Ambrose Puttmann
Pitcher
Born: (1880-09-09)September 9, 1880
Cincinnati, Ohio
Died: June 21, 1936(1936-06-21) (aged 55)
Jamaica, New York
Batted: Unknown
Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 4, 1903, for the New York Highlanders
Last MLB appearance
May 10, 1906, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record8-9
Earned run average3.58
Strikeouts85
Teams

Ambrose Nicholas Puttmann (September 9, 1880 – June 21, 1936) was a professional baseball pitcher. A left-hander, he played in parts of four Major League Baseball seasons, from 1903 to 1906, with the New York Highlanders and the St. Louis Cardinals.

Early life and career

Puttmann was born on September 9, 1880, in Cincinnati, Ohio.[1] He began his baseball career playing for teams in the West End of Cincinnati before joining a club in Washington Court House in 1902.[2] He ended his season with a 27–16 win–loss record and signed with the Helena Senators of the Pacific National League in 1903, taking the spot of Jimmy Wiggs.[3] Puttmann played for both Helena and the Spokane Indians, also of the Pacific National League, in 1903.[4]

New York Highlanders

In September 1903, he was acquired by the New York Highlanders from Spokane, with manager Clark Griffith reportedly discovering him.[5][6] He made his major league debut on September 4 against the Washington Senators, relieving John Deering and allowing two runs, one of which was earned, and striking out three batters in 5.0 innings.[7][8] He appeared in two more games for the Highlanders in September, throwing complete game victories against the St. Louis Browns on September 24 and the Detroit Tigers on September 29. He ended the year with a 0.95 earned run average in 19.0 innings.[8]

Following the 1903 season, the National Baseball Commission ruled that Puttmann could play with New York in 1904 not because he jumped to the club before the season concluded, but because the Highlanders drafted him in the fall.[9] He was subsequently fined $200 by the Spokane club for deserting the team.[10]

Puttmann split the 1904 season with the Highlanders and Providence Grays of the Eastern League.[4] He appeared in nine games with New York from April 16 to October 10, winning twice while ending the season with a 2.74 ERA. He threw a complete game shutout in his final game of the year on October 12 against the Boston Red Sox.[11] He pitched in seven games with Providence, finishing with a 6–1 win-loss record.[12][13] He began the 1905 season with New York, but was sent back to Providence in July after appearing in 10 games.[14][15][16] He returned to the Highlanders in September and pitched in seven more games, ending the year with a 2–7 win-loss record and a .313 batting average as a hitter.[1]

St. Louis Cardinals and return to minor leagues

In November 1905, the Highlanders sold Puttmann's contract to the Toronto Maple Leafs.[17] However, by April 1906, he was back with the Yankees in spring training and sold to the St. Louis Cardinals.[18] He appeared in four games with St. Louis, winning two and losing two in his four starts with a 5.30 ERA.[1]

In May, he was sold to the Louisville Colonels of the American Association (1902–1997).[19] He ended the 1906 season for Louisville with a 18–17 record.[4] Puttmann remained with Louisville through the end of the 1909 season, winning 42 games in 1907.[4] In 1909, an arm injury led to him playing first base for a team in the Blue Grass League,[20] and by September he was training to transition from a pitcher to a first baseman.[21] He eventually joined the Petersburg Goobers in 1910, before pitching for the Galveston Sand Crabs in 1911.[4]

Semi-pro baseball career

Puttmann in 1914 with the semi-pro Cincinnati Shamrocks.

Puttmann left professional baseball after the 1911 season, and became manager and pitcher of the semi-pro Price Hill Knights of Columbus team in the Spinney League in 1912.[22][23][24][25] He managed the Cincinnati Shamrocks beginning in 1914.[26][27] and was named manager of the Holy Family club of the Catholic Athletic Baseball League in 1916.[28] He would go on to pitch and manage for several semi-pro teams in Cincinnati and also umpired in semi-pro and major league exhibition games.[2]

Personal life

Puttmann married Louise Rothan of Cincinnati following the 1904 season.[29] Together they had eight children. After his playing career, he operated a shoe store in Price Hill from 1912 to 1930 and later worked at a liquor store.[30] Puttmann died on June 21, 1936, after suffering a heart attack while visiting a friend in New York City.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ambrose Puttmann statistics at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "Ambrose Puttmann. Death Ends Vacation Trip of Former Major League Star". The Cincinnati Enquirer. June 23, 1936. p. 9. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Inter Mountain's Page of Sports". The Butte Daily Post. March 26, 1903. p. 8. Retrieved October 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ambrose Puttmann statistics at Baseball-Reference (minors)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Live Gossip About Day's Sport News". The Butte Daily Post. September 29, 1903. p. 8. Retrieved October 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Putmann, Whom Spokane Lost, Achieves Fame". The Spokesman-Review. October 4, 1903. p. 12. Retrieved October 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Washington Wins From New York". The News Tribune. September 5, 1903. p. 7. Retrieved October 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 "Ambrose Puttmann 1903 pitching game log at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Among the Ball Players". The Anaconda Standard. November 30, 1903. p. 8. Retrieved October 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Puttmann fined". The Cincinnati Post. November 19, 1904. p. 3. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Ambrose Puttmann 1904 pitching game log at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  12. ↑ "White Sox Better Than Champions As Fielders". The Buffalo Times. December 5, 1904. p. 35. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Figures Are Queer". San Francisco Examiner. December 18, 1904. p. 10. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Ambrose Puttmann 1905 pitching game log at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  15. ↑ "News of the Diamond". New-York Tribune. July 11, 1905. p. 4. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Ambrose Puttmann farmed out". The Anaconda Standard. July 22, 1905. p. 19. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Puttman Sold". The Cincinnati Post. November 23, 1905. p. 6. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Puttman Sold to Cardinals". Detroit Free Press. April 9, 1906. p. 8. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Base Ball Notes". Evening Star. May 24, 1906. p. 18. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Ambrose Puttmann, Salesman, Succeeds 'Brose Puttmann, Ballplayer". The Cincinnati Post. January 5, 1910. p. 6. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Around the Bases". The Gazette. September 18, 1909. p. 12. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Local baseball notes". The Cincinnati Enquirer. March 19, 1912. p. 6. Retrieved January 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Puttmann manager". The Cincinnati Post. May 3, 1912. p. 10. Retrieved January 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Price Hill K. of C. Team". The Cincinnati Enquirer. June 16, 1912. p. 22. Retrieved January 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Puttmann will pitch". The Kentucky Post and Times-Star. August 21, 1912. p. 6. Retrieved January 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "Cincinnati Shamrocks". The Cincinnati Enquirer. April 5, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved January 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "Puttmann to start in semi-pro series". The Cincinnati Post. September 9, 1914. p. 6. Retrieved January 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Name Puttmann manager". The Cincinnati Post. February 7, 1916. p. 8. Retrieved January 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Ballplayer and his bride". The Spokesman-Review. January 15, 1904. p. 6. Retrieved November 11, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "Cincinnati Man, Former Yankee Pitcher, Is Dead". The Cincinnati Post. June 22, 1936. p. 13. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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