Norm Glaser

Norman Matthew Glaser

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 186 lb.
• Debut September 21, 1920
• Final Game September 21, 1920
• Born August 31, 1894 in Cleveland, OH USA
• Died May 27, 1979 in Parma, OH USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Norm Glaser was long one of the lost ballplayers of history. He had the bad luck of almost sharing a last name with one John Glaiser who also pitched for the 1920 Detroit Tigers. Until research conducted in 2007 by SABR member Bob Hoie cleared the confusion, Glaser's one appearance in the major leagues, which consisted of 2 1/3 innings pitching in relief on September 21, 1920, was credited to John Glaiser, who had been with Detroit in April and May, and Norm Glaser was left out of the record books.

In fact, Norm Glaser was a right-handed pitcher from Cleveland, OH who spent most of the 1920 season with the Rocky Mount Tar Heels of the Virginia League. He was recalled to Detroit on September 11, in time for his one major league outing. Neither Glaiser nor Glaser pitched again in the majors after 1920, helping to seal the confusion about their identities for the next 86 years.

Glaser remained active in the professional ranks through the end of the decade. In 1922, he had a 7.50 ERA for the Columbus Senators and had no decisions. In 1923, Norm had a 16-12, 3.87 mark for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He only struck out 46 batters in 221 innings, but completed 18 of 33 starts. Returning to Toronto in 1924, Glaser went 13-11 with a 3.54 ERA. He fell to 0-7, 5.76 with the '25 Maple Leafs, used frequently as a reliever. He hit .304 and .292 his latter two years in Toronto. In 1926, he was 0-2 for the Jersey City Giants and spent most of the season with the Wilkes-Barre Barons, going 13-7 with a 2.52 ERA.

Glaser spent 1927 with the Nashville Volunteers, posting a 10-10, 4.35 record. He had a 6-3, 4.90 mark for the 1928 Volunteers then moved to the San Antonio Bears, going 5-2 with a 3.68 ERA there. He finished his career with San Antonio the next year, having a 10-16, 5.33 record.

Sources: Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database and The International League: Year-by-Year Statistics by Marshall Wright

Further Reading

• "New Ballplayer Discovered", in Bill Carle, ed.: Biographical Research Committee Report, SABR, January/February 2007, p. 1.