TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY

February 19 1957 — The Kansas City Athletics ship pitchers Art Ditmar, Bobby Shantz, and Jack McMahan, and infielders Clete Boyer, Curt Roberts and Wayne Belardi to the Yankees. In return they receive pitchers Mickey McDermott, Tom Morgan, Rip Coleman and Jack Urban, OF Irv Noren, plus infielders Billy Hunter and Milt Graff.

Art Ditmar: The Right-Hander Who Made His Mark

Art Ditmar may not be the first name that comes to mind when recalling the golden era of baseball, but his contributions to the game are noteworthy. A right-handed finesse pitcher, Ditmar played in the Major Leagues from 1954 to 1962, splitting time between the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics and the New York Yankees. Over his nine-season career, he posted a 72-77 record with a 3.98 ERA, carving out a respectable place in baseball history.

Born on April 3, 1929, in Winthrop, Massachusetts, Ditmar grew up in Pittsfield and took a traditional path to the big leagues. Signed by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1948, he spent three seasons in the minors before military service in the Korean War put his baseball career on hold from 1951 to 1952. Upon returning, he made his Major League debut in 1954, making an immediate impact by winning the final game ever played by the Philadelphia Athletics before their relocation to Kansas City.

Though he had a rough 1956 season, leading the American League with 22 losses, Ditmar found success after being traded to the Yankees in a nine-player deal. In New York, he played alongside legends like Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra, winning 47 games over five seasons. His best year came in 1960 when he led the Yankees in wins with 15.

One of the most controversial moments of Ditmar’s career came in the 1960 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yankees manager Casey Stengel chose Ditmar to start Game 1 over Whitey Ford, a decision still debated by baseball historians. Ditmar struggled, lasting only a third of an inning in the Yankees’ 6-4 loss. He also started Game 5 but was again ineffective. Ford, who did not pitch in Game 1, ended up throwing shutouts in Games 3 and 6. The Yankees ultimately lost the series in Game 7 on Bill Mazeroski’s famous walk-off home run.

Adding to the sting of that loss, decades later Ditmar found himself at the center of an unexpected controversy. A Budweiser commercial in the 1980s featured an original radio broadcast clip from Game 7, but the announcer mistakenly identified Ditmar instead of Ralph Terry as the pitcher who gave up Mazeroski’s home run. Ditmar sued Anheuser-Busch for $500,000, claiming the error damaged his reputation.

After his playing days ended in 1962, Ditmar stayed connected to sports, serving as a parks and recreation director and coaching baseball and basketball while earning his master’s degree. He later retired to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Though his career had ups and downs, Ditmar was a part of three World Series teams and won a championship with the Yankees in 1958.

Art Ditmar passed away on June 11, 2021, at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance and dedication to the game. While he may not have been the star of his era, his impact on baseball remains undeniable.

Historic Days!

February 19 1942 — Hal Trosky, whose season ended last August when he injured his finger and suffering from migraine headaches that cannot be treated, retires as first baseman of the Indians. Trosky, who batted .294 for Cleveland in 1941, retires from the game with 228 career home runs and a lifetime batting mark of .302. Trosky will come back to play for the Chicago White Sox in 1944 and 1946, but the Hall of Fame-type brilliance he showed in the 1930s is gone

February 19 1954 — 19-year-old Roberto Clemente signs with the Brooklyn Dodgers for one year at $5,000 with a $10,000 signing bonus. The Dodgers thus beat out a number of other clubs in the Clemente sweepstakes. The Dodgers may have won the first battle, but they will lose Clemente’s services in one year when they fail to protect him in the 1954 Rule V Draft.

February 19 1957 — The Kansas City Athletics ship pitchers Art Ditmar, Bobby Shantz, and Jack McMahan, and infielders Clete Boyer, Curt Roberts and Wayne Belardi to the Yankees. In return they receive pitchers Mickey McDermott, Tom Morgan, Rip Coleman and Jack Urban, OF Irv Noren, plus infielders Billy Hunter and Milt Graff.

February 19, 1970, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn announces the suspension of Detroit Tigers ace Denny McLain, effective April 1st, for McLain’s alleged involvement in a bookmaking operation. The suspension will last three months, setting off what will basically be a lost season for the two-time Cy Young Award winner.

February 19, 1983, Fernando Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Dodgers becomes the first player to earn a $1 million salary through arbitration. Valenzuela’s victory makes him the third highest-paid player in the game. The Dodgers had offered Valenzuela $750,000 for this season.

February 19, 1987 — After signing a contract as a free agent with the A’s less than a month ago, 37 year-old Vida Blue unexpectedly retires from baseball. The veteran southpaw, who played a significant role in the A’s consecutive world championships in 1972, 1973, and 1974, compiled a 209-161 record during his 17-year major league career, which also included stints with the Giants and Royals.

Passed away February 19, 2019 in Sherman Oaks, CA . . . A three-time 20-game winner, big Don Newcombe was unable to sustain his success, winning 149 games in a career interrupted by military service and injury. One of the best athletes to take the mound, Newcombe hit seven homers in 117 at-bats for the Dodgers in 1955, and batted .271 for his career. In 1956 he won 27 games on his way to the National League Cy Young and Most Valuable Player Awards. He was the first african-american pitcher to win 20 games in the major leagues.

Todays featured clip:

TRIVIA

TRIVIA: Who won the last game for the Philadelphia Athletics? 

Answer in tomorrows newsletter

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Birthday Boys!

 ANSWER TO YESTERDAY’S TRIVIA

TRIVIA: There is only 1 Hall of Famer born on February 18th who is he?

Trivia Answer: Joe Gordon.

Passings.

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