Theodore Otto Kleinhans (born Traugott Otto Kleinhans, April 8, 1899 – July 24, 1985) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was born in

Deer Park, Wisconsin Deer Park is a village in St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 216 at the 2010 census. History Deer Park was founded in 1876. The village was named after an early nature preserve for deer near the town site. A post off ...

. Kleinhans played 4 seasons in Major League Baseball, with the

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

and

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

in 1934, the New York Yankees in 1936, and the Reds again in 1937 and 1938. He had a career record of 4–9 in 56 games. He was the third oldest player in Major League Baseball in 1938. Prior to playing professional baseball, Kleinhans enlisted in the Ohio National Guard. During World War I, the unit was mobilized and sent to France where he was wounded in the Meuse–Argonne offensive. He left the Guard in 1919 as a

sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

. During World War II, he again served his country, this time as a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

with a US Army medical unit stationed in Scotland and England. From 1947 to 1966 Kleinhans was head coach for the

Syracuse Orangemen baseball The Syracuse Orangemen baseball team was the varsity intercollegiate college baseball team of Syracuse University. The team played its home games at Star Park, the Old Oval, Hendricks Field, Lew Carr Field, and the Archbold Stadium in Syracuse, ...

team, compiling a 156–146 (.516) record. He died in

Redington Beach, Florida Redington Beach is a town in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,427 at the 2010 census. Geography Redington Beach is located at (27.811669, –82.811546). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a ...

, where he lived.

References

External links

* 1899 births 1985 deaths Cincinnati Reds players Major League Baseball pitchers New York Yankees players Philadelphia Phillies players Syracuse Orangemen baseball coaches Syracuse University alumni Syracuse Chiefs players Baseball players from Pinellas County, Florida People from St. Croix County, Wisconsin Baseball players from Wisconsin United States Army personnel of World War I United States Army personnel of World War II United States Army officers Ohio National Guard personnel Military personnel from Wisconsin {{US-baseball-pitcher-1890s-stub