Al Closter
Encyclopedia
Alan Edward Closter is a former professional baseball
pitcher
. He pitched parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball
between 1966 and 1973, pitching in a total of 21 games.
Closter represented the United States at the 1964 Summer Olympics
, where baseball was a demonstration sport. He was signed by the New York Yankees
before the beginning of the 1965 season, was drafted from them by the Cleveland Indians
before being purchased from them by the Washington Senators
before the 1966 season.
Closter was severely injured in a collision with Dallas Green
, which derailed his career for some time. He made it back to the majors in 1971 with the Yankees, but never established himself and was out of the majors after 1973.
In 2006, Closter was elected to the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He pitched parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball
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...
between 1966 and 1973, pitching in a total of 21 games.
Closter represented the United States at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
, where baseball was a demonstration sport. He was signed by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
before the beginning of the 1965 season, was drafted from them by 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...
before being purchased from them by the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
before the 1966 season.
Closter was severely injured in a collision with Dallas Green
Dallas Green
George Dallas Green is a former pitcher, manager, and executive in Major League Baseball. After playing for the Philadelphia Phillies and two other teams, he went on to manage the Phillies, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets, and managed the Phillies when they won their first World Series...
, which derailed his career for some time. He made it back to the majors in 1971 with the Yankees, but never established himself and was out of the majors after 1973.
In 2006, Closter was elected to the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame.