Remembering Ken Holtzman: A legendary Jewish pitcher who left an indelible mark on Major League Baseball

Ken Holtzman, a legendary Jewish pitcher in Major League Baseball, passed away at the age of 78. The Chicago Cubs announced his death on social media, expressing their deep sorrow and offering condolences to his loved ones.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Holtzman attended the University of Illinois before embarking on a distinguished career that spanned from 1965 to 1979. He played for several teams, including the Oakland Athletics, Cubs, New York Yankees, and Baltimore Orioles. Over his time in the majors, Holtzman amassed an impressive record of 174-150 with a 3.49 ERA. Notably, he won nine more games than Sandy Koufax’s legendary record of 255 wins.

Holtzman began his professional journey with the Cubs, where he achieved back-to-back 17-win seasons and threw two no-hitters. In 1972, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics and became part of a rotation that led the team to three consecutive World Series titles. During his time with the A’s, Holtzman made All-Star appearances in both 1972 and 1973 and won a career-high of 21 games in ’73.

After stints with Baltimore and New York Yankees, Holtzman returned to play for the Cubs in 1978 but did not participate in any playoff series that year. Despite this setback, he remained an integral part of the team’s success throughout his career with them. The Cubs expressed their gratitude for Holtzman’s contributions to their organization and mourned his passing deeply.

Holtzman will be remembered as one of MLB’s greatest Jewish pitchers who left a lasting impact on the sport through his impressive record and remarkable achievements over his career span.

The Chicago Cubs announced on social media that Ken Holtzman had passed away at age 78.

Born and raised in St. Louis area, Ken Holtzman attended University of Illinois before becoming a two-time All Star MLB pitcher who played for various teams from 1965 to