John Baumgartner
From BR Bullpen
John Edward Baumgartner
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.
- School University of Alabama
- Debut April 14, 1953
- Final Game April 21, 1953
- Born May 29, 1931 in Birmingham, AL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
John Baumgartner out of the University of Alabama was signed as an amateur free agent by the Detroit Tigers before the 1950 season. John was assigned to the Jamestown Falcons of the class D Pony League where he hit .307 and six home runs, playing as an outfielder, his first season in the pros.
John would hit .280 with nine homers his second year in the game and fall to .244 in 1952 but had a great spring training with the Detroit Tigers in 1953 and surprisingly opened the season as the team's starting third baseman. John made his debut on April 14, 1953 but unfortunately, his play was lackluster and his big league career ended after just one week. His final major league numbers read 5-for-27 or .185.
John laughed as he told the story of batting against Bob Feller and the Cleveland Indians. "When I was going up to the plate against him the first time, Steve Souchock told me he had nothing on his fastball. Three pitches later I was back in the dugout and everyone had a good laugh. But I did fly out against him the next three times."
From 1953 to 1955, he would endure nine location (re)assignments. He was with three different teams in '53, hitting .261, suited up with Little Rock and Buffalo in '54 and hit .265 and finished out his pro baseball career in 1955 with three clubs, hitting at a .214 clip. John's minor league numbers showed a career .263 average and 42 home runs in 657 games. He had also taken a brief try on the mound, appearing in one game in 1952 with no decision and in 1955, his last year, he put together a 2-6 record with a 5.02 ERA for the Terre Haute Tigers.
Baumgartner would leave baseball after 1955 and return to his native Birmingham, AL. He was in sales for the Buxton Company, the maker of billfolds and purses. John then became a vice-president for the Tractor Trailor Company in charge of repairs, before retiring in 1993 to his 60 acre farm in Hayden, Alabama.
[edit] Sources
