John Goetz
Encyclopedia
John Hardy Goetz was an American
professional baseball
player. A right-handed pitcher
, he appeared in four games
for the Chicago Cubs
of Major League Baseball
, but had an 11-year career in minor league baseball
. The native of Goetzville, Michigan, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg) and attended Western Michigan University
.
Goetz' Major League trial came at the outset of the 1960
Cubs' season. He made the team's 28-man early-season roster out of spring training
and appeared as a relief pitcher
in four contests. In his MLB debut, against the San Francisco Giants
, he was effective, hurling 2⅔ innings of scoreless relief. But he was treated roughly in outings against the Giants the following week and against the St. Louis Cardinals
in his last appearance, and was returned to the minors, where he spent the rest of his career. He retired from professional baseball after the 1965 season and 333 games played in the minors.
In 6⅓ Major League innings, Goetz allowed nine earned runs, ten hits
and four bases on balls. He struck out
six.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player. A right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, he appeared in four games
Games played
Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,...
for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
of Major League Baseball
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...
, but had an 11-year career in minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. The native of Goetzville, Michigan, stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg) and attended Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
.
Goetz' Major League trial came at the outset of the 1960
1960 Chicago Cubs season
The 1960 Chicago Cubs season involved the Cubs' seventh place finish in the National League with a record of 60-94, 35 games behind the NL and World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates.- Offseason :* October 8, 1959: Randy Jackson was released by the Cubs....
Cubs' season. He made the team's 28-man early-season roster out of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and appeared as a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in four contests. In his MLB debut, against the 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....
, he was effective, hurling 2⅔ innings of scoreless relief. But he was treated roughly in outings against the Giants the following week and against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in his last appearance, and was returned to the minors, where he spent the rest of his career. He retired from professional baseball after the 1965 season and 333 games played in the minors.
In 6⅓ Major League innings, Goetz allowed nine earned runs, ten hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and four bases on balls. He struck 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....
six.