Dick Wantz

Richard Carter Wantz (April 11, 1940 – May 13, 1965) was an American professional baseball player whose life and Major League career were cut short when he was felled by a fatal brain tumor. A right-handed relief pitcher and a rookie member of the Los Angeles Angels in 1965, he was stricken mere days after his April 13 MLB debut, the only appearance he would be able to make in the majors.

Dick Wantz
Pitcher
Born: (1940-04-11)April 11, 1940
South Gate, California
Died: May 13, 1965(1965-05-13) (aged 25)
Inglewood, California
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 13, 1965, for the Los Angeles Angels
Last MLB appearance
April 13, 1965, for the Los Angeles Angels
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average18.00
Strikeouts2
Innings pitched1
Teams
  • Los Angeles Angels (1965)

Background

Wantz was a native of South Gate, California. He attended Artesia High School in Lakewood CA. After graduation from high school, Wantz attended Cerritos Junior College and helped lead his team to the league championship in 1959 and again in 1960. He was an all-league selection both years and voted the team's most valuable player in 1960.[1] Wantz stood 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) tall and weighed 175 pounds (79 kg). Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Angels in 1961 while attending California State University, Los Angeles, he worked his way through the Angels' minor league system from 1961 through 1964, beginning in Class D ball in 1961, and by the end of the 1964 season he was a member of the Angels' Triple-A affiliate, the Hawaii Islanders. That fall, he appeared in 11 games and won two of three decisions for the Angels' team in the Arizona Instructional League.

In 1965, Wantz pitched well during spring training and became a member of the Angels' early-season roster. He made his debut during the Angels' home opener in their final season as tenants at Chavez Ravine on April 13. With the opposition Cleveland Indians leading 5–0, Wantz relieved Don Lee at the start of the eighth inning. He struck out the first batter he faced, Max Alvis, but then surrendered back-to-back doubles to Vic Davalillo and Larry Brown and an RBI single to Joe Azcue. He then fanned opposing pitcher Ralph Terry and retired Dick Howser to escape further scoring. Wantz exited the game for a pinch hitter with Cleveland leading, 7–0.[2] His pitching line: one inning pitched, in which he allowed three hits and two earned runs, with no bases on balls and two strikeouts. It would be Wantz' only appearance in the majors before his illness struck.

Death

A week later, during a road trip to New York City, Wantz began to experience severe headaches. He was hospitalized in Detroit, then was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor when he returned to California. He died in Inglewood after undergoing surgery, exactly one month after his debut against the Indians. He was 25.[3]

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See also

References
  1. "Dick Wantz dies of brain tumor". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. May 14, 1965. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  2. Box score: 1965-04-13, Retrosheet
  3. Nemec, David (2008). This Day in Baseball: A Day-by-Day Record of the Events That Shaped the Game. United States: Taylor Trade Publishing. p. 336. ISBN 9781589793804.


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