Ken Retzer
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Leo Retzer is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians
before the 1954 season, but played his entire MLB career for the Washington Senators
. (1961–1964)
Retzer played semi-regularly for Washington
in 1962 and 1963, starting 91 and 72 games, respectively. He was a defensive catcher with a lifetime fielding percentage
of .983. He threw out 48 of 126 baserunners making stolen base
attempts, which is 38.1%.
He finished his career with a lifetime batting average
of .264, 14 HR
, 72 RBI, and 65 runs
scored in 237 ballgames. He caught the first pitch of the 100,000 MLB game. The ball caught was presented to and place in the baseball Hall of Fame. He also caught President John F. Kennedy's first day game throw out pitch.
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...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
before the 1954 season, but played his entire MLB career for the Washington Senators
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. (1961–1964)
Retzer played semi-regularly for Washington
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
in 1962 and 1963, starting 91 and 72 games, respectively. He was a defensive catcher with a lifetime fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
of .983. He threw out 48 of 126 baserunners making stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
attempts, which is 38.1%.
He finished his career with a lifetime batting average
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 :...
of .264, 14 HR
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
, 72 RBI, and 65 runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
scored in 237 ballgames. He caught the first pitch of the 100,000 MLB game. The ball caught was presented to and place in the baseball Hall of Fame. He also caught President John F. Kennedy's first day game throw out pitch.