Paul Hartzell

Paul Franklin Hartzell

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 5", Weight 200 lb.
• School Lehigh University
• High School Central Columbia High School
• Debut April 10, 1976
• Final Game September 24, 1984
• Born November 2, 1953 in Bloomsburg, PA USA

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Biographical Information

"Within a year I went from pitching at Taylor Stadium against Scranton in front of 30 people to starting against the Tigers in front of 51,000 people." - Paul Hartzell

Paul Hartzell pitched six seasons in the majors. About half of his appearances came as a starting pitcher. His ERA as a major league rookie was seventh in the 1976 American League.

Hartzell was born in Bloomsburg, PA, in east central Pennsylvania. He attended Lehigh University, about 90 miles away, and would not be followed by another big leaguer until fellow alum Matt McBride in 2012. Paul won Gold with Team USA in the 1974 Amateur World Series. Hartzell was picked in the 10th round by the California Angels in the 1975 amateur draft and pitched just one year in the minors before coming to the majors. In 1975 with the Quad Cities Angels he had a 1.37 ERA, primarily as a reliever.

Hartzell made the team with the Angels in 1976, and went 7-4 with a 2.77 ERA in 37 appearances, 15 starts. His manager at the start of the season was Dick Williams and fellow starters included Nolan Ryan and Frank Tanana. Position players included Bobby Bonds and Tommy Davis. Paul stayed with the Angels in 1977 and 1978, with decent ERAs but losing records, and after the 1978 season was traded to the Minnesota Twins in the deal that brought Rod Carew to the Angels. The Angels went on to win the division in 1979 while the Twins finished slightly over .500. Paul, used mostly as a starter, had an off year and was released before the 1980 season started.

He played briefly with the Baltimore Orioles in 1980, but spent most of the season posting a 10-4 record for the Rochester Red Wings. In 1981 he went 3-9 for the Vancouver Canadians. After sitting out the 1982 and 1983 seasons, he made a comeback in 1984; he pitched well in the minors and came back to the majors for four games with the Milwaukee Brewers towards the end of the year.

Hartzell earned a degree in engineering while at Lehigh and after baseball became an executive with Merrill Corp. in Palo Alto, CA.

Related Sites

• Paul Hartzell at the SABR Bio Project