Jack Baldschun – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Jack Baldschun made his mark in baseball as one of the most durable relief pitchers of the 1960s. He played nine seasons in Major League Baseball and retired in 1970.

Born in Greenville, Ohio, in 1936, Baldschun battled through early career setbacks and arm troubles. He became a key bullpen guy for three MLB teams over his career.

Baldschun’s screwball and rubber arm turned him into one of the National League’s top relievers during his best years with the Philadelphia Phillies from 1961 to 1965. His career took him from the Phillies to the Cincinnati Reds, and then to the San Diego Padres. He wrapped up his playing days in 1970 at age 33.

This right-hander started out as a struggling minor league starter. He eventually became a reliable major league closer—a journey that really shows his determination and adaptability.

His story includes overcoming serious arm injuries, discovering the pitch that made his career, and turning into a workhorse reliever. He often pitched multiple games in a row when his teams needed him.

Early Life and Path to Baseball

Jack Edward Baldschun was born on October 16, 1936, in Greenville, Ohio. He grew up in a farming family, which definitely shaped his character and work ethic.

His athletic talents popped up early and led him from small-town Ohio to Miami University. Eventually, he found his way into professional baseball‘s minor league system.

Family Background and Childhood

Jack’s parents, Henry and Regina Baldschun, raised him in Greenville, Ohio—a small town about 95 miles north of Cincinnati. His grandparents, Franklin and Louisa Baldschun, had settled a farm there around the turn of the century.

Jack had an older brother, Robert, born in 1932. The agricultural setting gave him a strong sense of hard work and determination.

Maynard Wolf, whom Jack called his “uncle,” played a big role in his early life. Wolf owned a fuel and coal company in Greenville and had played semi-pro baseball.

“My uncle brought me up as far as baseball was concerned,” Jack said. Wolf managed the local sandlot team and started mentoring Jack when he was just eight or nine.

Wolf set up exhibitions before games where Jack would pitch or shag fly balls. That early taste of organized baseball really set the stage for his future.

High School Athletic Achievements

At Greenville High School, Jack played baseball, basketball, and ran track. He lettered in all three sports.

Baseball wasn’t always available, though. During his junior year, Greenville High didn’t even field a baseball team.

Jack and his teammates convinced the principal to bring the baseball program back. The school’s football coach agreed to also coach baseball.

By then, Jack had already caught the eye of pro scouts. Tony Lucadello, who eventually signed 52 pro players, first noticed Jack when he was just 11.

Lucadello, scouting for the Cubs, wanted Jack to come to Chicago as a batboy. But Jack’s parents said no—he was just too young.

College Experience at Miami University

In fall 1954, Jack started at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He joined the baseball team as a freshman and quickly stood out.

After his college season in 1955, Jack played sandlot baseball that summer. He ended up in Nashville, Tennessee, where pro teams started to notice him.

The president of the Nashville league recommended Jack to Ted Murray, owner of the Nashville Volunteers in the Southern Association. Murray wanted to sign him right away, but Jack said no—he wanted to keep going to college.

The Cincinnati Redlegs also showed interest. When Jack got back from Nashville, he found a letter from the Reds inviting him to a tryout.

At the tryout, Reds farm director Bill McKechnie Jr. watched Jack throw just a few pitches before offering him a contract.

Signing and Minor League Beginnings

Before the 1956 season, Jack signed his first pro contract with the Nashville Volunteers. The deal let him keep up his college studies while starting his baseball career.

He debuted in 1956 with the Thibodaux Senators in Louisiana’s Class C Evangeline League. Used mainly as a starter, he led the team in innings pitched and won ten games.

The next year changed things up. While playing for the Wausau Lumberjacks in Wisconsin’s Class C Northern League, Jack met Charlotte Kolbe.

“I met my wife, Charlotte Kolbe, so I completed only two years of college because I got married just before the start of the 1958 season,” Jack remembered.

Their marriage lasted nearly 52 years and they had two children: Kim, born in 1960, and Brad, born in 1965. That milestone ended his college days and marked his full commitment to pro baseball.

Even though the Wausau team struggled and finished sixth in the eight-team league, Jack led the team in wins, innings, and ERA. His performance showed he had a shot at a solid minor league career.

Major League Debut and Philadelphia Phillies Years

Jack’s journey to the majors started after the Philadelphia Phillies picked him in the Rule 5 draft in 1960. He made his big league debut on April 28, 1961.

He went from a struggling starter to a dominant relief pitcher. That transformation became one of the best success stories in Philadelphia baseball during the early ’60s.

Rule 5 Draft Selection

The Phillies grabbed Baldschun in the Rule 5 draft for $25,000 after the Cincinnati Reds left him unprotected. Manager Gene Mauch got a recommendation from Max Macon, Baldschun’s manager at Columbia who had roomed with Mauch back in their Brooklyn Dodgers days.

Cincinnati tried to stash Baldschun by putting him on their Charleston affiliate roster. The Phillies didn’t fall for it.

The Reds’ reluctance to promote Baldschun, despite his strong play, left people scratching their heads—including Macon, who told the press, “I’d stake my reputation that this guy can win in the majors.”

That draft pick really changed things for Baldschun and the Phillies. After five years and eight minor league stops, the 24-year-old finally got his shot at the top.

Breakout as Relief Pitcher

Jack debuted on April 28, 1961, against the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched one inning, faced five batters, allowed no runs and one hit, and walked one.

Despite that decent start, his early season numbers weren’t great. By June 27, Jack had appeared in 20 games, posting a 0-1 record with a 7.11 ERA.

Manager Gene Mauch barely used him in spring training, hoping to “spring his screwball on National League hitters like an exploding cigar.”

Everything changed on June 29 against the Giants. Jack pitched a scoreless ninth, and suddenly, his performance turned around.

From June 29 through the rest of the season, he went 5-2 with three saves and a 2.78 ERA.

Season Turnaround Stats:

• Before June 29: 0-1, 7.11 ERA in 20 games
• After June 29: 5-2, 2.78 ERA with 3 saves

Performance Highlights and Team Records

Jack led the National League in appearances during his rookie year, pitching in 65 games for a Phillies team that finished 47-107. His screwball and durability made him a big asset for a struggling franchise.

The next season, Jack took over as the team’s closer and led the bullpen in saves every year. His screwball delivery made him stand out among NL relief pitchers.

As Jack explained, “I throw my screwball different from most pitchers. Most screwballs break on the same plane like a slider. Mine drops like a curveball thrown overhanded by a left-hander.”

Manager Gene Mauch praised Jack in 1963, saying, “He has a rubber arm, he makes the batters hit the ball on the ground, and he has the ideal temperament and confidence.” Those traits made Jack the anchor of the Phillies bullpen in the early 1960s.

His performance slipped during the team’s huge 1964 collapse, and he started to fall out of favor with Mauch. Even so, Jack stayed with Philadelphia through 1965 before being traded.

Trades, Team Changes, and Notable Transactions

Jack’s nine-year MLB career featured some big trades that affected both him and the teams involved. The most famous deal connected him to the Frank Robinson trade, and his later move to San Diego closed out his MLB run.

Baltimore Orioles Trade Involvement

Jack never actually played for the Baltimore Orioles, but his career got tangled up with their championship run thanks to a key trade.

The Phillies traded him away as part of deals that helped other teams in the National League make bigger moves.

His exit from Philadelphia happened just as the Orioles were building their powerhouse roster in the mid-1960s. The timing of his trades lined up with Baltimore picking up several former NL players.

The Orioles front office made aggressive trades during that era. They built a championship squad by grabbing talent from teams like the Phillies and Reds.

Cincinnati Reds Years and Frank Robinson Deal

Jack joined the Cincinnati Reds during a turning point for the franchise.

The Reds traded away Frank Robinson to the Baltimore Orioles in December 1965—a move that shocked the baseball world.

That deal caused a lot of roster shuffling. Jack benefited from the changes after Robinson left.

The Reds got Milt Pappas, Dick Simpson, and Jackie Brandt in return for Robinson. The trade ended up hurting Cincinnati, though. Robinson won the Triple Crown and MVP with Baltimore in 1966.

Meanwhile, Jack filled relief roles as the Reds tried to rebuild. He pitched middle relief during the team’s transition after the Robinson trade.

San Diego Padres and Final MLB Seasons

The San Diego Padres picked Jack up while building their expansion roster for 1969. That gave the veteran reliever a chance to stretch out his career with a brand-new team.

San Diego built its first roster with expansion draft picks and trades. Jack brought experience to a team loaded with young guys and older vets.

He had played in 457 career games and became a steady bullpen arm for the Padres.

The Padres mostly used him as a setup man in their early seasons. Jack pitched in both 1969 and 1970 before retiring.

His final MLB stats: 48 wins and 41 losses across all teams.

Jack retired after the 1970 season, finishing his career as a relief specialist. The Padres gave him one last shot to pitch in the big leagues before he hung up his cleats.

Pitching Style, Achievements, and Statistics

Jack built his career around the screwball—a pitch that helped him notch 60 saves over nine big league seasons.

His best years came with the Philadelphia Phillies, where he racked up 59 saves in five seasons.

Screwball and Pitching Strategy

Jack learned the screwball after the Phillies picked him in the Rule 5 draft in November 1960. That pitch became his signature as a reliever.

The screwball helped him break into the majors as a 24-year-old rookie in 1961. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6’1″, and weighed 175 pounds.

He focused on coming out of the bullpen in high-pressure moments. Jack made his MLB debut on April 28, 1961, pitching one inning in relief, allowing no runs, one hit, and one walk.

Career Saves and Key Performances

Baldschun really made his mark as the Phillies’ closer, leading the team in saves for three years straight. His save totals climbed each season—13 saves in 1962, 16 saves in 1963, and then 21 saves in 1964.

His top season came in 1961, when he led all National League pitchers with 65 appearances. That year, he was the only Phillies pitcher with a winning record at 5-3.

The 1964 season was rough for Baldschun during the Phillies’ infamous “September swoon.” Manager Gene Mauch decided to move him out of the closer role, thinking Baldschun wasn’t aggressive enough with hitters.

His career stats look pretty solid: a 48-41 record, a 3.69 earned run average, and 555 strikeouts in 457 games.

Baseball Reference and ESPN Coverage

Baseball Reference keeps track of Baldschun’s full career numbers, showing 704 innings pitched and 687 hits allowed. The site lists his 298 walks, including 67 intentional, and 45 home runs given up.

ESPN covers his stats across all three teams he played for. They show his time with the Philadelphia Phillies (1961-1965), Cincinnati Reds (1966-1967), and San Diego Padres (1969-1970).

Both sites point out his high ranking among National League leaders in games pitched. He landed in the top 10 for that category in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1969.

He made his final major league appearance on August 21, 1970, pitching for the San Diego Padres.

Legacy, Recognition, and Retirement

Jack Baldschun built a reputation as one of the best relief pitchers of the 1960s, thanks to his durability and that devastating screwball. He wrapped up his career in 1970 after nine seasons in the majors, helping shape what the closer role looks like today.

Impact on Relief Pitching

Baldschun played a big part in changing how teams used relief pitchers in the 1960s. His manager Gene Mauch once said, “He has a rubber arm, he makes the batters hit the ball on the ground, and he has the ideal temperament and confidence.”

The Philadelphia Phillies relied on his durability. He’d pitch in four, five, sometimes even six games in a row and still look sharp. Not many guys could handle that kind of workload.

His screwball was something else. Baldschun described it as different from most, saying, “Most screwballs break on the same plane like a slider,” but his “drops like a curveball thrown overhanded by a left-hander.” Stan Musial, of all people, supposedly said the pitch could “humiliate” even the best hitters of the time.

In his rookie season, Baldschun led the National League in appearances with 65 games. He became one of the decade’s top bullpen workhorses, showing up in 457 games and pitching 704 innings.

Retirement in 1970

Baldschun played his last season in 1970 with the San Diego Padres. He went to spring training, but the team released him on April 5, 1970, and sent him to Salt Lake City as a player-coach.

His 1969 season with San Diego turned out to be his final full year. The veteran relief pitcher appeared in 61 games and picked up seven wins for the new franchise. That was a strong way to finish up his major league career.

After his playing days, Baldschun naturally moved into coaching, like a lot of veterans do. His experience and understanding of pitching made him a great resource for younger players.

Honors and Later Recognition

Baldschun never picked up any major individual awards, but people in baseball definitely noticed his impact. For five years starting in 1961, he was seen as one of the most important relief pitchers around.

Baseball historians have pointed out his place in the evolution of modern relief pitching. The way he pitched so often and stayed effective helped set the standard for future closers.

Baldschun passed away on June 6, 2023, at age 86 in Green Bay after battling leukemia for a long time. Tributes poured in from baseball circles, recognizing everything he brought to the game.

The Society for American Baseball Research documented his career in detail, highlighting his influence on the Philadelphia Phillies and the broader changes in relief pitching during the 1960s.

Personal Life and Passing

Jack Edward Baldschun built a full life after baseball, settling in Green Bay, Wisconsin with his family. He fought leukemia in his later years and passed away in June 2023 at age 86.

Family and Personal Interests

Baldschun married Charlotte Kolbe on April 10, 1958, after meeting her in Wausau, Wisconsin during his minor league days. The two eloped in Savannah, Georgia while traveling back from spring training.

They had two kids, Kim and Brad. Kim was born in May 1960 in Columbia, South Carolina, and Brad arrived in November 1965 near Philadelphia.

When he retired from baseball in 1970, Baldschun moved the family to Green Bay. He worked with his brother-in-law Charles Kolbe in construction before switching to a sales job at Lumber Dealers Supply.

Jack stayed with Lumber Dealers Supply for over 25 years and retired in 1998. He and Charlotte loved to travel, play golf, and spend winters as snowbirds in Florida.

After Charlotte died in 2010, Baldschun met Bonnie VandenBergh-Lokken through grief counseling. They married on October 17, 2015, and kept up the traveling and winter trips to Bradenton, Florida.

Battle with Leukemia

Jack Edward Baldschun fought leukemia and other health issues in his final years. The illness gradually wore him down as he got into his 80s.

His wife Bonnie was always there for him, caring for him during treatments and hospital stays.

Baldschun got care from several Green Bay medical centers. The Aurora BayCare Medical Center’s fourth-floor nurses and the Vince Lombardi Cancer Center provided support and treatment.

He passed away on Tuesday morning, June 6, 2023, at a local hospital. Baldschun was 86 years old.

Remembrance and Tributes

People always remembered Baldschun as a storyteller. He loved cooking, playing the piano, and cracking jokes.

Family and friends often mentioned how he’d call everyone a “turkey” at least once in every conversation. It was kind of his signature thing.

He leaves behind his wife, Bonnie, his daughter Kim, and his son Brad with Brad’s wife, Julie. His grandsons, Alex and Nick, are also among those who survive him, along with five nieces.

Key Survivors:

• Wife: Bonnie Baldschun
• Daughter: Kim Baldschun (Allouez)
• Son: Brad Baldschun (Cape Coral, FL)
• Grandsons: Alex and Nick Baldschun

Malcore Funeral Home hosted the visitation services on June 12, 2023. The funeral service happened at Our Saviour Lutheran Church on June 13, and they buried him at Woodlawn Cemetery.

His family wanted to thank the medical staff who cared for him during his last struggle with leukemia.