Bill Karlon

William John Karlon
(Hank)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.

• Debut April 28, 1930
• Final Game May 12, 1930
• Born January 21, 1909 in Palmer, MA USA
• Died December 7, 1964 in Ware, MA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Bill Karlon played a couple of games for the New York Yankees in 1930. His one appearance in the field was in left field, a position where Babe Ruth and Earle Combs typically alternated. Other players who appeared in left field that year for the team included Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri.

He was 21 years old at the time and had been picked up from Springfield, where he had hit .302 in 1929. He returned to Springfield for most of 1930 and hit .307. He was apparently picked up by the Yankees again after the 1930 season but never appeared in a major league game for them thereafter.

The book The Life that Ruth Built says that Karlon was a "rookie catcher" in Florida spring training with the Yankees in 1930 while Ruth was a hold-out (although present in camp) and Karlon was first tried in the outfield then. He would call home each evening to tell his friends in Springfield how he was doing.