Highlighted Year: Barry Latman, 1961

Pitcher, Cleveland Indians

Age: 25 (May 21)

2^nd season with Indians

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 210 

Prior to 1961:

A Los Angeles native, Latman began playing baseball at a young age and also regularly sang in a boys choir that appeared on television. He pitched for LA’s Fairfax High School, hurling a perfect game as a senior in 1954. He also received All-City honors from the Helms Foundation. Around this time Latman began to correspond with the all-time great hitter Ty Cobb, who had seen him pitch on television and thought he had excellent potential. Declining several bonus offers from major league teams, Latman went to USC on a baseball scholarship. There he came to be nicknamed “Shoulders” due to his broad-shouldered physique. In 1955 he signed with the Chicago White Sox. Initially assigned to the Waterloo White Hawks of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League, the 19-year old hurler produced an 18-5 record and a 4.12 ERA with 14 complete games and 114 strikeouts over 203 innings pitched. Promoted to the Memphis Chicks of the Class AA Southern Association in 1956 he compiled a 14-14 tally and 3.85 ERA with 11 complete games and 155 strikeouts over 215 innings. Advancing to Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association in 1957 he went 13-13 with a 3.95 ERA, 11 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 151 strikeouts over 221 innings which earned him a late-season call-up to the White Sox. In seven appearances, five in relief, his record was 1-2 with an 8.03 ERA. Latman learned to throw a slider in addition to his fastball. Returning to Indianapolis in 1958 he produced a 9-11 tally with a 4.62 ERA, 8 complete games, and 85 strikeouts over 150 innings pitched before being called up to the White Sox in August where he was utilized primarily out of the bullpen and went 3-0 with a 0.76 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 47.2 innings. Moved into the starting rotation at the start of the 1959 season, Latman performed poorly and was returned to the bullpen from where he relieved and occasionally started on his way to going 8-5 with a 3.75 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 156 innings pitched and included two big wins against Cleveland on the way to Chicago winning the AL pennant. He did not pitch in the World Series against the Dodgers. Just prior to the 1960 season he was traded to the Indians for LHP Herb Score. His 1960 performance was mediocre for the most part although he finished strong to end up at 7-7 with a 4.03 ERA and 94 strikeouts over 147.1 innings pitched.   

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 45 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 45 [16, tied with Hank Aguirre, Ed Rakow & Dave Sisler]

Games Started – 18

Games Finished – 12

Complete Games – 4

Wins – 13 [15, tied with Milt Pappas & Jack Kralick]

Losses – 5

PCT - .722 [4]

Saves – 5 [15, tied with Jim Archer, Jim Coates & Bill Fischer]

Shutouts – 2 [11, tied with twelve others]

Innings Pitched – 176.2

Hits – 163

Runs – 84

Earned Runs – 79

Home Runs – 23 [17, tied with Whitey Ford, Bud Daley & Jerry Walker]

Bases on Balls – 54

Strikeouts – 108

ERA – 4.02

Hit Batters – 5 [16, tied with four others]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 6 [18, tied with seven others]

Midseason Snapshot: 8-0, ERA - 2.90, SO – 52 in 80.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 7 (in 5.1 IP) at LA Angels 7/28, (in 6 IP) vs. KC A’s 5/28, (in 9 IP) vs. Minnesota 9/16

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 4 (in 9 IP) vs. vs. Minnesota 9/16, (in 7 IP) vs. Detroit 8/23

Batting

PA – 59, AB – 55, R – 2, H – 4, 2B – 0, 3B – 1, HR – 0, RBI – 1, BB – 3, SO – 17, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .073, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 25

Put Outs – 10

Assists – 13

Errors – 2

DP – 2

Pct. - .920

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Indians went 78-83 to finish fifth in the AL, 30.5 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. The Indians started well, moved into contention, and were in first place from June 6-16 before a seven-game losing streak dropped them out of contention. A rough second half, primarily caused by inadequate pitching, left them in fifth place and led to the dismissal of manager Jimmy Dykes. Latman won his first nine decisions primarily in relief.

Aftermath of 1961:

Starting in 21 of his 45 appearances in 1962, Latman posted a disappointing 8-13 record with a 4.17 ERA, 7 complete games, 5 saves, and 117 strikeouts over 179.1 innings. Still splitting his time between starting and relieving in 1963, his tally was 7-12 with a 4.94 ERA and 133 strikeouts over 149.1 innings. In the offseason Latman was dealt to the Los Angeles Angels as part of the deal that brought slugging outfielder Leon Wagner to Cleveland (Latman’s father-in-law, pharmacy chain operator Leon Schwab reportedly dismissed reports of the trade by saying “is that all they got for Wagner?”, which spoke for many baseball writers and fans, although first baseman Joe Adcock was also sent to the Angels}. He turned in a mediocre performance in 1964, making 40 appearances (with 18 of them starts) and producing a 6-10 record and 3.85 ERA with 81 strikeouts over 138 innings. In 1965 a sore arm limited him to 18 games, all in relief, and a 1-1 tally. Traded to the Houston Astros in the offseason, and while his ERA improved to 2.71 in 1966, his record was a lackluster 2-7 in primarily a relief role. Latman lasted one more season with Houston in 1967 and had a 3-6 record and 4.52 ERA in 39 appearances, all but one of them out of the bullpen. Finished at age 31, for his major league career Latman pitched in 344 games, with 134 of them starts and compiled a 59-68 record and 3.91 ERA with 28 complete games, 10 shutouts, 16 saves, and 829 strikeouts over 1219 innings pitched. With Cleveland he was 35-37 with 159 games pitched, 80 starts, a 4.27 ERA, 19 complete games, 5 shutouts, 12 saves, and 452 strikeouts over 652.2 innings. His lone All-Star appearance also came as a member of the Indians. Latman never appeared in the postseason. After baseball Latman had a home furnishings and drapery business and also worked in custom home construction. He died at age 82 in 2019.   

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.