Ross Baumgarten had a rapid rise to the big leagues. Unfortunately, he also had a quick premature ending, as an arm injury forced him to retire at the age of 27.
However, the former White Sox stayed around long enough to establish himself as a solid pitcher; he was fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 1979.
Along the way, Baumgarten also collected plenty of memories. He shares them here in a JBM interview.
Ross Baumgarten broke into the big league for owner Bill Veeck as a pitcher for the White Sox. He also stopped pitching for the Sox in 1981, when he went on out strike for Marvin Miller.
Baumgarten recalls his encounters with two giants of baseball.
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What does Jewish baseball mean to you? Did you have a brush with greatness? A family story that connects your religion and your love of the game?
