Lavern George Holtgrave (October 18, 1942 – May 8, 2023) was an American professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher who played for six pro seasons (1961–1966) and appeared in one Major League Baseball game for the 1965 Detroit Tigers. He stood 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) tall and weighed 183 pounds (83 kg).

Vern Holtgrave
Pitcher
Born: (1942-10-18)October 18, 1942
Aviston, Illinois
Died: May 8, 2023(2023-05-08) (aged 80)
O’Fallon, Illinois
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 26, 1965, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
September 26, 1965, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average6.00
Strikeouts2
Innings3
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Holtgrave was in his fifth season in the Detroit organization when he was recalled at the close of the 1965 season. He had appeared in 49 games in minor league baseball that season, all but one as a relief pitcher, and posted a 2.06 earned run average in 77 innings pitched.[1] In his lone Major League appearance, on September 26, 1965, against the Cleveland Indians, he relieved Phil Regan with Detroit trailing 5–0. He held the Indians off the scoreboard in the fourth and fifth innings but in his third frame, he gave up two earned runs on RBI hits by pitcher Tom Kelley and Leon Wagner.[2] All told, in three MLB innings, Holtgrave surrendered four hits, two runs and two bases on balls, with two strikeouts. He retired after the 1966 season.

Holtgrave died in O’Fallon, Illinois, on May 8, 2023, at the age of 80.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Vern Holtgrave Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics". baseball-reference.com. sports-reference.com. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  2. ^ "Cleveland Indians 7, Detroit Tigers 1 (2)". Retrosheet. September 26, 1965. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "Lavern G. Holtgrave". Nordike Funeral Home. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
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