I don't need reminders of my advancing age. My bones, muscles and joints do that for me, just fine, even after two hip replacements.
I certainly don't need news that another member of the first team I ever loved has died, even though I know they're all old now.
Kenneth Dale Holtzman was born on November 3, 1945 in St. Louis. Debuting with the Chicago Cubs in 1965, this Jewish lefthander was called "the new Sandy Koufax." In Koufax's 3rd-from-last regular-season appearance, on September 25, 1966, Ken Holtzman's Cubs beat Koufax's Dodgers, 2-1.
He didn't become the new Koufax, but he did go 174-150 in his career -- more wins than Koufax, although Koufax's career ended early due to elbow trouble. Included were 2 no-hitters, half as many as Koufax: On August 19, 1969, against the Atlanta Braves; and on June 3, 1971, against the Cincinnati Reds. He still holds the record for most games won by a Jewish pitcher.
He was a 2-time All-Star, in 1972 and '73. With the Oakland Athletics, he won the World Series in 1972, '73 and '74. In the 1974 Series, he hit a home run, something only 1 pitcher has done in Series play since (Joe Blanton of the 2008 Phillies). He also won a Pennant with the Yankees in 1976 and another World Series with them in 1977.
The Yankees traded him back to the Cubs in 1978, and he retired with them after the 1979 season. The Cubs have elected him to their team Hall of Fame. He was also elected to the University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame, the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame, and the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.
He returned to his hometown of St. Louis, became an insurance salesman, and died yesterday, April 14, 2024. He was 78 years old, and had been battling heart trouble. He was survived by his ex-wife, Michelle; 3 daughters, Roby, Stay and Lauren; and 4 grandchildren.
Of the 1977 Yankees, Thurman Munson was killed in a plane crash in 1979, Catfish Hunter died from Lou Gehrig's disease in 1999, Elrod Hendricks (only 10 games, none in the postseason) in 2005, Dock Ellis (traded in April) in 2008, Paul Blair in 2013, Dave Bergman in 2015, Jimmy Wynn in 2020 (not from COVID), Dick Tidrow in 2021, and Don Gullett earlier this year.
Still alive, in descending order of age, are: Lou Piniella, 80; Roy White, 80; Graig Nettles, 79; Sparky Lyle, 79; Marty Perez, 1 game before being traded in April, 78; Reggie Jackson, 77; Frank Healy, 77; Mike Torrez, 77; Cliff Johnson, 76; Fred Stanley, 76; Carlos May, 75; Mickey Rivers, 75; Dave Kingman, who played all of 8 games, all of them in the regular season, 75; Ed Figueroa, 75; Chris Chambliss, 75; Gene Locklear, only the last game of the regular season, and it was the last major league game he ever played, 74; Stan Thomas, 3 games as a September call-up, and never appeared again, 74; Ron Guidry, 73; George Zeber, 73; Bucky Dent, 72; Larry McCall, 2 games as a September call-up, 71; Dell Alston, 71; Ken Clay, 70; Willie Randolph, 69; Mickey Klutts, 5 games as a September call-up, 69; Gil Patterson, 68.
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