Ronald Bernard Klimkowski (March 1, 1944 – November 13, 2009) was an American baseball player born in Jersey City, New Jersey.[1] He was a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher and junkball specialist.[2] He played for the New York Yankees (1969–1970, 1972) and the Oakland Athletics (1971) during his career.
| Ron Klimkowski | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: March 1, 1944 Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| Died: November 13, 2009 (aged 65) Plainview, New York, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 15, 1969, for the New York Yankees | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 22, 1972, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 8–12 |
| Earned run average | 2.90 |
| Strikeouts | 79 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
Klimkowski attended college at Morehead State University for only one year.[3] He was the first graduate of Clarke High School in Westbury, New York, to play in the major leagues.[4]
Career
editBefore the 1964 season, Ron Klimkowski was signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent.[5][6] On August 8, 1967, he was sent by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on August 3, 1967. The Boston Red Sox traded Pete Magrini to the New York Yankees for Elston Howard. Klimkowski was traded to the New York Yankees by the Boston Red Sox to complete the trade.[5][6] Klimkowski made his major league debut on September 15, 1969. On that day, the Detroit Tigers were playing against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium with 5,734 people attending the game.[7] Klimkowski was called to replace Tom Shopay pitching and batting 9th at the top of the seventh inning. He pitched three full innings. At the bottom of the ninth inning, Dave McDonald was called to pinch hit for Klimkowski batting 9th.[7] At the end of the game, the New York Yankees lost the game 2–1.[7] He was traded with Rob Gardner from the Yankees to the Athletics for Felipe Alou on April 9, 1971.[8] On May 22, 1972, he was released by the Oakland Athletics and on the same day was signed again with the New York Yankees.[6][7] Klimkowski played his last Major League Baseball game on September 22, 1972.
Death
editHe died of heart failure at Plainview Hospital in Plainview, New York, on November 13, 2009, at the age of 65.[9]
References
edit- ^ "OFFSIDE REMARKS a death makes a writer remember his birth as a journalist". www.bigapplesoccer.com. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011.
- ^ "Ron Klimkowski". Baseballbiography.com. Retrieved October 30, 2008.
- ^ "Players who Played for Morehead State University". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 30, 2008.
- ^ Endo, Emi (November 16, 2009). "The Obit For Ron Klimkowski: Ron Klimkowski dies at 65". The Deadball Era. Newsday. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
- ^ a b "Transactions". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
- ^ a b c "Ron Klimkowski Trades and Transactions". Baseball-Almanac.com. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Detroit Tigers against the New York Yankees on September 15, 1969". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
- ^ "A's Trade Felipe Alou To Yankees," United Press International (UPI), Saturday, April 10, 1971. Retrieved October 25, 2020
- ^ Emi Endo, Former Yankees pitcher Ron Klimkowski dies at 65 Newsday. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
External links
edit- Career statistics from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Retrosheet
- Ron Klimkowski at Baseball-Almanac