Baumgarten, Ross

Ross Baumgarten

In 1978, Baumgarten threw a shutout for the Chicago White Sox in his second Major League start (two of his teammates that season were slugger Ron "Boomer" Blomberg, and future Cy Young winner Steve Stone). Ross also pitched two one-hitters in his career, both against the California Angels.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. May 27, 1955

Career Highlights:
Selected in the 20th round of the free-agent draft in 1978 by the Chicago White Sox, Baumgarten had the unusual distinction of winning at every level of professional baseball that year: 9-1 in the Midwest League, 2-1 in the Southern League, 5-4 in the American Association, and 2-2 for the White Sox. The southpaw began his big-league career with the White Sox by pitching a shutout in his second start.

Ross appeared in seven games in 1978, but his best year was 1979, when he went 13-8 with an ERA of 3.53 (ninth in the AL) and was named co-rookie of the year by the Chicago Baseball Writers. That season, he was also among the league leaders in hits allowed per nine innings, with 8.26 (fifth), and shutouts, with three (sixth). Ironically, in his next season, also with the White Sox, his ERA was actually lower (3.44), he walked 31 fewer batters -- and his won-lost record tumbled to 2-12 (Chicago scored only 25 runs in his 24 appearances and were shut out in ten games)! Baseball is a humbling game.

Baumgarten remained in the majors for two more seasons, but his shoulder weakened and he lost his last ten decisions. His final season was in 1982 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After retiring, Baumgarten became an account executive at an investment firm. He currently lives in suburban Chicago.

Career Dates:
Baumgarten pitched for the Chicago White Sox, 1978-1981, and the Pittsburgh Pirates, 1982.

Position:
Pitcher

Physical description:
6'1", 180 pounds
Left-handed

Career Statistics:
Wins: 22
Losses: 36
Winning pct.: .379

ERA: 3.99

Games: 90
Games Started: 84
Complete Games: 10

Innings Pitched: 496
Hits Allowed: 492
Bases-on-Balls: 211
Strike Outs: 222

Shut-outs: 6

Relief Pitching
Wins: 0
Losses: 0
Saves: 0

Batting
At-bats: 12
Hits: 1
Home Runs: 0
Batting Average: .083

Fielding Statistics
Put-outs: 28
Assists: 85
Errors: 2
Double Plays: 6

Total Chances per Game: 1.3
Fielding avg: .983

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