A's great Holtzman dies at 78
Ken Holtzman, who along with Catfish Hunter and Vida Blue anchored the dominating rotation that helped lead the Oakland A's to three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, has died. He was 78.
Holtzman's death was confirmed by his brother, Bob, according to Benjamin Hochman of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Holtzman's hometown newspaper. His death was also reported by ESPN and MLB Network Radio's Dani Wexelman. Holtzman had been hospitalized for the past three weeks due to heart issues, according to Hochman.
The A's released a statement Monday saying, “We are saddened by the passing of former A's pitcher Ken Holtzman. The two-time AllStar and three-time World Series Champion with the Green and Gold, Holtzman created lasting memories for our franchise. We send our deepest condolences to his three daughters, Robyn, Stacy, and Lauren; his four grandchildren; and all who loved him.”
Holtzman often was overshadowed by Hunter, a Hall of Famer and Cy Young winner, and Blue, an MVP and Cy Young winner, but was every bit as valuable to the A's teams that won championships in 1972, '73 and '74.
Holtzman never won fewer than 18 games in four seasons with the A's — he won a career-high 21 in 1973, when he, Hunter and Blue all won 20 games — and had a 2.92 ERA with Oakland. He made two All-Star teams during that period, but never received a single Cy Young award vote.
Holtzman was known as being an avid bridge player when he was with the A's and his pitching style very straight forward: he threw almost exclusively fastballs.
But he had terrific control and was a fierce competitor. During the 1973 ALCS against the Baltimore Orioles, Holtzman pitched all 11 innings of a Game 3 win that gave the A's a 2-1 lead in a series that went five games.
When Dick Williams approached Holtzman about coming out after the 10th inning (and the scored tied 1-1), Holtzman told reporters he told the then-manager that “If you pull me out, I'll kill you. I don't (care) if this games goes 40 innings, I'm not leaving.”
Holtzman set the Orioles down in order in the 11th, and then Campy Campaneris hit a walk-off homer to lead off the bottom half of the inning. The St. Louis native was drafted by the Cubs and pitched two no-hitters by the time he was 25. But coming off a 9-15 season (with a then career-worst 4.48 ERA) in 1971 after back-to-back 17win seasons, the A's acquired the left-hander for Rick Monday. The A's had won the A.L. West for the first time that season, but were swept by the Orioles in the ALCS. Holtzman's arrival helped get the A's over the top.