Bob Katz

Robert Clyde Katz

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11½", Weight 190 lb.

• Debut May 12, 1944
• Final Game May 31, 1944
• Born January 30, 1911 in Lancaster, PA USA
• Died December 14, 1962 in St. Joseph, MI USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Right-hander Bob Katz spent twelve seasons in professional baseball from 1935 to 1948. Katz spent seven years pitching in the minor leagues before he received his first and only chance at major league hitters.

Bob made his debut with the Cincinnati Reds on May 12, 1944 and in the next nineteen days he appeared in six games, pitched 18 1/3 innings, good for a 3.93 ERA, but lost his only decision. On May 31, of the same month, he was on his way back to the minors.

Katz spent the next five seasons of his career pitching in nothing but AA and AAA leagues and had one 20-game-win season in 1945, but also lost the same number, while pitching 278 innings and 28 complete games with a 4.05 ERA for the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League. He was well above the team average, as the rest of the staff was 44-69. Katz led the 1945 IL with 303 hits allowed, was one complete game shy of leader Jean-Pierre Roy, was five wins behind the leader Roy (who played for a 1st-place team, unlike Katz's 7th-place squad) and was 3 losses shy of leader Frank Radler.

Katz spent his last three seasons (1946-1948) wrestling a 29-29 record and ended his twelve-year minor league career with the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association. Overall, he had a minor league record of 107-106 for a .502 winning percentage while appearing in 354 games.

After baseball, Katz worked several years for Auto Specialties, Inc. in St. Joseph, MI and died from cancer at the St. Joseph Memorial Hospital on December 15, 1962. Robert Clyde Katz passed away at the age of 51.

Related Sites

• BR Minors page