Lou Kretlow
From BR Bullpen
Louis Henry Kretlow (Lena)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.
- School University of Oklahoma, Central State University
- Debut September 26, 1946
- Final Game September 23, 1956
- Born June 27, 1921 in Apache, OK USA
- Died September 12, 2007 in Enid, OK USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Lou Kretlow pitched 12 seasons 1946 to 1957, ten in the Major Leagues and five in the minors.
Before professional baseball, he attended University of Oklahoma (1941-1942) and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II (1943-1945) (GB). He pitched for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Athletics from 1946 to 1956, attending Central State University (1946-1947).
The Tigers gave Kretlow a $35,000 bonus to sign in January 1946, but he never managed more than a half-dozen wins in any of his ten Major League seasons. However, it's fair to note that Kretlow was 1/2 a starter and 1/2 a reliever, often finishing games but almost never in save situations. As an example, in 1953 he appeared in 31 games, starting 14 and finishing 9, with 0 saves and 1 victory.
September 19, 1951: The Yankees are victorious when Mickey Mantle hits a 3-run homer off Chicago's Lou Kretlow to win, 5–3. A small crowd of 12,127 watch the game at the Stadium. The two teams have been tied now for 11 days. The Yanks now have nine games left, eight against Boston.
July 30, 1952: Journeyman hurler Lou Kretlow fashions his second consecutive 2-hitter, as the White Sox down New York 7-0.
After his baseball career, owned an oil company and also became a golf pro. He once set a record for the longest golf hole-in-one, around 480 yards, on a course in Oklahoma.
