Warren Mueller

Richard W. Mueller

• Born July 19, 1918
• Died November 14, 2006

Pitcher Warren Mueller played briefly in the minors for the Hartford Laurels/Hartford Bees of the Eastern League, putting up fairly impressive numbers in a brief career.

Mueller was offered contracts by the Washington Senators in 1938 and by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1940 but turned both down; supporting a family, he made more money driving a truck and playing semi-pro ball. He finally signed with Hartford, a Boston Braves farm club, as a 25 year old in 1944. As a rookie with the Laurels, he won 12 of his first 13 decisions and overall went 18-5 with a 3.43 ERA. He returned to Hartford the next year, going 4-1 with the team.

Following his short pro career, Mueller returned to semi-pro ball. On October 13, 1946, he faced Joe DiMaggio twice in an exhibition game: once he retired the Yankee Clipper, and the other time he walked him.

Mueller also owned a beverage distributorship for more than 30 years.