Remembering Ken Holtzman: The Legendary Pitcher Who Helped Shape Baseball History

Major League Baseball mourns the loss of former pitcher Ken Holtzman, who passed away at the age of 78. His brother, Bob, confirmed his death to St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Benjamin Hochman. Holtzman had been hospitalized for heart issues for the past three weeks.

Holtzman was a standout player at the University of Illinois before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1965. He spent seven seasons with the Cubs before being traded to the Oakland Athletics in 1971, where he played a key role in their winning three consecutive World Series titles from 1972 to 1974. In 1976, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles and later to the New York Yankees, where he won his fourth World Series in 1977. He returned to the Cubs in 1978 before retiring after the 1979 season.

Throughout his career, Holtzman achieved a remarkable record of 174 wins and 150 losses, with an impressive ERA of 3.49 and a WHIP of just 1.29. He also struck out an impressive number of batters during his time on the mound, racking up a total of over 1,600 strikeouts across more than two thousand innings pitched.

One of Holtzman’s most notable achievements during his career was throwing two no-hitters: one in 1969 and another in 1971. These feats will be remembered as testaments to his incredible talent and skill as a pitcher.

Overall, Ken Holtzman will be remembered as a valuable member of multiple championship-winning teams in Major League Baseball. His legacy will live on through his impressive accomplishments on the field and through his contributions to shaping some of baseball’s most memorable moments over the years.

Rest in peace, Ken Holtzman!