Ken Holtzman, the most successful Jewish pitcher in MLB history, passes away at age 78 after winning 3 World Series titles with the Oakland Athletics

Ken Holtzman, the MLB’s winningest Jewish pitcher, passed away at the age of 78, as announced by the Chicago Cubs on social media. Holtzman, known for throwing two no-hitters for the Cubs and contributing to the Oakland Athletics’ three consecutive World Series championships in the 1970s, had been battling heart issues and was hospitalized for three weeks before his death.

Holtzman, who grew up in the St. Louis area and excelled at the University of Illinois, had a successful career in the MLB from 1965 to 1979. He played for teams like the Athletics, Cubs, New York Yankees, and Baltimore Orioles, amassing a 174-150 record and a 3.49 ERA. Notably, Holtzman won nine more games than the legendary Sandy Koufax during his career.

During his time with the Cubs, Holtzman threw two no-hitters, one against Atlanta in 1969 and another against Cincinnati in 1971. His no-hitter against Atlanta remains the most recent in MLB history thrown without a strikeout. Holtzman was later traded to the Oakland Athletics, where he joined a formidable rotation alongside Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter, helping the team secure three consecutive World Series titles.

Holtzman’s impact was felt across multiple teams in the league, including the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees, with whom he won another championship in 1977. The Cubs expressed their condolences to Holtzman’s family and friends, acknowledging his significant contributions to the sport of baseball.