Al Closter – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Al Closter isn’t exactly a household name in baseball, but his journey through Major League Baseball is a pretty good example of perseverance and seizing opportunities in pro sports.

He was born Alan Edward Closter on June 15, 1943, in Creighton, Nebraska. As a left-handed pitcher, he carved out a unique path, even representing the United States in the 1964 Summer Olympics before he finally made it to the majors.

Closter played in the MLB from 1966 to 1973, appearing in 21 games over four seasons with three teams: the Washington Senators, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves. His career really shows what it’s like for so many players who grind in the minor leagues, hoping for those rare shots at the big leagues.

His big league stats—2-2 record, 26 strikeouts, and a 6.62 ERA—might look modest, but Closter’s story is about more than numbers. He faced all the tough realities of being a pitcher in an era that demanded both skill and luck.

After baseball, he found ways to use his experiences in building a second career.

Early Life and Education

Alan Edward Closter was born on June 15, 1943, in Creighton, Nebraska. This small town shaped his early years and love of baseball.

He started out with standout high school athletics and later found success at Iowa State University. That journey from rural Nebraska to college ball set the stage for everything that followed.

Birth and Family Background

Closter arrived in the world during World War II, on June 15, 1943, in Creighton, Nebraska. He grew up in a tight-knit rural community where baseball was more than just a game—it was a way of life.

Creighton sits in northeastern Nebraska. The small-town vibe meant that kids like Closter played more than one sport, especially in school.

His family background played a big part in his athletic development. Growing up in Nebraska’s agricultural heartland, he learned early about hard work and determination.

Those values stuck with him. His Nebraska roots kept him grounded as he climbed through amateur and professional baseball.

High School Years in Creighton, Nebraska

Closter went to St. Ludger High School in Creighton. The small school let him hone his baseball skills and get plenty of attention from coaches.

During those years, his left-handed pitching started to turn heads. Scouts and college recruiters began to notice his talent.

St. Ludger High gave him the basics. Even with a small athletic program, the coaching focused on player development.

His high school performance set him up for the next level. Thanks to his success there, he got opportunities to play college baseball.

Iowa State University Baseball Career

After high school, Closter headed to Iowa State University to keep playing baseball. The program there gave him tougher competition and better coaching.

At Iowa State, he kept improving his pitching. His left-handed delivery and growing command made him valuable to the team.

College baseball really helped him grow as a pitcher. The training and games at Iowa State got him ready for pro ball.

His time at Iowa State led to a spot on the United States national baseball team. He played in the 1964 Summer Olympics, where baseball was a demonstration sport.

That combo—college ball and Olympic experience—put him on the radar for pro scouts. Soon after, he signed with the New York Yankees organization.

Professional Baseball Career

Al Closter’s pro baseball career ran from 1965 to 1973. He pitched for the Washington Senators, New York Yankees, and Atlanta Braves.

He spent a lot of time in the minors, made just 21 MLB appearances, and called it quits after the 1973 season with Atlanta.

Entry into Professional Baseball

The New York Yankees signed Closter as an amateur free agent before the 1965 season. He’d just wrapped up a solid college career and played in the Olympics.

Closter started in 1965, splitting his time between two Yankees minor league teams. He played for the Johnson City Yankees in the Rookie-level Appalachian League and the Greensboro Yankees in Single-A Carolina League.

That winter, he also pitched in the Florida Instructional League with a Yankees affiliate. Those extra innings helped him get ready for the climb up the farm system.

He adapted quickly in his debut minor league season. The Yankees moved him around a bit, giving him experience at different levels right from the start.

Washington Senators Debut

The Cleveland Indians picked Closter in the Rule 5 Draft on November 29, 1965. But he never suited up for Cleveland; the Washington Senators bought his contract on April 6, 1966.

Closter made his MLB debut on April 19, 1966, with the Senators against the Baltimore Orioles. He pitched just a third of an inning in his only outing for them.

That stint didn’t last. By May 3, 1966, the Yankees bought him back.

He finished the 1966 season with the Greensboro Yankees in the minors. That move gave him more time to develop in familiar territory.

Tenure with the Yankees

After his quick MLB debut, Closter spent five seasons developing in the Yankees organization. In 1967, he played the whole year with the Double-A Binghamton Triplets, putting up a 4-0 record and a 1.74 ERA in 14 games.

In 1968, he started with the Single-A Fort Lauderdale Yankees but quickly moved up to Triple-A Syracuse. He spent most of his remaining career bouncing between Syracuse and the majors.

Between 1968 and 1973, Closter pitched in 249 games for Syracuse, posting a 69-58 record. That’s a lot of Triple-A ball, and he became a veteran in the Yankees’ top minor league club.

He got another MLB shot in 1971, coming in as a reliever for the Yankees. On September 4, 1971, he started a game against the Detroit Tigers, pitching five innings and giving up five hits and five earned runs.

Final Season and 1973 Retirement

The Yankees traded Closter to the Atlanta Braves on September 5, 1973. He was the player to be named later in a deal that brought pitcher Pat Dobson to New York.

Wayne Nordhagen and Frank Tepedino also went to Atlanta in that trade. The original deal happened on June 7, 1973, but Closter didn’t move until months later.

Closter’s last MLB appearances came with the Braves in 1973. He finished with a 2-2 record, a 6.62 ERA, and 26 strikeouts in 21 games.

Career MLB Statistics:

• Games: 21
• Win-Loss Record: 2-2
• ERA: 6.62
• Strikeouts: 26

The 1973 season marked the end for Closter. After eight years in pro baseball, from the Olympics to the majors, he retired.

Pitching Style and Performance Metrics

Al Closter struggled with control during his short MLB career. His high ERA and WHIP numbers really show how tough it was for him to find consistency on the mound.

He pitched left-handed, mostly out of the bullpen. In the majors, he just couldn’t find that steady groove.

Position and Roles in MLB

Closter worked mainly as a relief pitcher from 1966 to 1973. He appeared in 21 games over four seasons and made only one start.

The Yankees and Braves mostly used him out of the bullpen, usually in middle relief and not in high-leverage spots.

He didn’t pitch a ton—just 35.1 innings in four years, which averages out to less than nine innings per season.

In the field, he handled 12 chances and made one error, ending up with a .917 fielding percentage. That’s a bit below the league average of .956 for pitchers at the time.

Key Statistics: ERA and WHIP

Closter’s ERA of 6.62 was pretty rough, and he struggled to keep runs off the board. In 1973 with Atlanta, things got especially tough—he posted a 14.54 ERA in limited action.

His WHIP of 1.868 pointed to major control issues. He allowed almost two baserunners per inning, walking 23 while striking out 26 in 35.1 innings.

His strikeout-to-walk ratio sat at 1.13, which isn’t great. Most effective pitchers keep that number above 2.0.

Strengths and Challenges on the Mound

Closter’s main issue was command. He walked 5.9 batters per nine innings, which made it tough to stay in games.

His strikeout rate—6.6 per nine innings—was below average for that era. He just didn’t have the stuff to get a lot of swings and misses.

He issued 23 walks in only 35.1 innings, so he always seemed to be pitching with runners on base.

The inability to throw strikes consistently really limited his chances. Teams want relievers they can count on, and Closter just couldn’t find that rhythm.

After the 1973 season, he stepped away from the game. He never quite developed the control needed to stick in the majors.

Career Highlights and Notable Achievements

Al Closter’s MLB career was short but memorable, running from 1966 to 1973. He got to represent the United States in the Olympics and pitched for three different major league teams.

Major League Milestones

Closter made his MLB debut on April 19, 1966, with the Washington Senators at age 22. But honestly, his biggest moment probably came before that, when he pitched for Team USA at the 1964 Summer Olympics.

Over four seasons, he appeared in 21 games, finished with a 2-2 record, and posted a 6.62 ERA in 35.1 innings. His best year was 1971 with the Yankees, where he went 2-2 and had a 5.08 ERA in 14 games.

He played for three different franchises: starting with Washington, then the Yankees in 1971, and finishing up with Atlanta in 1973 after being traded in the Pat Dobson deal.

Memorable Games

Closter’s most notable performance probably came during his 1971 season with the Yankees. He got one start among his 14 appearances, showing he could do more than just relieve. He pitched 28.1 innings that year, which was most of his big league work.

The 1964 Olympics had to be his proudest baseball moment. Representing the United States before turning pro—that’s something not many players can say.

His last MLB appearance came in 1973 with Atlanta. He pitched 4.1 innings in four games, wrapping up his journey through the majors after seven years in professional baseball.

Influence on Teams Played

Closter first made his mark with the Washington Senators as a young pitcher just breaking into the majors. He only pitched 0.1 innings in 1966, but that gave him some early MLB experience.

The Yankees mostly used Closter as a relief pitcher during his busiest years in 1971 and 1972. Out of all his major league games, 16 came with New York, so that was really the bulk of his time in the big leagues.

The team appreciated his left-handed pitching depth those seasons. Atlanta brought Closter in through a multi-player trade that sent Pat Dobson to the Yankees.

He only played four games for the Braves, but wrapped up his MLB career by helping out their pitching staff in 1973.

Life After Retirement

After baseball, Alan Edward Closter moved into a corporate career, and he kept connections to the game. He built a new life in Richmond, New York, and stayed involved with baseball communities that honored his playing days.

Transition from MLB

Closter left baseball after his last big league appearance in 1973 and jumped into the business world. He joined Philip Morris International and spent about thirty years there, building up his expertise in product development.

He focused on Latin American markets. That job let him use his analytical skills and competitive edge in a totally different setting.

He traveled a lot and had to understand different cultures to succeed. Moving from pro sports to corporate life wasn’t simple, but Closter figured it out.

His baseball background probably made it easier to handle pressure and work with teams. Philip Morris gave him stability he never found in baseball.

The company’s global reach opened doors for him to learn about international business.

Involvement in Baseball Community

In 2006, the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame honored Closter for what he did with the organization. He spent a big chunk of his minor league career with the Syracuse Chiefs from 1968 to 1973.

Closter appeared in 249 games for Syracuse and notched a 69-58 record with the Triple-A club. That kind of steady performance made him stand out in the team’s history.

Getting into the Wall of Fame showed how much minor league communities appreciate players who give a lot to their teams. Closter’s recognition came over 30 years after he last played.

He kept up his ties to Syracuse baseball, and that helped him stay connected to the sport.

Personal Life and Recent Updates

Closter settled down in Richmond, New York, after baseball. He chose a quieter life out of the spotlight and focused on his corporate career.

He worked at Philip Morris International for three decades, which brought him financial security and a sense of accomplishment. Latin American product development became his main focus for years.

These days, Closter would be in his early 80s, since he was born in 1943. People still remember his Olympic appearance in 1964 and his short time in the majors.

The mix of Olympic experience, pro baseball, and a successful business career gives him a pretty well-rounded story.

Legacy in Baseball

Al Closter’s baseball legacy isn’t just about his short MLB career. He made a mark in college athletics and helped develop talent in pro organizations.

His time in the Olympics and his college achievements opened doors for future players.

Impact on Iowa State University Athletics

Closter put Iowa State University on the map by representing them nationally. When he made the 1964 U.S. Olympic team as a demonstration sport participant, it really showed off the talent coming out of the school.

His success reaching pro baseball gave Iowa State’s athletic programs a boost. He proved that Iowa State players could make it to the big leagues.

Closter competed in the Olympics before turning pro, so he stood out as an amateur who represented both his school and his country. That dual role made Iowa State look good in college baseball circles.

Recognition Among MLB Players

Closter’s Olympic background made him different from most of his peers in pro baseball. Not many players in his era had international competition under their belts before reaching the majors.

He played for several teams, with short stints on three different clubs, so a lot of players and coaches knew his name. Some veterans still remember his unusual path from Olympic baseball to the pros.

He stuck around in the Yankees’ farm system for years, and teammates respected that. His 249 games with the Syracuse Chiefs made him a reliable presence in minor league baseball.

Long-term Influence on the Yankees and Senators

Closter spent years working his way up in the Yankees organization, and honestly, that helped boost their minor league reputation for player development. He stuck around Syracuse for quite a while, where he ended up mentoring some of the younger pitchers coming in.

The Washington Senators took a chance on him and gave him his MLB debut. That made him part of the franchise’s last years before they moved, which is kind of wild if you think about it.

His short stint on the mound showed the team’s willingness to bring in talent from different places. You could say they weren’t afraid to experiment a little.

When the Atlanta Braves traded for him in a multi-player deal involving Pat Dobson, they clearly saw some value in what he brought to the table. Teams considered him a decent enough pitcher to include in bigger trades.

The Yankees kept investing in Closter over several seasons, and that really highlighted their commitment to developing pitchers who didn’t always fit the usual mold.