Barney Lutz

Bernard Joseph "Barney" Lutz (August 20, 1915 – July 11, 1966) was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and instructor. Primarily an outfielder in his playing days, he batted left-handed, threw right-handed, and was listed at 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) and 175 pounds (79 kg).

Barney Lutz
Outfielder / Manager / Scout
Born: (1915-08-20)August 20, 1915
Lucinda, Pennsylvania
Died: July 11, 1966(1966-07-11) (aged 50)
Geneva, New York
Batted: Left
Threw: Right

Career

Lutz' minor league playing career extended from 1936 through 1954,[1] with two seasons (1944 and 1945) missed because of World War II military service; he served in the United States Navy from April 1944 until January 1946.[2] He briefly reached the Triple-A level twice, but spent most of his playing days in the middle rungs of the minor leagues.[1] He became a player-manager in the Philadelphia Phillies' farm system in 1949.[1] During his tenure with the Phillies, he had his best statistical season as the player-manager of the 1950 Bradford Phillies of the Class D Pennsylvania–Ontario–New York League (PONY League), batting .389 with 179 hits.[1] In 1953, he switched to the St. Louis Browns' organization and remained in it when the Browns became the modern Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball in 1954.[1] Defensively, he played over 900 games in the outfield; he also played some games at second base and third base, and pitched one inning.[1]

Lutz focused on managing in the Baltimore system during 1955–1960,[1] then became an Orioles scout and coordinator of instruction in 1961. He was considered one of the important behind-the-scenes figures of the Baltimore dynasty of the 1960s and 1970s. Said former MLB general manager Lou Gorman, "Lutz was a throw-back to the old-time scouting breed: tough, hardworking and loyal ... He was one of a kind."[3]

Born in 1915 in Lucinda, Pennsylvania,[4] Lutz died at age 50 in Geneva, New York, from a heart attack while scouting a New York–Penn League game,[5] his death occurring during the Orioles' 1966 World Championship season. The Orioles created the Barney Lutz Memorial Award in his memory, given to an Orioles minor league player for excellence.[6] The award's inaugural winner in 1968, then-minor league outfielder and future minor league manager Bill Scripture,[7] later said, "Barney Lutz, before he died of a heart attack, was one of the most competitive men ever to have worn a uniform. I was glad someone recognized me and compared me to Lutz."[8]

References
  1. "Barney Lutz Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. "U.S. Veterans' Gravesites, ca.1775-2019". United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved August 4, 2020 – via fold3.com.
  3. Gorman, Lou. High and Inside: My Life in the Front Offices of Baseball. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 38. ISBN 0786431636.
  4. "Draft Registration Card". Selective Service System. October 1940. Retrieved August 4, 2020 – via fold3.com.
  5. "Orioles' Scout Barney Lutz Dies Unexpectedly". Star-Gazette. Elmira, New York. July 12, 1966. p. 15. Retrieved August 4, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  6. "On a Silver Diamond": The 1969 Season
  7. Bump, Larry (September 13, 1968). "Gelnar Hurls Jets Over Wings, 4-0". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, New York. p. 2D. Retrieved August 4, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  8. "Interview number three Billy Scripture". The Batter's Eye - MLB Baseball Forum. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
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