Ralph Mitterling

Ralph Mitterling
(Sarge)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 165 lb.
• School Springfield College, Ursinus College
• Debut July 7, 1916
• Final Game July 21, 1916
• Born April 19, 1890 in Freeburg, PA USA
• Died January 22, 1956 in Pittsburgh, PA USA

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Biographical Information

Ralph Mitterling was at Ursinus College during 1912-1915 and then Springfield College in 1916-1917, coming to the majors for 13 games with the Philadelphia Athletics in July of 1916. His highlight was going 3-for-4 in the first game of a doubleheader on July 11th. The A's were a terrible team that year, losing 117 games, and manager Connie Mack shook up his team in July by adding Mitterling and moving around the other outfielders - Amos Strunk, Jimmy Walsh and Wally Schang, sometimes having one of them play first base. Schang and Strunk actually had good years with the bat. The A's, however, lost 12 of the 13 games in which Mitterling appeared, usually by big margins.

Ralph also played at least two seasons in the minors.

Mitterling was the head coach at East Stroudsburg State Teachers College from 1927 to 1936 and the University of Pittsburgh from 1939 to 1954. Two future major leaguers at Pitt during that time were Russ Kemmerer and Dave Pope. Ralph's Wikipedia entry (04-19-20) indicates that at various times, he coached college baseball, football and/or basketball, and the colleges where he coached included (in addition to the ones mentioned above) Ursinus College and Susquehanna University.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 23, 1956, carried his obituary. He played baseball, football and basketball at Ursinus. World War I interrupted his major league career, and it was in the Army that he got the nickname "Sarge". He coached a variety of high schools in addition to the colleges where he was a coach.