Major League Baseball has lost another legendary pitcher, Ken Holtzman, who passed away at the age of 78. His death was confirmed by his brother, Bob, as reported by Benjamin Hochman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. According to Hochman’s report, Holtzman had been hospitalized for the past three weeks due to heart issues.
Holtzman was a standout player at the University of Illinois before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1965. He spent seven seasons with the Cubs before being traded to the Oakland Athletics in 1971. During his time with the Athletics, Holtzman played a key role in their winning three consecutive World Series titles from 1972 to 1974.
In 1976, Holtzman was traded to the Baltimore Orioles and later to the New York Yankees, where he won his fourth World Series in 1977. After retiring after the 1979 season, Holtzman returned to play with his hometown team, the Cubs.
Throughout his career, Holtzman achieved a remarkable record of 174 wins and 150 losses, with an ERA of 3.49 and a WHIP of 1.29. He struck out over 1,600 batters in over 2,800 innings pitched.
Holtzman’s no-hitters will long be remembered by fans of baseball history. He pitched one no-hitter in 1969 and another in 1971. His contributions to multiple championship-winning teams will also be celebrated for years to come.
The baseball community is mourning the loss of this talented pitcher and iconic figure in Major League Baseball history.
