Milt Graff
Encyclopedia
Milton Edward Graff was a Major League Baseball
second baseman
. He was born on Tuesday, December 30, 1930 in Jefferson Center, Pennsylvania
. He was listed at a height of 5'7" and a weight of 158 pounds. Graff attended Butler Senior High School and then attended Pennsylvania State University
and Lycoming College
. At Lycoming, he got a degree in accounting. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
as an amateur free agent. Around eight years later, during which his baseball career was interrupted when he enlisted in the Army to fight in the Korean War
, Graff made his major league debut on April 16, 1957 at the age of 26 with the Kansas City Athletics
(he was sent to the Athletics from the New York Yankees
, by whom he'd been drafted in 1955). He wore the number 4.
In 61 major league games, Graff batted .179 with 4 doubles, 3 triples and 0 home runs. He showed a good eye at the plate by walking
15 times and striking out
only 10 times. In the field, Graff committed 3 errors for a .988 fielding percentage
. He also was involved in 36 double play
s.
Graff played his final game on September 21, 1958.
. He was involved in the building of Three Rivers Stadium. He also was a scout for the Pirates, San Francisco Giants
and Cincinnati Reds
. He also held multiple front office jobs.
In 1987, Lycoming honored Graff with a distinguished alumni award.
On August 2, 2005, Graff died in Rockdale, Texas
of complications from Alzheimers. He chose to be cremated
.
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...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. He was born on Tuesday, December 30, 1930 in Jefferson Center, Pennsylvania
Jefferson, Pennsylvania
Jefferson, Pennsylvania can refer to:*Jefferson, Greene County, Pennsylvania*Jefferson Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania*Jefferson, York County, Pennsylvania...
. He was listed at a height of 5'7" and a weight of 158 pounds. Graff attended Butler Senior High School and then attended Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
and Lycoming College
Lycoming College
Founded in 1812, Lycoming College is located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. One of the 50 oldest colleges in America, Lycoming enrolls 1400 undergraduate students from over 28 states and 12 foreign countries. Eighty percent of the college's students live on campus...
. At Lycoming, he got a degree in accounting. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.
Playing career
Around 1949, Graff was signed by the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
as an amateur free agent. Around eight years later, during which his baseball career was interrupted when he enlisted in the Army to fight in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, Graff made his major league debut on April 16, 1957 at the age of 26 with the Kansas City Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(he was sent to the Athletics from the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, by whom he'd been drafted in 1955). He wore the number 4.
In 61 major league games, Graff batted .179 with 4 doubles, 3 triples and 0 home runs. He showed a good eye at the plate by walking
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
15 times and striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
only 10 times. In the field, Graff committed 3 errors for a .988 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...
. He also was involved in 36 double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
s.
Graff played his final game on September 21, 1958.
Blockbuster transaction
- On February 19, 1957, the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
sent Graff, Rip ColemanRip ColemanWalter Gary "Rip" Coleman is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1955 to 1957 and 1959 to 1960 for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics and Baltimore Orioles....
, Billy HunterBilly Hunter (baseball)Gordon William Hunter is a retired American shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball.A slick-fielding, light-hitting shortstop from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the right-handed-batting Hunter was originally signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers. With his path to the majors blocked by Pee Wee...
, Mickey McDermottMickey McDermottMaurice Joseph "Mickey" McDermott Jr. was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Pre-professional career:...
, Tom MorganTom Morgan (baseball)Tom Stephen Morgan was a Major League Baseball pitcher. A native of El Monte, California, the 6'2", 195 lb. right-hander was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent before the 1949 season...
and Irv NorenIrv NorenIrving Arnold Noren is a retired American professional baseball and basketball player. He played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1950-1960. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers...
to the Kansas City Athletics for Art DitmarArt DitmarArthur John Ditmar is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Athletics and the New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed.A finesse control pitcher, Ditmar divided his career between the Athletics and Yankees...
, Bobby ShantzBobby ShantzRobert Clayton Shantz was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics , Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates , Houston Colt .45's , St...
, Jack McMahanJack McMahanJack Wally McMahan is a former right-handed batting, left-handed throwing Major League Baseball pitcher who played in 1956 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Kansas City Athletics....
and Wayne BelardiWayne BelardiCarroll Wayne Belardi played baseball at Bellarmine College Preparatory where he graduated in 1948. He then went on to play First Baseman in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Detroit Tigers. He played from 1950–56 and appeared in the 1953 World Series for the Dodgers.- External...
. As players to be named, the Yankees sent Jack UrbanJack UrbanJack Elmer Urban is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1957 to 1959 for the Kansas City Athletics and St. Louis Cardinals....
to the Athletics and the Athletics sent Curt RobertsCurt RobertsCurtis Benjamin Roberts was a Major League Baseball second baseman. He was signed by the Boston Braves as an amateur free agent before the 1951 season, and played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1954 to 1956. A native of Pineland, Texas, he stood 5'8" and weighed...
and Clete BoyerClete BoyerCletis Leroy "Clete" Boyer was a Major League Baseball player.A third baseman who also played shortstop and second base occasionally, Boyer played for the Kansas City Athletics , New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves...
to the Yankees to complete the trade.
Life after baseball
After baseball, Graff held several jobs in the field of accounting and was involved in baseball as scouting director and infield coach for the Pirates and director of stadium operations for Three Rivers StadiumThree Rivers Stadium
Three Rivers Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000. It was home to the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's Major League Baseball franchise and National Football League franchise respectively.Built as a replacement to...
. He was involved in the building of Three Rivers Stadium. He also was a scout for the Pirates, San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
and Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He also held multiple front office jobs.
In 1987, Lycoming honored Graff with a distinguished alumni award.
On August 2, 2005, Graff died in Rockdale, Texas
Rockdale, Texas
Rockdale is a city in Milam County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,440 at the 2000 census.Rockdale was the site of a large Alcoa smelting operation, which could produce 1.67 million pounds of aluminum per day. The ALCOA plant was closed in late 2008 - early 2009.Author George Sessions...
of complications from Alzheimers. He chose to be cremated
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
.