RIP - Lew Krausse

 

Lew Krausse, who pitched for the Athletics, Red Sox, Brewers, and others from 1961-74, passed away on February 16th, 2021 at age 77.

Krausse broke in with the Kansas City Athletics as an 18-year-old bonus baby in 1961, pitching a complete game shutout in his major-league debut. After 2 seasons in the minors, he played parts of '64 and '65 with the A's before returning to the majors on a full-time basis in 1966. 

 

Krause was one of a handful of young starting pitchers for the A's in their final years in Kansas City (along with Catfish Hunter, Jim Nash, John Odom, and Chuck Dobson). 

 

After 4 seasons with the A's he was traded to the Red Sox, and 2 years later to the Brewers. 

 

Krausse returned to the A's in 1973 but spent the entire season in the minors before he was sold to the Cardinals on September 1st, so he missed out on Oakland's post-season glory years. 

 

After brief stops with St. Louis and Atlanta, he wrapped up his career with the A's triple-A team in 1975. 

 

Kansas City Star obituary 

 

1960s' Players from the Philadelphia, PA Area

Mostly for my fellow Philly-area bloggers:

Recently, while composing my 1967 Lew Krausse post, I got sidetracked on other baseball players who were from my area. Here are those from the 1960s era:

The most famous is probably Reggie Jackson. Jax (his nickname before "Mr. October") was born in nearby Abington, and went to Cheltenham High School, just north of the border. (Also born in Abington, and attending Council Rock HS was Phillies' early-70s' SS Craig Robinson.) While I'm still north of the city, Pete Cimino (although born in Philly) attended Bristol High School, where he once scored 114 points in a basketball game (still a Pennsylvania state record).

Venturing into the city we come to Eddie Stanky and Pat Kelly. Stanky was from the Kensington area, and went to Edison HS. His nickname "The Brat from Kensington" was eventually shortened to "The Brat". Kelly (brother of Cleveland Browns' HOF running back Leroy Kelly) went to Simon Gratz HS, whose alumni included Roy Campanella.

Still in Philly, we have Al Spangler and Lee Elia. Besides both playing for the Cubs, they both went to Olney High School in Philadelphia. Neither one is the most accomplished baseball player from Olney High. (That would be ex-Phillies' outfielder Del Ennis.)

Moving southward into Delaware County, we have fellow Chester High School alumni Danny Murtaugh and Lew Krausse. Danny was born in Chester, while Lew was born in Media (which I assume means Riddle Hospital, across the street from Granite Run Mall - for you card-show buffs). Krausse was a high school phenom, which I described in his 1967 card post.

Northwest of the city is Pottstown, PA, the hometown of both Bobby Shantz and Dave Ricketts. They both went to Pottstown High School, and both had brothers who also played in the majors.

Over into New Jersey, Al Downing and Bill Dillman both hail from Trenton, the state capital.

Northern Delaware is the home of Dallas Green (Newport) and Dave May (New Castle).


Now, where is my EZ-Pass?