Lou Kretlow

Louis Henry Kretlow
(Lena)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb.
• School University of Oklahoma, Central State University
• High School Putnam City High School
• Debut September 26, 1946
• Final Game September 23, 1956
• Born June 27, 1921 in Apache, OK USA
• Died September 12, 2007 in Enid, OK USA

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Biographical Information

Lou Kretlow pitched 12 seasons 1946 to 1957, ten in the Major Leagues and five in the minors.

Before professional baseball, he attended the University of Oklahoma (1941-1942) and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II (1943-1945) (GB). He pitched for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Athletics from 1946 to 1956, attending Central State University (1946-1947).

The Tigers gave Kretlow a $35,000 bonus to sign in January 1946, but he never managed more than a half-dozen wins in any of his ten Major League seasons. However, it's fair to note that Kretlow was half a starter and half a reliever, often finishing games but almost never in save situations. As an example, in 1953 he appeared in 31 games, starting 14 and finishing 9, with 0 saves and 1 victory.

On July 30, 1952, he pitched his second consecutive two-hitter, as the White Sox downed the New York Yankees, 7-0.

After his baseball career, he owned an oil company and also became a golf pro. He once set a record for the longest golf hole-in-one, around 480 yards, on a course in Oklahoma.

Related Sites

• Lou Kretlow at the SABR Bio Project