Johnny Schmitz

Johnny Schmitz
Pitcher
Born: (1920-11-27)November 27, 1920
Wausau, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died: October 1, 2011(2011-10-01) (aged 90)
Wausau, Wisconsin, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Left
MLB debut
September 6, 1941, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
September 7, 1956, for the Baltimore Orioles
MLB statistics
Win–loss record93–114
Earned run average3.55
Strikeouts746
Stats at Baseball Reference 
Teams
Career highlights and awards

John Albert Schmitz (November 27, 1920 – October 1, 2011) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who worked in 366 games over 13 seasons as a member of the Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles between 1941 and 1956. His career was interrupted from 1943 through 1945 by United States Navy service in the Pacific theatre of World War II.

Schmitz batted right-handed but threw left-handed. His nickname, "Bear Tracks", was inspired by the way he shuffled to the mound and his size 14 feet. Born in Wausau, Wisconsin, he was listed as 6 ft (1.83 m) tall and 170 lb (77 kg).