Kenneth Adam Guettler (May 29, 1927 - December 25, 1977) is a former minor league baseball player once called "The minor's Babe Ruth"[1] who hit over 330 home runs[2] and was a star at that level. He is most well-known for his 1956 campaign, when he hit 62 home runs for the Shreveport Sports.[3] He won seven home run and five RBI titles.
With Portsmouth in 1951, he led the Piedmont League in homers (28), runs (114) and RBI (116). Between Portsmouth and the Toledo Mud Hens/Charleston Senators in 1952, he hit at least 28 home runs while batting .330. He led the Piedmont League again in home runs and RBI (104), as well as batting average (.334). In With Portsmouth again in 1953 and 1954, he hit 30 and 19 home runs, respectively. He was 1953 league home run champion. 1955 presaged his more well-known 1956 campaign. Back with Portsmouth, he posted a slash line of .325/.447/.632 with 41 home runs, 113 RBI and 97 runs scored. He led the league in home runs and RBI.
Moving to the Shreveport Sports[5] for 1956, Guettler batted .293/.402/.726 with 62 home runs, 143 RBI and 115 runs scored in just 481 at-bats, leading the league in homers, RBI and runs scored. He broke Clarence Kraft's Texas League home run record of 55 and still holds the record.[4][6] He was a mid-season and post-season All-Star, won the Most Valuable Player over Albie Pearson and Rookie of the Year over Brooks Robinson and Don Demeter,[4]
^Smith, Curt; Fame, The National Baseball Hall of (28 February 2009). What Baseball Means to Me: A Celebration of Our National Pastime. Grand Central Publishing. ISBN9780446556989 – via Google Books.
^"Article - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball".
^"Ken Guettler Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics & History - Baseball-Reference.com".
^ abc"Ken Guettler - Society for American Baseball Research".
^"Alamogordo Daily News from Alamogordo, New Mexico on May 31, 1956 · Page 2".
^Kayser, Tom; King, David (31 August 2012). Baseball in the Lone Star State: The Texas League's Greatest Hits. Trinity University Press. ISBN9781595341198 – via Google Books.
^"Texas League Hall of Fame - Texas League Hall of Fame".
External links
Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference (Minors)
This biographical article relating to an American baseball outfielder born in the 1920s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
guettler, kenneth, adam, guettler, 1927, december, 1977, former, minor, league, baseball, player, once, called, minor, babe, ruth, over, home, runs, star, that, level, most, well, known, 1956, campaign, when, home, runs, shreveport, sports, seven, home, five, . Kenneth Adam Guettler May 29 1927 December 25 1977 is a former minor league baseball player once called The minor s Babe Ruth 1 who hit over 330 home runs 2 and was a star at that level He is most well known for his 1956 campaign when he hit 62 home runs for the Shreveport Sports 3 He won seven home run and five RBI titles Guettler began his career in 1945 with the Kingsport Cherokees leading the league with 13 home runs In 1946 he played for the New Bern Bears Burlington Bees and Charleston Rebels In 1947 he hit 334 with 25 home runs and 103 RBI for the Griffin Pimientos pacing the league in home runs and RBI 4 With the Montgomery Rebels and Gadsden Pilots in 1948 he led the league with 24 home runs He played for the Des Moines Bruins in 1949 He hit 20 or more home runs for the third time in his career in 1950 hitting 22 between the Portsmouth Cubs and Des Moines With Portsmouth in 1951 he led the Piedmont League in homers 28 runs 114 and RBI 116 Between Portsmouth and the Toledo Mud Hens Charleston Senators in 1952 he hit at least 28 home runs while batting 330 He led the Piedmont League again in home runs and RBI 104 as well as batting average 334 In With Portsmouth again in 1953 and 1954 he hit 30 and 19 home runs respectively He was 1953 league home run champion 1955 presaged his more well known 1956 campaign Back with Portsmouth he posted a slash line of 325 447 632 with 41 home runs 113 RBI and 97 runs scored He led the league in home runs and RBI Moving to the Shreveport Sports 5 for 1956 Guettler batted 293 402 726 with 62 home runs 143 RBI and 115 runs scored in just 481 at bats leading the league in homers RBI and runs scored He broke Clarence Kraft s Texas League home run record of 55 and still holds the record 4 6 He was a mid season and post season All Star won the Most Valuable Player over Albie Pearson and Rookie of the Year over Brooks Robinson and Don Demeter 4 He slumped after that and spent the rest of his career playing for the Atlanta Crackers 1957 Wichita Braves 1957 Dallas Rangers 1958 Monterrey Sultanes 1958 Nuevo Loredo Tecolotes 1958 Charlotte Hornets 1959 and Charleston ChaSox 1959 He died in Jacksonville Florida In 2004 he was elected to the Texas League Hall of Fame 7 References Edit Smith Curt Fame The National Baseball Hall of 28 February 2009 What Baseball Means to Me A Celebration of Our National Pastime Grand Central Publishing ISBN 9780446556989 via Google Books Article MiLB com News The Official Site of Minor League Baseball Ken Guettler Minor amp Mexican Leagues Statistics amp History Baseball Reference com a b c Ken Guettler Society for American Baseball Research Alamogordo Daily News from Alamogordo New Mexico on May 31 1956 Page 2 Kayser Tom King David 31 August 2012 Baseball in the Lone Star State The Texas League s Greatest Hits Trinity University Press ISBN 9781595341198 via Google Books Texas League Hall of Fame Texas League Hall of Fame External links EditCareer statistics and player information from Baseball Reference Minors This biographical article relating to an American baseball outfielder born in the 1920s is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ken Guettler amp oldid 1107721336, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
