Hal Kurtz
Encyclopedia
Harold James Kurtz nicknamed "Bud", is an American
former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians
before the 1962 season, and played for them in 1968. Upon making the Indians' team out of spring training
in 1968, Kurtz publicly thanked Manager Alvin Dark
for giving him a chance he never thought he would have. The 24-year-old rookie
right-hander stood 6'3" and weighed 205 lbs.
Kurtz appeared in 28 games for Cleveland, finishing 12 and saving one. In 38 innings
, he gave up 37 hits
(only two of those were home run
s). His win-loss record was 1-0 with a 5.21 earned run average
.
His finest major league effort came on June 3, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
. He entered the game against the Chicago White Sox
in the top of the 10th inning with the score tied 2-2 and pitched five scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and no walks. Teammate José Vidal hit a walk-off home run
in the bottom of the 14th to win the game 3-2 and get Kurtz his first and only major league win
.
The son of a physician, Kurtz spent his off-seasons pursuing pre-med studies. The former pitcher now resides in Maryland.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
. He was signed 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 the 1962 season, and played for them in 1968. Upon making the Indians' team out of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 1968, Kurtz publicly thanked Manager Alvin Dark
Alvin Dark
Alvin Ralph Dark , nicknamed "Blackie" and "The Swamp Fox", is a former shortstop and manager in Major League Baseball who played for five National League teams from 1946 to 1960. Named the major leagues' Rookie of the Year with the Boston Braves when he batted .322...
for giving him a chance he never thought he would have. The 24-year-old rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
right-hander stood 6'3" and weighed 205 lbs.
Kurtz appeared in 28 games for Cleveland, finishing 12 and saving one. In 38 innings
Innings
An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...
, he gave up 37 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
(only two of those were home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s). His win-loss record was 1-0 with a 5.21 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...
.
His finest major league effort came on June 3, 1968 at Cleveland Stadium
Cleveland Stadium
Cleveland Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in Cleveland, Ohio. In its final years, the stadium seated 74,438, for baseball and 81,000, for football. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball and football...
. He entered the game against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the top of the 10th inning with the score tied 2-2 and pitched five scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and no walks. Teammate José Vidal hit a walk-off home run
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
in the bottom of the 14th to win the game 3-2 and get Kurtz his first and only major league win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
.
The son of a physician, Kurtz spent his off-seasons pursuing pre-med studies. The former pitcher now resides in Maryland.