Ken Retzer

Born: 4/30/1934 in Wood River, IL, USA

Died: 5/17/2020 in Sun City, AZ, USA

MLB Debut: 1961-09-09 | Final Game: 1964-10-03

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 185 lbs

Full name: Kenneth Leo Retzer

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Biography

Ken Retzer, born in 1934, was a professional baseball player who made significant contributions to the game during the early 1960s. He played primarily as a position player from 1961 until his retirement on October 3, 1964. Over the course of his career, Retzer appeared in 237 games, amassing 182 hits and achieving a respectable batting average of .264. His offensive contributions included 14 home runs and 72 runs batted in (RBIs), along with 5 stolen bases, showcasing both his power and speed on the basepaths. Retzer's career unfolded during a transformative period in Major League Baseball, characterized by a shift towards more dynamic and athletic play. He played for teams during a time when the game was evolving, balancing traditional skills with the increasing emphasis on power hitting. Although not a household name, Retzer's impact as a reliable player in the lineup and his versatility on the field made him a valuable asset to his teams throughout his brief but noteworthy career.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
237	690	65	182	25	2	14	72	5	52	50	0.264	0.316	0.367	0.683	-103.2

Career AVG .264 vs. league average .253 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .316 vs. league average .319 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career SLG .367 vs. league average .385 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.683 vs. league average 0.704 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1961	WS2	AL	16	53	7	18	4	0	1	3	1	4	5	0.340	.258 (+31%)	.328 (+18%)	.399 (+18%)	.727 (+18%)	157.8
1962	WS2	AL	109	340	36	97	11	2	8	37	2	26	21	0.285	.257 (+11%)	.326 (+3%)	.393 (+2%)	.719 (+2%)	122.5
1963	WS2	AL	95	265	21	64	10	0	5	31	2	17	20	0.242	.246 (-2%)	.308 (-6%)	.371 (-10%)	.680 (-8%)	-383.6
1964	WS2	AL	17	32	1	3	0	0	0	1	0	5	4	0.094	—	—	—	—	0.0