Duke Maas – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Duke Maas managed to carve out a solid seven-year career in Major League Baseball before he finally hung up his cleats in 1961. His journey from a Michigan dairy farm to the big leagues? Definitely not your typical story.

Born Duane Frederick Maas on January 31, 1929, he didn’t even play organized baseball until his last year of high school. He only tried out because pitchers got to leave practice early—they needed to get home to help with farm chores.

The right-handed pitcher finished his career with the New York Yankees, helping them win the 1958 World Series. Arthritis in his throwing arm forced him to retire at just 32. Maas put up a 45-44 record, struck out 356 batters in 195 games, and played for three teams: the Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics, and New York Yankees.

His best year came in 1959, when he went 14-8 as both a starter and reliever for New York.

Maas stood out for his part in some of baseball’s biggest trades, including a wild 13-player deal in 1957—that one’s still the third-largest in MLB history. His story shows the tough road players faced before modern medicine could save careers, and how a determined farm kid managed to overcome a late start and physical setbacks to reach the major leagues.

Early Life and Amateur Career

Duke Maas grew up on a Michigan dairy farm, and all that milking built up his pitching arm. He didn’t play organized baseball until his senior year of high school.

He got noticed after a standout season in semipro ball, which caught the Detroit Tigers’ eye.

Family and Background

Duane Frederick Maas was born January 31, 1929, in Utica, Michigan. He was the younger of two sons, with Frederick and Mabel (Weier) Maas as his parents.

His dad ran a 60-acre dairy farm in Utica, and the family had deep German roots. Duke’s paternal grandfather came over from Germany, and his mom was German too.

Duke’s older brother Lawrence was born in 1926. The family lived in Macomb County, about 25 miles from Detroit.

As a kid, Duke couldn’t stand the name Duane and switched to “Duke.” His dad helped make sure that nickname stuck.

Farm life shaped Duke from the start. “They say milking cows strengthens your wrists, and I did a lot of that as a kid,” he told the Detroit News.

High School Achievements

Duke didn’t get a shot at organized baseball until his senior year at Utica High School in 1948. Farm chores always came first.

His reason for joining the team wasn’t exactly about glory. “Pitchers on the baseball team got to leave an hour early,” Maas told an Associated Press reporter. That was enough for him.

Even with no experience, the slim 5-foot-10 righty made the varsity team. His coach, Barney Swinehart, would later help connect Duke with pro scouts.

Duke’s arm strength and control showed up fast. Scouts noticed, even though he didn’t have years of organized play behind him.

Path to Professional Baseball

After high school, Duke kept working on his game in semipro baseball. He pitched for a Utica team in the Macomb County Federation League in 1948.

He won 12 games and lost just 2. That record got his high school coach’s attention.

Swinehart decided to reach out to the Detroit Tigers for Duke. He wrote to the team and suggested they take a look.

In fall 1948, Duke and Swinehart headed to Briggs Stadium for a tryout. The first day, nothing happened—Tigers chief scout A.J. “Wish” Egan was sick.

They came back the next day. “Mr. Egan had been ill and wasn’t there the first day,” Maas said. “So I went back the following day. He signed me that afternoon.”

Tigers GM John McHale offered him a contract: $150 per month and a $500 signing bonus. At 19, Duke signed as an amateur free agent with Detroit and started his pro career.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Duke Maas played in the majors from 1955 to 1961, putting up a 45-44 record with a 4.19 ERA in 195 games. He bounced through three organizations, but he found the most success with the Yankees in the late ’50s.

Detroit Tigers Tenure

Maas made his MLB debut with the Detroit Tigers on April 21, 1955, at age 26. He came in during the eighth inning of a blowout loss to the White Sox and retired all three batters.

He got his first start on April 30 against Washington, but only lasted 2⅓ innings and walked five. Still, he picked up his first win on May 5 in a wild 11-7 game the Tigers won in the ninth.

Early in 1955, he showed promise—3-1 record with three complete games by late May. He threw two shutouts against Baltimore in June, but couldn’t keep it going all season.

1955 Performance Highlights:

• First MLB win: May 5 vs. Washington
• Two shutouts against Baltimore
• Optioned to Buffalo on July 18

Arm trouble gave him problems with Detroit, and his performance suffered. The 1956 season was especially rough—he went 0-7 with a 6.54 ERA before Detroit sent him to Charleston in July.

In 1957, he finally had a good year with Detroit. After replacing the injured Frank Lary in late April, Maas won his first five starts and had a 6-1 record and 1.74 ERA by May 19. He finished 10-14 with a 3.28 ERA, pitching a career-high 219⅓ innings over 26 starts and 19 relief appearances.

Kansas City Athletics Experience

The Kansas City Athletics picked up Maas on November 20, 1957, in a huge 13-player trade with Detroit. That deal is still one of the biggest in baseball history, with Billy Martin as the big name going to Detroit.

Maas spent most of 1958 with Kansas City before the Yankees traded for him on June 15. In Kansas City, he mostly started games.

At that time, the Athletics basically acted as a Yankees farm team. Players often moved between the two, with Kansas City sending talent to New York.

Maas didn’t stay long with the Athletics, but it set him up for the best stretch of his career. The trade to New York turned out to be a win for both Maas and the Yankees.

New York Yankees Years

Maas joined the Yankees on June 15, 1958, in a trade that sent Bob Grim and Harry Simpson to Kansas City. Red Smith, the columnist, joked that the Yankees were shopping at their “favorite store in Kansas City” and might’ve scored “the year’s biggest bargain.”

He paid off right away. Maas went 7-3 in 13 starts and 9 relief appearances for New York. He even started and won the pennant-clinching game on September 14, 1958.

His World Series debut came in Game Two against Milwaukee after Bob Turley got knocked out in the first inning. Maas struggled in relief, letting inherited runners score and then giving up a three-run homer to Lew Burdette.

Yankees Statistics (1958-1961):

• 1958: 7-3 record, won pennant-clincher
• 1959: 14-8 record, second on team in wins
• 1960: 5-1 record in 70⅓ innings
• 1961: Limited action due to arm issues

Maas peaked in 1959. The Yankees finished third, but he was second on the team with 14 wins. He owned Cleveland and Boston that year, beating the Indians five times and the Red Sox four.

He bounced between starting and relieving for the Yankees. In 1959, he made 21 starts and came out of the bullpen 17 times, showing he could do a bit of everything.

Arm problems started catching up with him in 1960. He started only once that year but still pitched well in relief, picking up four saves and throwing multiple innings per outing.

Los Angeles Angels Transition

The Los Angeles Angels picked Maas in the American League expansion draft before the 1961 season. That draft was supposed to help stock the new teams with major league talent.

Maas never played a regular season game for the Angels. They traded him back to the Yankees before the season even started.

When he got back to New York, his arthritis had gotten worse. It started in spring training and just never let up.

He made his last MLB appearance on April 23, 1961, at age 32. The arm issues that had bugged him for years finally ended his career.

The Angels picked him for his veteran experience, but the quick trade back to New York—and his fast retirement—showed how quickly arm injuries could end a career in those days.

Notable Trades and Transactions

Duke Maas switched teams several times during his MLB career, with big moves like his 1958 trade to the Yankees and his selection by the Los Angeles Angels in the 1960 expansion draft.

Trade to Kansas City Athletics

Duke Maas started out with the Detroit Tigers in 1955. After a brutal 1956 season where he went 0-7, Detroit decided to move on.

They traded him to the Kansas City Athletics as part of a roster shakeup. Maas got a new chance with Kansas City.

He bounced back in 1957, winning 10 games and proving he could be a solid pitcher in the American League.

Kansas City gave Maas regular work on the mound. His improved pitching caught the eye of other teams needing depth.

Blockbuster Yankees Deal

On June 15, 1958, the Kansas City Athletics traded Duke Maas and Virgil Trucks to the New York Yankees. The Yankees sent Bob Grim and Harry Simpson to Kansas City.

This trade mattered for both Maas and the Yankees. New York needed experienced pitching for a playoff run.

Maas went 7-3 with a 3.82 ERA in his first season in the Bronx. He helped the Yankees reach the postseason.

The Yankees won the 1958 World Series, making Maas a champion right away. He came through when the team needed him.

Expansion Draft and Angels Move

The Los Angeles Angels picked Duke Maas as the 3rd pick in the 1960 expansion draft. They took him from the Yankees during the league’s expansion.

That pick was a big moment for Maas and the new franchise. The Angels needed veterans to build a roster from scratch.

Maas joined a brand-new organization grabbing talent from around the league. The expansion draft gave him a shot to be a veteran leader.

The Angels valued his experience and his track record. Grabbing him early in the draft showed they trusted his abilities.

Return to Yankees and Final Trade

On April 4, 1961, the Los Angeles Angels traded Duke Maas back to the New York Yankees. The Yankees sent Fritz Brickell to the Angels.

That trade turned out to be Maas’s last move in pro baseball. He returned to familiar ground with the Yankees.

He reunited with old teammates and coaches who knew what he brought to the table. His time with the Yankees made the transition easy.

That deal happened during what would be Maas’s final MLB season. The 1961 season closed the book on his seven-year career.

Pitching Style, Performance, and Statistics

Duke Maas finished his MLB career with a 45-44 record, a 4.19 ERA, and 356 strikeouts from 1955 to 1961. He hit his peak with the New York Yankees, helping them win a World Series championship.

Pitching Arsenal and Technique

Duke Maas pitched right-handed and leaned more on control and finesse than on sheer power. He liked to mess with hitters’ timing by mixing up his speeds and aiming for precise locations.

At 5-10 and 170 pounds, Maas had a compact delivery, which helped him keep his mechanics steady. Since he wasn’t a big guy, he had to be extra sharp with his command.

Growing up in Michigan, Maas shaped his technique in his early years with the Detroit Tigers, starting in 1955. He bounced between starting and relieving for most of his career.

Instead of chasing strikeouts, Maas focused on hitting his spots. That approach really paid off for him in the late 1950s, which turned out to be his best stretch.

Seasonal Performance Highlights

Maas played his best ball with the New York Yankees in the late 1950s. He even picked up a World Series ring during that time.

In 1961, his MLB career wrapped up. He pitched just once that season, on April 23 against Baltimore, and it didn’t go well—he lasted only a third of an inning, gave up two hits and two earned runs, and ended up with a wild ERA of 180.00.

Before the Yankees, Maas spent some time with the Kansas City Athletics. He moved around a bit, putting up steady but not eye-popping numbers for a few different teams.

His last game stats really showed the struggles he faced as his career wound down. By age 32, he just didn’t have the same edge he’d shown in his prime.

Career Stats and Milestones

Duke Maas wrapped up his seven-year career with these numbers:

• Record: 45 wins, 44 losses
• ERA: 4.19
• Strikeouts: 356
• Games played: 195
• Teams: Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees

A 4.19 ERA was solid for his era, especially considering how much offense teams put up in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Winning the World Series with the Yankees stands out as his biggest achievement. That championship really marked the high point of his baseball life.

His 356 strikeouts came out to about 51 per season, which fits his pitch-to-contact style. He didn’t go for the flashy strikeout numbers.

Comparisons with Notable Teammates

When Maas played for the Yankees, he shared the clubhouse with some absolute legends. The roster was packed with Hall of Famers and big names.

His job looked pretty different compared to the Yankees’ aces of the day. While the stars grabbed the headlines, Maas quietly gave the team much-needed depth.

Seeing Maas alongside those stars really shows how crucial role players can be. You need reliable guys like him to win championships, not just superstars.

His 4.19 ERA didn’t match up with some of his Yankees pitching teammates. Still, his ability to switch between starting and relieving made him a valuable piece of the puzzle.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Duke Maas found his stride during seven seasons in the majors from 1955 to 1961. The highlight? Winning the 1958 World Series with the Yankees, where he helped clinch the pennant.

World Series Championship

Maas earned his only World Series ring with the Yankees in 1958. After coming over from the Kansas City Athletics in June, he played a big part in their success that year.

He went 7-3 in 13 starts and nine relief outings for New York. On September 14, 1958, he started and won the game that clinched the pennant for the Yankees.

Maas pitched in the 1958 and 1960 World Series. In 1958, facing the Milwaukee Braves in Game Two, he came in as a reliever but had a rough go, letting inherited runners score and then giving up a three-run homer to Lew Burdette.

In the 1960 World Series against Pittsburgh, Maas threw two innings in Game One and allowed an RBI double to Bill Virdon during the Yankees’ 6-4 loss.

Best Season Performances

Maas put up his best stats in 1959 with the Yankees. He finished second on the team in wins, going 14-8, even though the Yankees only managed a third-place finish.

He started 21 games that season and relieved in 17 more. He seemed to have Cleveland’s number, beating them five times, and also beat Boston four times.

Back in 1957 with Detroit, Maas got off to a hot start, winning his first five starts and finishing four of them. After a win against Washington on May 19, he was 6-1 with a 1.74 ERA.

“I’ve finally mastered control of my pitches,” Maas told reporters during that streak. “It’s just a matter of using my head instead of my arm.”

Key Moments with Each Team

Maas made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers on April 21, 1955, at Briggs Stadium. He threw a scoreless eighth inning in relief against the White Sox.

He picked up his first big league win on May 5, 1955, going the distance in a walk-off victory. Al Kaline tripled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to drive in the winning run.

In 1958, the Kansas City Athletics picked up Maas as part of a 13-player deal with Detroit. A few months later, they traded him to the Yankees along with Virgil Trucks.

His time with the Yankees (1958-1961) was easily his most successful. Besides the pennant-clinching win in 1958, Maas pitched as both a starter and reliever. He notched several saves and gave the staff some much-needed depth.

Retirement, Later Years, and Legacy

Duke Maas left his major league career behind in 1961, after arm troubles forced him out of the game at 32. He kept a pretty low profile after baseball, but people still remember his part in the Yankees’ championship run.

Final Season and Retirement in 1961

The 1961 season brought Maas’s pro baseball days to a close. Arthritis in his pitching arm had gotten so bad that he just couldn’t perform anymore.

Even with his arm issues, the Yankees left him unprotected in the expansion draft in December 1960. Neither the Yankees nor the new Los Angeles Angels seemed to realize how serious his condition was.

The arthritis made it impossible for him to keep pitching at the top level. At 32, he had no choice but to walk away from the game.

Maas spent his last active stint in the Yankees’ farm system. A woman from Chester, Virginia, later remembered dating him then and said he never talked about his big league career.

He retired after seven seasons in the majors, playing for three teams. Maas ended up with a 45-45 record and a 3.36 ERA over 239 games.

Attempts at Comeback and Life After Baseball

After he hung up his cleats, Maas mostly stayed out of the spotlight. He didn’t go into coaching or broadcasting like some ex-players do.

There’s not much out there about what he did after baseball. What’s known is that he married Nancy Gail Seeman in the mid-1950s and they had three kids.

Their first child, Kevin, was born on Father’s Day in 1957. Twins Randy and Robin arrived on September 8, 1960. It looks like Maas focused on his family after his playing days.

He lived for 15 years after retiring. Maas passed away on December 7, 1976, at age 47 in Michigan.

His quiet post-baseball life was a big contrast to his public role as a player. He seemed to prefer privacy over staying connected to the baseball world.

Legacy in Major League Baseball

Duke Maas built a solid legacy as a reliable pitcher who played a real part in the Yankees’ championship runs. He clinched the 1958 American League pennant for New York, which honestly stands out as his biggest moment.

Key Career Statistics:

• Record: 45-45 with 3.36 ERA
• Strikeouts: 356 over seven seasons
• World Series: Won 1958 championship with Yankees
• Teams: Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Athletics, New York Yankees

Maas pitched in relief during both the 1958 and 1960 World Series. In 1959, he put together his best season, going 14-8 for the Yankees while bouncing between starting and relieving.

He really turned things around after some rough early years. After a tough 0-7 record in 1956, he came back strong with 10 wins in 1957.

Baseball historians still talk about Maas as part of that huge 13-player trade between Detroit and Kansas City in 1957. That deal, by the way, is still the third-largest transaction in baseball history.

Maas didn’t have the longest career, thanks to arm trouble, but he showed the kind of grit you’d expect from players back then. He got through military service during the Korean War and worked his way up from early minor league setbacks to finally reach the majors.