Harry Edward Baumgartner (October 6, 1892 – December 3, 1930) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1920. He also played in baseball's minor and independent leagues from 1915 to 1927.

Harry Baumgartner
Baumgartner with the Omaha Buffaloes in 1921
Pitcher
Born: (1892-10-06)October 6, 1892
South Pittsburg, Tennessee
Died: December 3, 1930(1930-12-03) (aged 38)
Augusta, Georgia
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 6, 1920, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
October 2, 1920, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average4.00
Strikeouts7
Teams

Early life and career edit

Baumgartner was born on October 6, 1892, in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.[1] He served three years in the United States Navy and after playing baseball in the service was signed by the Norfolk Tars of the Virginia League in February 1915.[2] He pitched for Norfolk until mid-May, when he joined the Winston-Salem Twins of the North Carolina State League.[3][4] He pitched in 39 games for Winston-Salem, ending the season with a 16-16 win-loss record and 3.74 earned run average.[5]

He remained with the Winston-Salem during spring training 1916 and pitched in the club's first game of the season on April 27, allowing two runs in 1.0 innings of relief.[6][7] On April 29, he asked for and was granted his release from the Twins and signed by the Greensboro Hornets.[8][9]

Detroit Tigers edit

By 1920, Baumgartner was pitching for Clarksdale of the independent Delta League.[10] During a July 31 game against Belzoni in which he allowed no runs and only three hits, he was noticed by Detroit Tigers scout Mike J. Flynn.[11] After watching Baumgartner allow only hits to Charleston on August 3, Flynn signed Baumgartner to a contract, with Baumgartner scheduled to report to the major league club at the conclusion of the Delta League season.[11][12]

Baumgartner made his major league debut on September 6, pitching in both games of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox.[13] In game one, he allowed one hit to the four batters he faced in the eighth inning after relieving Howard Ehmke. In game two, he relieved Doc Ayers and allowed three runs and four hits while recording his first career strikeout in 2.1 innings, earning the loss.[14] He would ultimately pitch in nine games for Detroit in September and October, allowing 18 hits in 18.0 innings and finishing the season with seven strikeouts and a 4.00 ERA.[14]

Return to the minor and independent leagues edit

In February 1921, Detroit transferred Baumgartner to the Omaha Buffaloes of the Western League.[15] In July, he was placed on the injured list with a sore arm.[16][17] He returned in August and ended the year with a 10–9 record in 28 games.[18][5] He appeared in six games for Omaha in 1922, but by June he was pitching for an independent club in Missouri Valley, Iowa.[5][19] He remained with the club in 1923 and served as the team's manager in 1923 and 1924.[20][21][22]

In February 1925, Baumgartner was signed by the Jackson Senators of the Cotton States League.[23] In May, The Birmingham News reported that he was released from Jackson and offered the job of managing the Laurel Lumberjacks.[24] However, The Clarion-Ledger later reported that Baumgartner has turned down the position, and instead was sold to the Atlanta Crackers on June 3.[25][26] However, he did not appear in any official league games that season.[27] He instead moved to the Jonesboro Buffaloes, where he had 10 wins with only one loss.[28][note 1] He was sold back to Jackson in February 1926, and finished the year with a 17–13 record.[29][5] Baumgartner began the 1927 season with Jackson, but was released on May 11 after six games pitched.[30] [5] He joined the St. Augustine/Waycross Saints, going 11–10 in 37 games pitched in 1927.[31][note 2] He signed with the Tampa Krewes before the 1928 season, but retired to work as an immigration inspector in Tampa, Florida.[32][33][34][35]

Death edit

Baumgartner became hospitalized in Augusta, Georgia mid-1930 before dying on December 5.[36] He was survived by a wife and three children.[35]

Notes edit

  1. ^ On Baseball-Reference.com, Baumgartner's tenure with the Jonesboro Buffaloes is listed under the name "H.M. Baumgartner," but contemporary accounts confirm the statistics are those of Harry Edward Baumgartner.
  2. ^ On Baseball-Reference.com, Baumgartner's tenure with the St. Augustine/Waycross Saints is listed simply under the name "Baumgartner," but contemporary accounts confirm the statistics are those of Harry Edward Baumgartner.

References edit

  1. ^ "Harry Baumgartner statistics at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  2. ^ "Two South Pittsburg Players Get Try-Outs in Minor Leagues". Chattanooga Daily Times. February 18, 1915. p. 7. Retrieved July 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Norfolk Not in Form and Petersburg Wins". Daily Press. May 15, 1915. p. 5. Retrieved July 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Baumgartner joins Winston-Salem club". The Twin-City Daily Sentinel. May 18, 1915. p. 6. Retrieved July 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Harry Baumgartner statistics at Baseball-Reference (Minors)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  6. ^ "Twins Will Be Ready When Prexy Bramham Rings Bell". The Twin-City Daily Sentinel. April 15, 1916. p. 10. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Hornets Blank Twins in First Game, 7 to 0". The Twin-City Daily Sentinel. April 27, 1916. p. 8. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Brietz, Edwin M. (May 1, 1916). "Sportorials". The Twin-City Daily Sentinel. p. 6. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Baumgartner A Hornet". The Charlotte News. April 30, 1916. p. 12. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Delta Independent League". The Commercial Appeal. August 1, 1920. p. 30. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b "Harry Baumgartner Clarksdale Pitcher Signs With Tigers". The Commercial Appeal. August 4, 1920. p. 15. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Baumgartner Gets Trip Up". Chattanooga Daily Times. August 4, 1920. p. 12. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Tigers Held to 2 Hits by Recruit". New York Herald. September 7, 1920. p. 13. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ a b "Harry Baumgartner 1920 Pitching Game Log at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  15. ^ "American Turns Back W.L. Players". The Oklahoma City Times. February 24, 1921. p. 40. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Baumgartner Out". The Omaha Daily News. July 18, 1921. p. 8. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Harry Baumgartner is on the injured list". The Omaha Evening Bee. July 20, 1921. p. 9. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Back in An Omaha Uniform". The Omaha Evening Bee. August 8, 1921. p. 8. Retrieved July 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "Federals to Play Missouri Valley Today". The Omaha Evening Bee. June 8, 1922. p. 8. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Bluffs Tourney Will Bar Contract Jumpers in 1924". The Omaha Evening Bee. August 31, 1923. p. 12. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ "Newsey Sportlets". The Omaha Evening Bee. August 31, 1923. p. 12. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Harry Baumgartner Will Manage Missouri Valley". The Omaha Evening Bee. April 25, 1924. p. 13. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Baumgardner And Armstrong Signed For Senators By Bill Pierre, Pitcher and Catcher". The Clarion-Ledger. April 25, 1924. p. 12. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Grauel, W.B. (May 25, 1925). "Drillers Take Two Goes From Loop Leaders". The Birmingham News. p. 11. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Covington at Brookhavn, Jim Moore For Lumberjacks Mark Important Late Steps". The Clarion-Ledger. May 26, 1925. p. 9. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Baumgartner is Sold". Sioux City Journal. June 4, 1925. p. 8. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "1925 Atlanta Crackers at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  28. ^ "H.M. Baumgartner at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  29. ^ "Baumgartner Goes To Jackson Club". The Birmingham News. February 24, 1926. p. 16. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ "Baumgartner Gets Release Rookie Pitcher Is Signed More Changes Are Probable". The Clarion-Ledger. May 12, 1927. p. 8. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ^ "Baumgartner at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
  32. ^ "Tampa Boss After New Ball Players". The Macon Telegraph. February 18, 1928. p. 8. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ "Four Pitchers Among First To Accept Terms". The Tampa Times. March 5, 1928. p. 8. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Rain Cuts Krew Practice Short, With Game Tomorrow". The Tampa Tribune. March 28, 1928. p. 3. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ a b "H. A. Baumgartner, 38, Baseball Pitcher, Dies". Chattanooga Daily Times. December 5, 1930. p. 3. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ The Associated Press (December 6, 1930). "Former Big Leaguer Dies". The Tampa Tribune. p. 14. Retrieved July 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

External links edit