 RBIs, and a double in 32 at-bats.[1] On July 15, 1945, he hit a 450-foot home run with the bases loaded against the New York Yankees.[3] He hit a second home run on August 8, a 400-foot blow to left-center field against the Boston Red Sox.[4]
Eaton's last major league appearance came as a pinch hitter in Game 1 of the 1945 World Series. He pinch-hit for pitcher Al Benton and struck out.[1]
