Al Aber
Encyclopedia
Albert Julius Aber nicknamed Lefty, was a left-handed Major League Baseball
pitcher who played six years in the Major Leagues with the Cleveland Indians
, Detroit Tigers
(1953-), and Kansas City Athletics
(1957).
Born in Cleveland
, Aber was signed as an amateur free agent by the Indians at age 19 in . He made his major league debut on September 15, 1950, pitching a complete game victory, allowing two runs. He did not play another game in the big leagues until 1953, spending the 1951 and 1952 seasons in the minor leagues. He appeared in six games for the Indians in 1953, winning one and losing one, before being traded on June 15 to the Tigers with Ray Boone
and Dick Weik
for Art Houtteman
, Owen Friend
, Bill Wight
, and Joe Ginsberg
. Aber spent the next five years with the Tigers, where he went 22-24 in five years. His best statistical season was 1955, in which Aber appeared in 39 games and won six, lost three, and had an earned run average
of 3.38. He was then waived by the Tigers, and was picked up by the Kansas City Athletics, for whom he pitched in three games, his final appearance coming on September 11, 1957.
In an interview in Sport magazine in June , Tigers catcher Frank House complimented Aber for his "heavy" ball: "I could catch (Billy) Hoeft
with a fielder's glove. Although he's fast, he throws a 'light' ball that makes it easy on the catcher. Al Aber, another leftie [sic] on our staff, is tough to catch because he throws a 'heavy' ball." Aber died in 1993 at the age of 65 in Garfield Heights, Ohio
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher who played six years in the Major Leagues with the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
(1953-), and Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1957).
Born in Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Aber was signed as an amateur free agent by the Indians at age 19 in . He made his major league debut on September 15, 1950, pitching a complete game victory, allowing two runs. He did not play another game in the big leagues until 1953, spending the 1951 and 1952 seasons in the minor leagues. He appeared in six games for the Indians in 1953, winning one and losing one, before being traded on June 15 to the Tigers with Ray Boone
Ray Boone
Raymond Otis Boone was an American Major League Baseball player. He batted and threw right-handed.Boone was born in San Diego, California. An infielder, he broke into the major leagues on September 3, , with the Cleveland Indians...
and Dick Weik
Dick Weik
Richard Henry Weik was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. A , right-hander, he played for the Washington Senators , Cleveland Indians , and Detroit Tigers ....
for Art Houtteman
Art Houtteman
Arthur Joseph Houtteman was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for 12 seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles...
, Owen Friend
Owen Friend
Owen Lacey Friend was a Major League Baseball second baseman for five different teams between 1949 and 1956. Listed at 6'1, 180 lb., Friend batted and threw right-handed. Nicknamed "Red," he was born in Granite City, Illinois.Strictly a line drive hitter, Friend entered the majors with the St...
, Bill Wight
Bill Wight
William Robert Wight was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the New York Yankees , Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , Baltimore Orioles , Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals . Listed at 6' 1", 180 lb...
, and Joe Ginsberg
Joe Ginsberg
Myron Nathan "Joe" Ginsberg was a catcher for the Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians , Kansas City Athletics , Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox , Boston Red Sox , and New York Mets...
. Aber spent the next five years with the Tigers, where he went 22-24 in five years. His best statistical season was 1955, in which Aber appeared in 39 games and won six, lost three, and had an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 3.38. He was then waived by the Tigers, and was picked up by the Kansas City Athletics, for whom he pitched in three games, his final appearance coming on September 11, 1957.
In an interview in Sport magazine in June , Tigers catcher Frank House complimented Aber for his "heavy" ball: "I could catch (Billy) Hoeft
Billy Hoeft
William Frederick Hoeft was a pitcher in Major League Baseball whose career spanned 15 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Braves, Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants. He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.-Detroit Tigers :Hoeft was signed by the Detroit...
with a fielder's glove. Although he's fast, he throws a 'light' ball that makes it easy on the catcher. Al Aber, another leftie [sic] on our staff, is tough to catch because he throws a 'heavy' ball." Aber died in 1993 at the age of 65 in Garfield Heights, Ohio
Garfield Heights, Ohio
Garfield Heights is a city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. The population was 28,849 at the time of the 2010 census.-Geography:Garfield Heights is located at ....
.