Art Ditmar: The Right-Hander Who Made His Mark
February 19 1957 — The Kansas City Athletics ship pitchers Art Ditmar, Bobby Shantz, and Jack McMahan, and infielders Clete Boyer, Curt Roberts and Wayne Belardi to the Yankees. In return they receive pitchers Mickey McDermott, Tom Morgan, Rip Coleman and Jack Urban, OF Irv Noren, plus infielders Billy Hunter and Milt Graff.
Art Ditmar: The Right-Hander Who Made His Mark
Art Ditmar may not be the first name that comes to mind when recalling the golden era of baseball, but his contributions to the game are noteworthy. A right-handed finesse pitcher, Ditmar played in the Major Leagues from 1954 to 1962, splitting time between the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics and the New York Yankees. Over his nine-season career, he posted a 72-77 record with a 3.98 ERA, carving out a respectable place in baseball history.
Born on April 3, 1929, in Winthrop, Massachusetts, Ditmar grew up in Pittsfield and took a traditional path to the big leagues. Signed by the Philadelphia Athletics in 1948, he spent three seasons in the minors before military service in the Korean War put his baseball career on hold from 1951 to 1952. Upon returning, he made his Major League debut in 1954, making an immediate impact by winning the final game ever played by the Philadelphia Athletics before their relocation to Kansas City.
Though he had a rough 1956 season, leading the American League with 22 losses, Ditmar found success after being traded to the Yankees in a nine-player deal. In New York, he played alongside legends like Whitey Ford and Yogi Berra, winning 47 games over five seasons. His best year came in 1960 when he led the Yankees in wins with 15.
One of the most controversial moments of Ditmar’s career came in the 1960 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Yankees manager Casey Stengel chose Ditmar to start Game 1 over Whitey Ford, a decision still debated by baseball historians. Ditmar struggled, lasting only a third of an inning in the Yankees’ 6-4 loss. He also started Game 5 but was again ineffective. Ford, who did not pitch in Game 1, ended up throwing shutouts in Games 3 and 6. The Yankees ultimately lost the series in Game 7 on Bill Mazeroski’s famous walk-off home run.
Adding to the sting of that loss, decades later Ditmar found himself at the center of an unexpected controversy. A Budweiser commercial in the 1980s featured an original radio broadcast clip from Game 7, but the announcer mistakenly identified Ditmar instead of Ralph Terry as the pitcher who gave up Mazeroski’s home run. Ditmar sued Anheuser-Busch for $500,000, claiming the error damaged his reputation.
After his playing days ended in 1962, Ditmar stayed connected to sports, serving as a parks and recreation director and coaching baseball and basketball while earning his master’s degree. He later retired to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Though his career had ups and downs, Ditmar was a part of three World Series teams and won a championship with the Yankees in 1958.
Art Ditmar passed away on June 11, 2021, at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance and dedication to the game. While he may not have been the star of his era, his impact on baseball remains undeniable.
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Wally Moon
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Post-Season Appearances
1957 World Series
1958 World Series
1960 World Series