Erv Kantlehner

Erving Leslie Kantlehner
(Peanuts)

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.
• School Santa Clara University
• Debut April 17, 1914
• Final Game October 4, 1916
• Born July 31, 1892 in San Jose, CA USA
• Died February 3, 1990 in Santa Barbara, CA USA

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Biographical Information

Peanuts Kantlehner was a hard-luck pitcher who pitched in the middle of the 1910's. His lifetime ERA was 2.84, but his win/loss record was 13-29.

He attended Santa Clara University from 1911-13. He drew attention when he struck out 253 batters for Victoria in the Northwestern League in 1913 at age 20. In 1914, with the Federal League draining away some talent from the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates gave him 21 games to pitch, and he responded with a 3.09 ERA and a 3-2 record. The staff ERA was 2.70. Team star Honus Wagner was 40 years old that year, and it was not one of Pittsburgh's best years.

He accomplished something in 1914 that apparently hasn't been repeated since, according to the Pirates' web site:

"[In 2005 Paul Maholm ] fell 1.0 inning shy from becoming the first Bucco to twirl a shutout in his major league debut since Erv Kantlehner did so on April 17, 1914..."

In 1915, Peanuts appeared in 29 more games, with a 2.26 ERA and a 5-12 record. In eight of his losses, the Pirates were shut out. The team had an ERA of 2.60. He also had 3 saves. His ERA was sixth-best in the National League. The team again finished under .500.

In 1916, he was back with Pittsburgh, posting a 5-15 record with an ERA of 3.16 compared to the staff ERA of 2.76. He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in September, and in 4 innings with them, gave up 4 runs. It was his last time in the majors.

Kantlehner had a career major league record of 13-29 with an ERA of 2.84. It's worth noting, however, that he gave up quite a few unearned runs in his three-year career (43), and that may have impacted what managers Fred Clarke and Nixey Callahan thought of him in Pittsburgh.