Former major league pitcher Ken Holtzman has died at age 78. Apparently, he’d been dealing with heart issues and was hospitalized for the past three weeks. Good ole number 30 remains the winningest Jewish pitcher with 174 wins. He was and will always be my very favorite Chicago Cub player.
Watching him in person hurl for the fabled 1969 Chicago Cubs was an early sports memory for me. He threw lefthanded as did I. It was Ken’s success that made me want to become a pitcher which I was in Little League, high school and American Legion ball. Then my arm gave out.
Ken Holtzman hurling for the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
August 19th, 1969. I swear on the lives of all my family members that this next story is 100% true. I was at home one afternoon watching the Cubs-Atlanta Braves game at Wrigley Field. The game was four innings old and Holtzman had a no-hitter going. I had to leave watching the ballgame to go with my mom to Sears in Oak Brook to get some back-to-school clothes. Before turning off our black and white TV and getting in the car, I said a little prayer out loud. I asked for God to help Kenny get a no hitter on this day. I told my mom about this prayer and she hoped it would come true.
So, my mom and I shopped at Sears for over an hour and before heading home we went to their little cafeteria to get a snack. Probably got some pie and a soft drink. We’re eating our treat when I saw two Sears salesguys sitting at the table next to us. A third co-worker walked up to them and asked, “Did you hear about Holtzman’s no hitter?” I was stunned! I said “Mom! He did it! I prayed for it and Kenny got his no hitter.” Mom was equally thrilled and watching the sports coverage on the news that night was never sweeter.
Trade Winds. Holtzman eventually asked to be traded and went on to pitch for the Oakland A’s and it was great to see him win three World Series with Charlie Finley’s mustached ballplayers. The swinging A’s were colorful guys and awesome ballplayers. After that, there was a short stint with Baltimore then the Yankees then back to the Cubs in 1978.
Holtzman won three World Series Championships with the swinging Oakland A’s.
Sparky Lyle’s book “The Bronx Zoo” wrote how smart Ken Holtzman was when doing crossword puzzles and playing Password and various card games in the clubhouse. Lyle also shared when Yankees owner George Steinbrenner wanted to trade his lefty pitcher because he’d been relegated to the bullpen and was costing the owner valuable dollars. Steinbrenner pitched a trade plan to his hurler and Holtzman, being a 10 year league veteran had the final say. Ken Holtzman heard Steinbrenner’s proposal then looked him right in the eye and said, “Veto.” The Yankees boss was steamed. He basically told Holtzman, ‘Fine, you sit in the bullpen and rot away and I’ll be here in my owner’s box and we can wave to each other during every home game.’ Ken Holtzman eventually made it back to the Cubs for his last two seasons.
One last Ken Holtzman anecdote. In the Ron Santo biography movie “This Old Cub” they show when Santo waited for a call hoping to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. The call did not bring good news. The next scene showed Santo reading a beautifully worded letter telling him how his day would come and how number ten deserved to be in Cooperstown. It Turned out that letter was from Ronnie’s former teammate, Ken Holtzman! Still classy, years later.
So long number 30, you’ll always be number 1 in my book and my favorite Cub! God bless you.
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