Ross Baumgarten

Ross Baumgarten

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 1", Weight 180 lb.
• School Florida Southern College, Palm Beach Community College, University of Florida
• High School New Trier High School
• Debut August 16, 1978
• Final Game August 23, 1982
• Born May 27, 1955 in Highland Park, IL USA

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Biographical Information

A native of the Chicago suburbs, Ross Baumgarten was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 20th round of the 1977 amateur draft. He went 9-1 with a 1.82 ERA in 10 starts for the Class A Appleton Foxes of the Midwest League in 1978 before being called up to the majors that August. He was a member of the Sox rotation in 1979, going 13-8 with a 3.54 ERA and making the 1979 Topps All-Star Rookie Team. He pitched a two-hitter on August 12 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Baumgarten suffered some hard luck in 1980, going 2-12 with a respectable 3.44 ERA. The highlight of his season was pitching a one-hitter on July 2 against the California Angels; the lone hit was a single by Rod Carew in the top of the 7th inning. Ross was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to the 1982 season, and after one year he was let go. Despite the promise he showed early, Baumgarten's big league career was over at age 27.

Baumgarten did not have much of a fastball but instead relied on a big curveball which he threw at various speeds, mixed with the occasional slider. He was a high school teammate of John Castino. Since his baseball days, he has been a financial advisor for a number of companies.

Notable Achievements

• 1979 Topps All-Star Rookie Team

Related Sites

• Ross Baumgarten at the SABR Bio Project