Ken Holtzman: Difference between revisions

|death_date={{death date and age|2024|4|1415|1945|11|3}}

'''Kenneth Dale Holtzman''' (November 3, 1945 – April 1415, 2024) was an American [[professional baseball]] player and [[Coach (baseball)|coach]].<ref name="Ken Holtzman at Baseball Reference">{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/holtzke01.shtml |title=Ken Holtzman |publisher=Baseball Reference |accessdate=November 18, 2019 }}</ref> He was a left-handed [[pitcher]] in [[Major League Baseball]] from {{By|1965}} through {{By|1979}} for the [[Chicago Cubs]], [[Oakland Athletics]], [[Baltimore Orioles]], and [[New York Yankees]].

Holtzman was born in [[St. Louis, Missouri]], on November 3, 1945, to Henry and Jacqueline Holtzman. He was raised in an observant [[Jewish]] family and graduated from [[University City High School (Missouri)|University City High School]] in St. Louis in 1963.<ref name=sabr/> He attended the [[University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign]], where he played [[college baseball]] for the [[Illinois Fighting Illini baseball|Illinois Fighting Illini]]. He graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in business administration and [[French language|French]].<ref name=sabr>{{Cite web|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/ken-holtzman/|title=Ken Holtzman – Society for American Baseball Research}}</ref>

The [[Chicago Cubs]] selected Holtzman in the fourth round of the [[1965 Major League Baseball draft]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jewsinsports.org/|title=Welcome to Jews In Sports Online|website=www.jewsinsports.org}}</ref><ref name="google1">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o4RsOc9z0ioC&pg=PA113 |title=Chicago Cubs: Memorable Stories of Cubs Baseball | series=Game of My Life|publisher=Skyhorse |date=2007 |isbn=9781596701731 |access-date=January 22, 2011}}</ref><ref name="google2">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9ZzxydPInwgC&pg=PA86 |title=The Big Book of Jewish Baseball: An Illustrated Encyclopedia & Anecdotal History |publisher=SPI Books|date=2001 |isbn=9781561719730 |access-date=January 22, 2011}}</ref> At age 19, Holtzman pitched 12 games in the [[Minor League Baseball|minor leagues]] in 1965, four with the [[Caldwell Cubs|Treasure Valley Cubs]] in the [[Pioneer League (baseball)|Pioneer League]], and eight with the [[Wenatchee Chiefs]] in the [[Northwest League]]. He was 8–3 in the dozen starts, with a 1.99 [[earned run average]] and 114 strikeouts in 86 innings.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{sabrbio|453be7e7|Ralph Berger|January 22, 2011}}</ref>

The Cubs promoted Holtzman to the major leagues in September [[1965 Chicago Cubs season|1965]].<ref>{{Cite webnews|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-cubs-purchase-ken-holtzm/145421249/|title=Cubs Purchase Ken Holtzman, Ex-Illini Star|work=Chicago Tribune |date=September 2, 1965|pages=80|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> After making three relief appearances in 1965, Holtzman joined the Cubs' starting rotation in [[1966 Chicago Cubs season|1966]], and had an 11–16 rookie campaign as the team finished in last place.<ref name="Ken Holtzman at Baseball Reference"/><ref name="google1"/> The team's fortunes turned around, however, as they had winning years in every season from [[1967 Chicago Cubs season|1967]] through 1971.

As a promising Jewish left-hander, he was heralded as "the new [[Sandy Koufax]]."<ref name="Jews in Sports">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile.asp?ID=27&sport=baseball|title=Holtzman, Ken|publisher=Jews in Sports|access-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref> He pitched against Koufax in [[1966 Chicago Cubs season|1966]] on September 25, and took the win by a 2–1 score, becoming the last pitcher to beat Koufax during the regular season. Koufax would make his last regular-season appearance a week later, on October 2.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sherman |first1=Ed |title=Sandy Koufax vs. Ken Holtzman: The 1966 matchup of two Jewish pitching stars |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2016/09/15/sandy-koufax-vs-ken-holtzman-the-1966-matchup-of-two-jewish-pitching-stars/ |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=September 15, 2016 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Holtzman served in the [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] in 1967 and was only available to play on weekends. He appeared in 12 games and had a 9–0 record.<ref name="Jewish Virtual Library">{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/biography/HoltzmanK.html|title=Kenneth Holtzman|publisher=Jewish Virtual Library|access-date=March 23, 2014}}</ref> After going 11–14 in [[1968 Chicago Cubs season|1968]], he posted consecutive 17-win seasons.<ref name="Ken Holtzman at Baseball Reference"/> Holtzman was named [[Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award|NL Player of the Month]] in May [[1969 Chicago Cubs season|1969]] with a 6–0 record, a 2.16 ERA, and 44 strikeouts.<ref name="Ken Holtzman at Baseball Reference"/>

That August 19, Holtzman pitched a [[no-hitter]] at [[Wrigley Field]] against the eventual Western Division champion [[Atlanta Braves]], winning 3–0 on [[Ron Santo]]'s three-run [[home run]] and outdueling the Braves' [[Phil Niekro]].<ref name=chfnhabrv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_r5SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4H0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6507%2C2780389 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Cubs' Holtzman fires no=hitter at Braves |date=August 20, 1969 |page=24}}</ref><ref name=hhnoh>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gFwfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=adQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3464%2C5758308 |newspaper=Nevada Daily Mail |location=Missouri |agency=Associated Press |title=Cubs' Holtzman hurls no-hitter |date=August 20, 1969 |page=10 }}</ref> Holtzman had no [[strikeout]]s and three walks in the game. This was the first no-hitter by a Cub left-hander at Wrigley Field<ref name="google1"/> and the third no-hitter ever thrown without a strikeout ([[Earl Hamilton]] on August 30, 1912; [[Sad Sam Jones]] on September 4, 1923), a feat that has not been equaled since.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHA/PHA192309040.shtml |title=September 4, 1923 New York Yankees at Philadelphia Athletics Box Score and Play by Play |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=September 4, 1923 |access-date=January 22, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Jackson">{{Cite web |url=http://www.hardballtimes.com/no-runs-no-hits-no-strikeouts/ |title=No Runs, No Hits, No Strikeouts |last=Jackson |first=Frank |website=hardballtimes.com |date=May 20, 2014 |access-date=July 19, 2014}}</ref> In the seventh inning, [[Hank Aaron]] crushed a drive to left field that appeared to be a home run, but the wind held up the ball, enabling [[Billy Williams (left fielder)|Billy Williams]] to catch the long fly ball in the recessed "well" at the wall in left field. Holtzman faced Aaron again in the ninth, and got him to ground out to second base to complete the no-hitter. The Cubs led the Eastern Division for much of the season before finishing in second place, eight games behind the [[1969 World Series|eventual world champion]] [[New York Mets]].<ref name=sabr/>

In [[1970 Chicago Cubs season|1970]], had a 17–11 record and a 3.38 ERA, and finished third in the NL in starts (38), fifth in both strikeouts (202) and [[innings pitched]] ({{frac|287|2|3}}), sixth in complete games (15) and ninth in wins.<ref name="Ken Holtzman at Baseball Reference"/> Baseball historian [[Bill James]] considers the Cubs' 1970 rotation of Holtzman, [[Ferguson Jenkins]], [[Milt Pappas]], and [[Bill Hands]] was the best of the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/columns/berry-tramel/2012/08/03/hall-of-fame-pitcher-ferguson-jenkins-has-a-strong-oklahoma-pedigree/61055029007/|title=Hall of Fame pitcher Ferguson Jenkins has a strong Oklahoma pedigree|first=Berry|last=Tramel|website=The Oklahoman}}</ref>

Joining a staff that featured [[Vida Blue]] and [[Catfish Hunter]], he won 19 games in [[1972 Oakland Athletics season|1972]] (7th in the AL) and was named to the [[1972 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team for the first time.<ref name="google2"/> He lost Game 3 of the [[1972 American League Championship Series]] against the [[Detroit Tigers]] as opposing pitcher [[Joe Coleman (1970s pitcher)|Joe Coleman]] set an ALCS record with 14 strikeouts. After Oakland won the ALCS in five games, Holtzman won Game 1 of the [[1972 World Series|World Series]] against the Reds. He started Game 4, but left in the eighth inning with a 1–0 lead and a runner on third base. The Reds scored twice to take the lead, but Oakland scored twice in the ninth inning to win 3–2. He relieved Hunter in the eighth inning of Game 7 with a 3–1 lead but after surrendering a [[double (baseball)|double]] to [[Joe Morgan]], he was replaced by [[Rollie Fingers]]. The A's hung on for a 3–2 win to win the series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/inside-pitch/oakland-shuts-down-big-red-machine-game-7|title=A's shut down Big Red Machine in thrilling Game 7 &#124; Baseball Hall of Fame|website=baseballhall.org}}</ref>

Holtzman again won 19 games in [[1974 Oakland Athletics season|1974]], but this time endured 17 losses despite his 3.07 ERA, which ranked 11th in the League.<ref name="Ken Holtzman at Baseball Reference"/> Facing the Orioles in the [[1974 American League Championship Series|1974 ALCS]], he pitched a 5–0 [[shutout]] in Game 2, taking a one-hitter into the eighth inning and allowing only five singles. Against the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in the [[1974 World Series|World Series]], he started Game 1 but was pulled in the fifth inning with a 2–1 lead; the A's went on to win 3–2. He won Game 4 5–2, hitting a home run off [[Andy Messersmith]] in the third inning for a 1–0 lead.<ref>{{cite (thenews [[designated|last1=Epstein hitter]]|first1=Dan was|title=The not12 usedgreatest inJewish Worldfeats Seriesin playbaseball untilplayoff [[1976history World Series|1976]])url=https://forward. He would be com/culture/476258/the-12-greatest-jewish-moments-baseball-koufax-greenberg-holltzman/ last pitcher to hit a World Series home run until |work=[[JoeThe BlantonForward]] in|date=October 2008. During the nine seasons in which he batted regularly during the season5, he2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite had only two home runsweb|url=https://www. Oakland won Game 5 and became the first team to win three straight World Series since the New York Yankees won five straight from [[1949 New York Yankees seasonmlb.com/news/pitchers-who-have-homered-in-mlb-postseason-c297733838|1949]]title=Every topitcher [[1953who Newwent Yorkdeep Yankeesin seasonpostseason|1953]]website=MLB.{{cn|date=April 2024com}}</ref>

After losing in salary arbitration in February,<ref name=fwwgnrtyr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Z1YzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uPIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=994%2C1079515 |newspaper=Gettysburg Times |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Finley wins -– Ken Holtzman will get no raise this year |date=February 14, 1975 |page=10 }}</ref> Holtzman had an 18–14 record for the [[1975 Oakland Athletics season|1975]] A's as they won their fifth straight [[American League]] Western Division title. On June 8, against the [[1975 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]], he had what would have been his third career no-hitter broken up with two out in the ninth by a [[Tom Veryzer]] double.<ref name=jmntr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZBNIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hgANAAAAIBAJ&pg=1192%2C1006623 |newspaper=Morning Record |location=Meriden, Connecticut |agency=Associated Press |title=Holtzman just misses no-hitter |date=June 9, 1975 |page=9 }}</ref> He would have become the third pitcher (after [[Cy Young]] and [[Jim Bunning]]) to pitch no-hitters in both leagues. Holtzman lost Games 1 and 3 of the [[1975 American League Championship Series|ALCS]] to the [[1975 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] as the A's were swept. He was fourth in the AL in games started (38), sixth in hits allowed per 9 innings pitched (7.33), and seventh in wins.<ref name="Ken Holtzman at Baseball Reference"/>

Holtzman went on to attempt a career as an [[insurance]] salesman.<ref name=sabr/> He also worked for the St. Louis Jewish Community Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2004/06/08/ken-holtzman-2/|title=Ken Holtzman|first=Fred|last=Mitchell|website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=June 8, 2004}}</ref> He coached the St. Louis baseball team for the [[Maccabiah Games]] for a few years and is a member of the [[Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame]], St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame, St. Louis Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and the University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame.<ref name=stlobit/>

Ken Holtzman died in St. Louis on April 1415, 2024, after battling heart issues. He was 78, and had been hospitalized for three weeks prior to his death. Holtzman is survived by his daughters Robyn, Stacy, and Lauren, as well as four grandchildren.<ref name=stlobit>{{cite news |last1=Hochman |first1=Benjamin |title=St. Louisan Ken Holtzman, who threw 2 no-hitters for Cubs and won 3 World Series for A's, has died |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/st-louisan-ken-holtzman-who-threw-2-no-hitters-for-cubs-and-won-3-world/article_3abee8da-fb3e-11ee-baab-c74c79ace82a.html |work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=April 15, 2024|accessdate=April 15, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Harrigan |first1=Thomas |title=Holtzman, author of 2 no-hitters and a 4-time champ, dies at 78 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ken-holtzman-dies |website=[[MLB.com]] |date=April 15, 2024}}</ref> After a funeral service on April 17, his body was interred at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in [[Chesterfield, Missouri]].

* [[List of Jewish American sportspeople#Baseball|List of Jewish Major League Baseball players]]