Al Widmar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Al Widmar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: March 20, 1925 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| Died: October 15, 2005 (aged 80) Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 25, 1947, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| April 17, 1952, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 13–30 |
| Earned run average | 5.21 |
| Strikeouts | 143 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
Albert Joseph Widmar (March 20, 1925 – October 15, 2005) was an American pitcher, pitching coach,[1] scout and front-office executive in Major League Baseball (MLB). In addition to forging a 59-year career in professional baseball,[2] he also played professional basketball for three seasons.[3]
Widmar appeared in 114 games over all or part of five MLB seasons (1947–1948, 1950–1952) for the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns and Chicago White Sox. A decade later, he returned to the majors as a pitching coach, serving in that role for 17 seasons between 1962 and 1989 for the Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays.[1]
Widmar was born in Cleveland, Ohio to a father from Slovenia and mother of Balkan descent. He, his parents and two brothers spoke Slovenian at home.[4] He attended Cathedral Latin High School. He batted and threw right-handed, stood 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (84 kg).[5]
He was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox in 1942,[5] and played Minor League Baseball (MiLB) throughout the war years.[6] Widmar made his MLB debut with Boston at Fenway Park on April 25, 1947,[5] and appeared in two early-season games as a relief pitcher before returning to the minors. On November 17, 1947, the Red Sox packaged him in the blockbuster trade with the St. Louis Browns that brought All-Star shortstop Vern Stephens to Boston. After an unspectacular 1948 campaign with the Browns, he was demoted to St. Louis' Triple-A affiliate, the Baltimore Orioles of the International League.[6] In 1949, with Baltimore, Widmar won 22 games to lead the league and was named an All-Star.[6] In 1950, he returned to the Browns, mainly as a starting pitcher. After going 11–24 in 62 games over two seasons for a Browns team that lost a combined 198 games, Widmar was traded to the Chicago White Sox along with Sherm Lollar for Dick Littlefield, Joe DeMaestri, Gus Niarhos and Jim Rivera.[5]
But after appearing in only one game with the White Sox, a two-inning relief stint on April 17, 1952, against the Cleveland Indians, Widmar was shipped back to the minors, where he spent the rest of his playing career. He finished 1952 with the Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League, and remained with the Rainiers through the early weeks of the 1955 season, winning 20 games in both 1952 and 1953. After eight appearances for Seattle in 1955, he donned a Tulsa Oilers uniform; he won 18 games that year, then at 31 he became the Oilers' player/manager from 1956 through 1958.[6]
In all or parts of five MLB seasons, Widmar posted a 13–30 record, with 143 strikeouts, and a 5.21 earned run average (ERA), in 388+1⁄3 innings pitched. He surrendered 461 hits and 176 bases on balls. In 42 games started, he registered 12 complete games and one shutout,[5] a three-hitter over the Philadelphia Athletics on September 12, 1950, at Shibe Park.[7] Widmar posted six saves in 72 relief appearances.
Beginning in the late-1940s, Widmar began to play professional basketball in the off-season — in order to keep himself in shape. He played for the Binghamton Triplets of the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL), and the Scranton Miners and Allentown / Carbondale Aces of the American Basketball League (ABL).[3]