Bill Knowlton

William Young Knowlton (August 18, 1898 – February 25, 1944) was a right-handed baseball pitcher.

Bill Knowlton
Born: August 18, 1898
Philadelphia
Died: February 25, 1944
Philadelphia
MLB debut
September 3, 1920, for the Philadelphia Athletics
Last MLB appearance
September 3, 1920, for the Philadelphia Athletics
Career statistics
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average4.76
Strikeouts5
Teams

Early life

Knowlton was born in Philadelphia in 1898.[1] According to one account, he got his start in baseball at the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, Pennsylvania.[2] According to another, he gained fame as a sandlot pitcher in Philadelphia and then played for Petersburg in the Virginia League.[3]

Career

Baseball

Kowlton appeared in one game in Major League Baseball. On September 3, 1920, he started a game for the Philadelphia Athletics against the Washington Senators at Shibe Park. He pitched 5-2/3 innings and allowed three earned runs in a losing effort.[4][2] His career record in Major League Baseball was zero wins, one loss, five strikeouts, and a 4.76 earned run average.[1]

Knowlton continued playing in the minor leagues for several years, including stints with the Jersey City Skeeters (1922), Crisfield Crabbers (1922), Wilkes-Barre Barons (1925-1926), Toronto Maple Leafs (1926), and Williamsport Grays (1926-1929).[1] He also reportedly played for baseball clubs in Montreal and Decatur, Illinois.[3]

Philadelphia Police Department

Knowlton joined the Philadelphia Police Department in 1938, serving in the 42nd District.[5][3] He was married to Irene Knowlton at that time.[6]

Death

Knowlton died in Philadelphia in 1944 at age 45.[3][7] He collapsed as he stepped from a trolley car of an apparent heart attack.[8][9]

References
  1. "Bill Knowlton". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  2. "Athletics Beaten: Washington Hitters Wallop Mackmen by One-Sided Score of 14 to 5". The Morning Post. Camden, New Jersey. September 4, 1920. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Funeral Services For Ex-A's Pitcher". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 27, 1944. p. S6 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Baldwin Flinger Chased By Senators: Bill Knowlton, Latest Athletic Recruit, Last Less Than Six Rounds". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 4, 1920. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Now Policeman". The Plain Speaker. Hazelton, Pennsylvania. August 20, 1938. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "Ex-Pitcher, Wife Make Up in Court". The Philadelphia Inquirer. August 10, 1938. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Funeral Services for Bill Knowlton Tuesday". The Morning Call. February 28, 1944. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "2 Policemen Die Of Heart Attacks". The Philadelphia Inquirer. February 26, 1944. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. Bill Lee (2015). The Baseball Necrology: The Post-Baseball Lives and Deaths of More Than 7,600 Major League Players and Others. McFarland. p. 220. ISBN 9781476609300.("he dropped dead from a heart attack while disembarking from a trolley")
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