Galatzer, Milt

Milton Galatzer

Galatzer, a .268 lifetime hitter for the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds in the 1930s, had limited power -- he hit a single home run in his rookie year, and that was the only homer of his five-year career. Milt had a good batting eye, though, and in his five-year career, he walked exactly twice as often as he struck out. Hall of Famer Bob Feller said of Milt, "There might have been better ballplayers than Milt Galatzer, but there was never a better man."

Birth and Death Dates:
b. May 4, 1907 - d. January 29, 1976

Career Highlights:
Born in Chicago, Galatzer was an All-City and All-State outfielder in the mid-1920s while at Crane Tech. A member of a semi-pro team (called the Buckeyes) that won the Chicago championship in 1926, Milt began his professional career the following year in Pennsylvania. After a brief career in the minors, Galatzer began his major league career with the Cleveland Indians in 1933.

His debut occured on June 25 during a double-header against the Washington Senators -- in the first game, he was walked four times; in the second game, he got two hits. Galatzer played the majority of the 1933 and 1934 seasons with the Toledo Mudhens of the American Association. In 1935, Milt played well enough to hit .301 in a career-high 93 games for the Indians. The following year, he even pitched six innings in relief, allowing seven hits and three runs, but striking out three.

After a two year absence from the majors (1937-1938), Galatzer played three games for the Cincinnati Reds in 1939. Known as an outstanding fielder, Milt had a lifetime fielding average of .963. He played in the minors until 1946 -- but spent three years in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Career Dates:
Galatzer played for the Cleveland Indians, 1933-36, and the Cincinnati Reds, 1939.

Position:
Outfield, first base. He pitched in one game in 1936; he had no decision, but he struck out three and walked five over six innings of relief.

Physical description:
5'10", 168 pounds
Left-handed

Career Statistics:
Games: 251
Batting Avg.: .268
Slugging Avg.: .326

At-bats: 717
Hits: 192
Doubles: 25
Triples: 7

Home Runs: 1
Home Run %: 0.1
Runs: 105
RBI: 57

BB: 92
Strike Outs: 46
Stolen Bases: 10

Pinch Hitting
At-bats: 26
Hits: 3

Fielding Statistics
Put-outs: 392
Assists: 24
Errors: 16
Double-plays: 4

Total Chances per Game: 2.0
Fielding Avg: .963

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