Alvin Kluttz

Alvin Clifton Kluttz

• Bats Right? (listed as Left in the 1945 Baseball Guide but Right in 1947 and 1951), Throws Right

• Born January 13, 1922 in Salisbury, NC USA
• Died May 26, 1985 in Salisbury, NC USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

The brother of Clyde Kluttz, Alvin Kluttz caught for nine years in the minors and also managed in the minor leagues for a time.

Alvin broke into professional baseball in 1941 with the Springfield Cardinals, hitting just .173 with one homer and six RBI. The next year, he saw limited action for the Asheville Tourists. In 1943, he moved on to the Lynchburg Cardinals, batting .227/~.279/.271.

Kluttz served in the Army during World War II and was wounded, which may have affected his chances at the majors. In 1946, Alvin hit .207/~.281/.244 in 73 games for Lynchburg. As in 1943, he led Piedmont League catchers with 10+ games in fielding percentage. In 1947, Kluttz hit .133 for the Carthage Cardinals and .176 with one HR and 19 RBI for the Omaha Cardinals, reaching A ball for the only time.

At age 26, Kluttz hit .296 with 2 HR and 17 RBI as player/manager for Carthage. In 1949, he got a chance to pitch as well, going 2-2 with a 3.17 ERA for the Kingsport Cherokees while hitting .294 with two homers and 34 RBI. He managed Kingsport part of the year and also played that season for the Richmond Colts and hit .200 with a homer and five RBI.

Kluttz easily had a career year with the 1950 Clinton Sampson Blues, batting .373/~.444/.573 in 61 games, while managing the club to begin the year. He had the second-highest average in the Tobacco State League. In 1951, he finished up his career with the High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms, hitting .287 with 5 HR and 42 RBI.

He is buried at Salisbury National Cemetery.

Sources include 1945, 1947 and 1951 Baseball Guides, Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database and the tenant's niece, Zane Wilson.