Bud Podbielan – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Bud Podbielan built a solid career as a major league pitcher during baseball’s golden era. He spent eleven seasons in professional baseball, finally hanging up his cleats in 1959.

Born Clarence Anthony Podbielan in Curlew, Washington, he made his mark as a right-handed pitcher with three different teams over nine years in the majors.

Podbielan’s most memorable moment? That had to be the 1951 pennant race, when he picked up a crucial victory in relief for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He helped keep them tied for first place during their legendary battle with the New York Giants.

He served in World War II and then compiled a 25-42 record with a 4.49 ERA in 172 games, facing some of the best hitters of the era. Podbielan played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians.

His journey through baseball tells the story of a determined athlete who faced challenges both on and off the field. From his minor league beginnings to his final appearance at age 35, Podbielan’s career gives us a look into the gritty world of 1950s baseball and the players who shaped the game.

Bud Podbielan’s Major League Baseball Career

Clarence Anthony “Bud” Podbielan pitched professionally from 1949 to 1959. In that time, he posted a 25-42 record with a 4.49 ERA across 172 games.

He played for three teams, spending most of his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds.

MLB Debut and Rookie Years

Podbielan made his major league debut on April 25, 1949, with the Brooklyn Dodgers when he was 25. He pitched one inning against the Boston Braves, giving up two hits and a walk, but didn’t record any strikeouts.

His rookie season was short—just seven games and one start. He finished with a 0-1 record and a 3.65 ERA over 12.1 innings.

In 1950, Podbielan had his first full year in the majors. He appeared in 20 games, starting 10 for Brooklyn.

He notched five wins and four losses with a 5.33 ERA across 72.2 innings. That year, he tossed two complete games and struck out 28 batters.

The 1951 season saw improvement. Podbielan appeared in 27 games, starting five, and posted a 2-2 record.

His ERA dropped to 3.50 over 79.2 innings. He completed one game and struck out 26 batters.

Transition Between Teams

In 1952, Podbielan played for two teams. He started with Brooklyn but got traded to the Cincinnati Reds mid-season.

He only pitched three games for the Dodgers that year, and his ERA ballooned to 18.00. After the trade, he found his groove with Cincinnati.

With the Reds, he went 4-5 with a 2.80 ERA over 86.2 innings. He completed four games and threw one shutout.

Podbielan spent most of his remaining career with Cincinnati. From 1953 to 1955, he became a regular in their rotation.

His 1953 season was busy—36 games and 24 starts. He pitched 186.1 innings but struggled to a 6-16 record and a 4.73 ERA.

The 1954 season was tough too. He went 7-10 with a 5.36 ERA over 131 innings and made 24 starts in 27 appearances.

Final Season and Retirement

After stepping away from baseball for a bit, Podbielan returned for one last season in 1959. The Cleveland Indians signed him for his final major league campaign.

He appeared in six games for Cleveland, all in relief. At 35, he posted a 0-1 record with a 5.84 ERA over 12.1 innings.

His last major league appearance came on June 13, 1959, against the Washington Senators. He pitched one inning, allowed two hits and one earned run, and struck out a batter.

Podbielan finished his career with 25 wins and 42 losses over 641 innings. In the field, he kept a .980 fielding percentage with just three errors in 147 chances.

At the plate, he hit .154 with 29 hits in 188 at-bats. He retired from pro baseball after the 1959 season at age 35.

Notable Achievements and Records

Bud Podbielan’s career had its share of highlights, including a franchise record and several personal milestones. One moment stands out: in 1953, he set a Cincinnati Reds record that still hasn’t been matched.

Franchise Records

On May 18, 1953, Podbielan made Reds history. In a 10-inning game against the Brooklyn Dodgers, he walked 13 batters, setting a franchise record.

He did this against his former team, the Dodgers, and the extra innings gave him plenty of chances to pile up the walks.

That record really highlights the control issues he sometimes battled. Walking 13 in one game? Even for that era, it was pretty wild.

Memorable Performances

Podbielan had a few standout moments on the mound. He finished 20 complete games in his nine years, showing he could go the distance.

He recorded 2 shutouts and 3 saves in 172 games. Most of his complete games came with the Dodgers and Reds.

Strikeouts played a role in his pitching style. Podbielan struck out 242 batters in his career, averaging about 27 per season.

He fielded his position well, holding a .980 fielding percentage. Over 641 innings, he made only three errors in 147 chances.

Career Milestones

Over nine seasons in the majors from 1949 to 1959, Podbielan pitched for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians.

His career ERA landed at 4.49 over 641 innings. He faced 2,792 batters and allowed 693 hits.

He wrapped up with a 25-42 win-loss record. At the plate, he batted .154 with 29 hits in 188 at-bats.

Podbielan started 76 games and finished 35. He also hit 17 batters and threw 12 wild pitches during his career.

Teams Played For

Bud Podbielan pitched for three major league teams between 1949 and 1959. He started with the Brooklyn Dodgers, spent most of his career with Cincinnati, and finished with the Cleveland Indians.

Brooklyn Dodgers Era

Podbielan broke into the majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 25, 1949, at age 25. He worked his way up through Brooklyn’s farm system after signing as an amateur free agent post-World War II.

His early Dodgers years were up and down. In 1949, he went 0-1 with a 3.65 ERA before heading back to the minors. Brooklyn called him up again in 1950 after a stint with Fort Worth.

His most memorable Dodgers moment? September 30, 1951. He entered a crucial game against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 13th with two runners on. He got out of the jam, then Jackie Robinson homered in the 14th, and Podbielan closed out the win to keep Brooklyn tied for first with the Giants.

On June 15, 1952, the Dodgers traded him to Cincinnati, along with cash, for Bud Byerly.

Cincinnati Reds and Redlegs Tenure

Podbielan spent most of his career with the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Redlegs from 1952 to 1957. These years included both his best and toughest times in the majors.

On May 18, 1953, he had one of the strangest pitching outings ever. Despite walking 13 batters in 10 innings against his old Brooklyn teammates, Podbielan won 2-1 thanks to a Ted Kluszewski homer. No National League pitcher had walked that many since 1918, and the Dodgers left 18 runners on base.

Manager Rogers Hornsby didn’t go easy on him either. In June 1953, Hornsby left Podbielan on the mound for eight innings while the Dodgers pounded him for 17 hits, including seven doubles, a triple, and two home runs.

During his Cincinnati years, Podbielan also pitched in the Pacific Coast League with the Seattle Rainiers in 1956 and 1957. He posted records of 13-11 and 8-4 those seasons.

Cleveland Indians Period

The Cleveland Indians bought Podbielan from Cincinnati in October 1957, giving him one last shot in the majors. His time with Cleveland was short and marked the end of his big league days.

Most of 1958 and early 1959, Podbielan spent with the San Diego Padres in the Pacific Coast League. He did pretty well there, going 10-9 with a 4.08 ERA in 1958 and 11-5 with a 3.00 ERA in 1959.

Cleveland called him up for a final major league stint in 1959. He pitched in just six games before his last big league appearance on June 13, 1959, at age 35.

That was the end of his nine-season career in the majors. The Indians’ experiment with the veteran right-hander wrapped up his journey through three franchises and more than a decade in pro baseball.

Pitching Style and Statistics

Bud Podbielan’s stats really show the challenges he faced as a pitcher in the 1950s. His 4.49 ERA over nine seasons suggests he struggled with consistency, especially during his Cincinnati years when he set a franchise record by walking 13 in one game.

Pitching Techniques and Role

Podbielan mostly worked as a relief pitcher in the majors. He stood 6’1″ and weighed 170 pounds, which was about average for pitchers back then.

He leaned heavily on his control, but that often turned into his biggest weakness. His struggles were on display on May 18, 1953, when he walked 13 batters in 10 innings for the Reds.

In 1959, his last season with Cleveland, Podbielan pitched in just six games. He threw 12.1 innings, gave up 17 hits, and allowed eight earned runs.

His role shifted over the years from occasional starter to mostly relief work. That change reflected how baseball strategy was evolving in the 1950s.

Statistical Overview

Podbielan finished with 25 wins and 42 losses in 173 games. His 4.49 ERA put him below average for his era.

He struck out 242 batters over nine seasons. On average, that’s about 27 strikeouts per year—not exactly overpowering.

His 1959 stats show the decline:

• 6 games pitched
• 5.56 ERA at home
• 9.00 ERA on the road
• 12.1 total innings

He allowed 17 hits in those last 12.1 innings. He walked only two batters that year, which suggests his control actually improved at the end.

Comparisons to Contemporaries

Podbielan’s 4.49 ERA was higher than most successful pitchers in the 1950s. The average ERA for pitchers in those days usually sat between 3.50 and 4.00.

His strikeout numbers were modest. Many top pitchers of the 1950s racked up 100 or more strikeouts a season.

A 25-42 win-loss record shows his struggles in a tough era. Most established pitchers hovered around .500 or better.

He pitched during baseball’s golden age, up against legends like Warren Spahn and Robin Roberts. Honestly, Podbielan’s stats don’t stack up to those Hall of Fame contemporaries.

Personal Life and Background

Clarence Anthony Podbielan grew up in small-town Washington, and honestly, you can see how those roots and his love of baseball shaped his life. He made his way from the Pacific Northwest to major league stadiums, chasing baseball dreams like a World War II veteran who just wouldn’t give up.

Early Life and Origins

Clarence Anthony Podbielan was born March 6, 1924, in Curlew, Washington. This little rural spot in Ferry County set the scene for his early days.

He grew up during the Great Depression, which must’ve been tough. Life in eastern Washington probably taught him a thing or two about hard work and sticking it out, lessons he carried onto the baseball field.

As a young man, Podbielan joined the military during World War II. That service put his baseball ambitions on hold, at least for a while.

When he finished his military duties, he jumped into pro baseball in 1946. He worked his way through the minors before finally making his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 25, 1949.

Family and Personal Interests

There’s not much out there about Podbielan’s family or personal life while he played. Most baseball records just stick to what he did on the field.

People called him “Bud” throughout his career, which feels pretty friendly. That nickname hints that teammates and coaches liked having him around.

Podbielan stood 6’1″ and weighed 170 pounds back then. He pitched and batted right-handed, sticking to what he knew best.

He lasted 16 years in pro baseball, with nine seasons in the majors and eleven in the minors. That kind of run shows he really cared about the sport and could handle whatever level he landed at.

Legacy After Baseball

After he retired from pro baseball in 1959, Podbielan settled in Syracuse, New York. He stayed there until he passed away on October 26, 1982, at 58.

On May 18, 1953, he set a franchise record by walking 13 batters in a single game for the Cincinnati Reds. It’s a tough stat, but it keeps his name in the team’s history books.

Podbielan wrapped up his career with a 25-42 win-loss record and a 4.49 ERA. Sure, those numbers aren’t dazzling, but he stuck with it through several teams and kept giving the game his all.

He played for three major league teams and, like a lot of guys, added to baseball’s story even if he never became a superstar. When he died in Syracuse, he left behind the memory of someone who always gave his best.

Sources and Further Information

You can find Bud Podbielan’s career stats and biographical details in plenty of baseball databases. Several encyclopedias and sources have also put together his professional baseball journey from 1946 through 1961.

Baseball Reference and Statistical Databases

Baseball-Reference.com is the main place for Podbielan’s full statistical record. They list his detailed pitching stats for all nine major league seasons, from 1949 to 1959.

The site shows he went 25-42 with a 4.49 ERA in 172 games. Stats break down by team and season, covering his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians.

The Baseball Cube adds more analysis and biographical info. You can check out his minor league stats and see his full 16-season timeline there.

StatsCrew.com has his minor league numbers, too. They show Podbielan finished with 111 wins and 81 losses, and a 3.40 ERA, over 322 games in both the majors and minors.

Media Coverage and Biographies

Wikipedia probably has the easiest-to-find biography for Clarence Anthony Podbielan. They mention he was born in Curlew, Washington, on March 6, 1924. He died on October 26, 1982.

Baseball Almanac adds a few more details, like his major league debut at 25 on April 25, 1949. They also list his height at 6’1″ and his weight at 170 pounds.

BR Bullpen goes further and talks about his service in World War II. They confirm he spent 16 years playing professional baseball, both in the majors and minors.