Barney Lutz
Encyclopedia
Bernard Joseph "Barney" Lutz (August 20, 1915 – July 11, 1966) was an American
professional baseball
player, manager
, scout and instructor. An outfielder
in his playing days, he batted left-handed, threw right-handed, stood 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (80 kg). He was born in Clarion County, Pennsylvania
.
military service. He briefly reached the Triple-A
level twice, but spent most of his playing days in the middle rungs of the minor leagues. He became a playing manager in the Philadelphia Phillies
' farm system in . During his tenure with the Phils, he had his greatest season as the playing skipper of the 1950 Bradford Phillies of the Class D PONY League, batting
.389 with 179 hits
. In , he switched to the St. Louis Browns' organization and remained in it when the Browns became the modern Baltimore Orioles
of Major League Baseball
in .
Lutz focused on managing in the Baltimore system from 1955-60, then became an Orioles scout and coordinator of instruction in 1961. He was considered one of the important behind-the-scenes figures of the Baltimore dynasty of the 1960s and 1970s. Said former MLB general manager
Lou Gorman
, "Lutz was a throw-back to the old-time scouting breed: tough, hardworking and loyal ... He was one of a kind."
, during the Orioles' 1966 World Championship season
. The Orioles created the Barney Lutz Memorial Award in his memory, given to an Orioles minor league player for excellence. Said one of its winners, former minor league outfielder and manager Bill Scripture
, "Barney Lutz, before he died of a heart attack
, was one of the most competitive men ever to have worn a uniform. I was glad someone recognized me and compared me to Lutz."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
, scout and instructor. An outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in his playing days, he batted left-handed, threw right-handed, stood 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (80 kg). He was born in Clarion County, Pennsylvania
Clarion County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 41,765 people, 16,052 households, and 10,738 families residing in the county. The population density was 69 people per square mile . There were 19,426 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
.
Career
Lutz' playing career extended from 1936 through 1954, with two years (1944-45) missed because of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
military service. He briefly reached the Triple-A
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
level twice, but spent most of his playing days in the middle rungs of the minor leagues. He became a playing manager in the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
' farm system in . During his tenure with the Phils, he had his greatest season as the playing skipper of the 1950 Bradford Phillies of the Class D PONY League, batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.389 with 179 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. In , he switched to the St. Louis Browns' organization and remained in it when the Browns became the modern Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
in .
Lutz focused on managing in the Baltimore system from 1955-60, then became an Orioles scout and coordinator of instruction in 1961. He was considered one of the important behind-the-scenes figures of the Baltimore dynasty of the 1960s and 1970s. Said former MLB general manager
General manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
Lou Gorman
Lou Gorman
James Gerald "Lou" Gorman was an American baseball executive, and the former general manager of the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball...
, "Lutz was a throw-back to the old-time scouting breed: tough, hardworking and loyal ... He was one of a kind."
The Barney Lutz Memorial Award
Lutz died at age 50 in Geneva, New YorkGeneva, New York
Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...
, during the Orioles' 1966 World Championship season
1966 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season involved the Orioles finishing first in the American League with a record of 97 wins and 63 losses, nine games ahead of the runner-up Minnesota Twins. It was their first AL pennant since 1944, when the club was known as the St. Louis Browns. The Orioles swept the NL...
. The Orioles created the Barney Lutz Memorial Award in his memory, given to an Orioles minor league player for excellence. Said one of its winners, former minor league outfielder and manager Bill Scripture
Bill Scripture
Earl Wayne "Billy" Scripture is an American former outfielder, third baseman, manager and instructor in professional baseball...
, "Barney Lutz, before he died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, was one of the most competitive men ever to have worn a uniform. I was glad someone recognized me and compared me to Lutz."