RIP - Ken Holtzman

 

Ken Holtzman, a starting pitcher for the Cubs and Athletics, passed away on April 14, 2024 at age 78.

Holtzman made his major-league debut with the Cubs in September 1965. Although he started 33 games for the Cubs in 1966 (posting an 11-16 record), his rookie card did not appear until the 1967 set - a full card to himself. 

 

In 1967 he was limited to 12 starts (with a 9-0 record!) because he was on National Guard duty for much of the summer, and only able to pitch on weekends. 

 

Holtzman remained in the Cubs rotation through the 1971 season, then was traded to the Athletics for Rick Monday.

 

With the Athletics, Holtzman finally had a shot at post-season play. His record was 77-55 in his 4 seasons with Oakland, plus 6-4 in the post-season. The A's won the World Series in Holtzman's first 3 years, and he also made the All-Star team in '72 and '73. 

 

After a half-season with the Orioles, Holtzman played for the Yankees from June 1976 to June 1978, before returning to the Cubs for the final 1 1/2 seasons of his career. 

 

New York Post obituary  

 

USA Today obituary 

  

RIP - Larry Brown

 

Larry Brown, the Indians' shortstop in the 1960s, passed away on April 13, 2024 at age 84.

Brown joined the Indians in July 1963, and started half the remaining games at shortstop. 

 

In 1964 he started half the games at 2nd base, as Dick Howser started all but one game at shortstop. Brown was the primary shortstop from 1965-66, starting just over half the games in that time. 

 

He was the full-time shortstop from 1967-68, starting 150 games each season. In 1969 he started almost every game through mid-July, then was replaced by Eddie Leon. Brown lost the shortstop job to Jack Heidemann in 1970. 

 

Larry started the first 13 games in 1971, then was sold to the Athletics, where he was an infield reserve through the 1972 season.  He played his final 2 seasons with the Orioles ('73) and Rangers ('74).

 

Twitter 

 

I visited the team's website to see if there was any mention of Brown's passing. (No!) 

I also found it ridiculous that on their team Hall of Fame page, they mention "the greatest Cleveland Guardians of all time", (referring to Bob Feller, Rocky Colavito, and all the rest). Not once was the name "Indians" mentioned. Those past players played for the INDIANS, not the GUARDIANS!

   

Marty Keough is 90

 

Happy 90th birthday (4/14) to Marty Keough!

Wes Stock is 90

 

Happy 90th birthday (4/10) to Wes Stock!