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

Jack Kramer pitched in the major leagues for over a decade, from 1939 to 1951. He came from New Orleans and played for four different teams, seeing baseball change dramatically during World War II and its aftermath.

Kramer’s most memorable season was 1944. He helped the St. Louis Browns win their first and only American League pennant, pitching a crucial one-hitter against the Chicago White Sox and keeping a perfect 0.00 ERA in the World Series. In 1948, he reached another high point with the Boston Red Sox, putting up an 18-5 record during their pennant chase. The team, though, lost in a playoff against Cleveland.

Kramer didn’t have an easy start. He struggled with control, but eventually became a dependable starter. His story feels familiar to a lot of players who battled through tough times and stuck with it.

He served in the military, got traded in blockbuster deals, and faced personal challenges that shaped him and the teams he joined during baseball’s golden age.

Jack Kramer’s Baseball Career Overview

Jack Kramer pitched in Major League Baseball for 12 seasons, from 1939 to 1951. He finished with a career record of 95 wins and 103 losses in 322 games.

He made his mark with four different teams during his time in the majors.

Major League Debut and Final Game

Jack Kramer debuted in MLB on April 25, 1939, at age 21 with the St. Louis Browns. He faced the Detroit Tigers, pitched a complete game, and picked up the win.

That first game kicked off a 12-year career in pro baseball. Kramer became the 8,648th player in major league history to make his debut.

He played his final game on August 22, 1951, more than 12 years after his first. By retirement, Kramer had earned a reputation as a reliable pitcher who went through both tough stretches and big moments.

Teams Played For

Kramer suited up for four teams during his MLB career:

• St. Louis Browns (1939-1941, 1943-1947): He spent most of his career here.
• Boston Red Sox (1948-1949): The Red Sox picked him up in a huge trade in November 1947.
• New York Giants (1950-1951): He had a short stint near the end of his playing days.
• New York Yankees (1951): This was his last team before he retired.

He played the longest with the Browns, including their 1944 pennant-winning season. His best individual season came with Boston in 1948, when he went 18-5.

Position and Playing Style

John Henry Kramer stood 6’2″ and weighed 190 pounds. He batted and threw right-handed.

He mostly worked as a starting pitcher. His top season was 1944, when he finished 17-13 with a 2.49 ERA for the Browns.

Kramer was competitive and really hated getting pulled from games. He started out throwing mostly fastballs, but as he got older, he improved his control and added more pitches.

He made the All-Star team twice, both times with the Browns in the 1940s.

Notable Seasons and Achievements

Jack Kramer hit his stride during the 1944 World Series run with the St. Louis Browns. His 1946 All-Star nod and several standout games showed he could deliver as a pitcher when it counted.

1944 World Series and the St. Louis Browns

Kramer’s best season was 1944. He led the St. Louis Browns to their only pennant, finishing the regular season 17-13 with a 2.49 ERA in 257 innings.

He started the season with a big opening day win against the Detroit Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Kramer outdueled Dizzy Trout 2-1, giving up just a ninth-inning homer to Pinky Higgins.

That win kicked off a nine-game streak for the Browns. Kramer picked up wins in the fifth and ninth games of the run, including a 5-2 win over the White Sox where he even hit a two-run homer.

In the 1944 World Series against the Cardinals, Kramer shined in Game 3. He struck out 10 and allowed only two unearned runs in a 6-2 win, putting the Browns ahead 2-1 in the series.

The Cardinals took the series 4-2, but Kramer didn’t allow an earned run in 11 innings.

All-Star Honors and Awards

Kramer made his only All-Star team in 1946 while pitching for the Browns. The team finished seventh with just 66 wins, but Kramer was one of the few bright spots.

He led the team with 13 wins and 11 losses, posted a 3.19 ERA, and threw three shutouts. The American League All-Star nod recognized his steady performance in a rough year for the Browns.

At Fenway Park, manager Steve O’Neill put Kramer on the mound for the last three innings of the American League’s 12-0 win. Kramer tossed three hitless innings, striking out Phil Cavarretta, Marty Marion, and Del Ennis.

That game showed Kramer could handle the pressure on baseball’s biggest stage.

Memorable Games and Career Highlights

Kramer had a few games that really stood out. On September 16, 1944, he tossed a one-hitter against the White Sox, helping the Browns reclaim first place in a tight race.

He threw a no-hitter for the Toledo Mud Hens against Louisville on September 11, 1943. That outing probably helped turn his career around after early struggles.

After the trade to the Red Sox in 1948, Kramer put up his best numbers. He went 18-5 with 205 innings, leading the team as they chased the pennant.

The Red Sox brought in Kramer and Vern Stephens in a blockbuster deal with the Browns, trading seven players and $310,000 in cash. Both newcomers delivered, although the Red Sox lost the pennant in a one-game playoff against Cleveland.

Career Statistics and Pitching Performance

Jack Kramer finished with a 95-103 record and a 4.24 ERA over 12 seasons, striking out 613 in 1,637⅓ innings. He threw 14 shutouts and completed 88 games. Oddly, he never pitched in a World Series, even though he played for two pennant winners in 1951.

Win-Loss Record and Earned Run Average

Kramer wrapped up his career with 95 wins and 103 losses in 322 games. His 4.24 ERA reflected the high-scoring era of the 1940s.

He started 215 times. He had some consistency issues, ending up with more losses than wins, but he still made two All-Star teams.

Career Totals:

• Wins: 95
• Losses: 103
• ERA: 4.24
• Games: 322
• Starts: 215

His peak years were with the Browns in the mid-1940s. Kramer led the 1944 Browns as their ace.

Strikeouts, Walks, and Shutouts

Kramer struck out 613 batters in his 12-year career. He pitched 1,637⅓ innings and completed 88 games, which was pretty typical for pitchers in that era.

He threw 14 shutouts, showing he could dominate when he was on. Kramer also picked up seven saves.

He tossed 88 complete games, a sign of how managers used pitchers back then. He walked hitters at about an average rate for his time.

Pitching Statistics:

• Strikeouts: 613
• Complete Games: 88
• Shutouts: 14
• Saves: 7
• Innings Pitched: 1,637⅓

Postseason and Key Playoff Performances

Kramer played for two pennant-winning teams in 1951 but didn’t get into the World Series with either. He was with the New York Giants and the Yankees that year.

The Giants clinched the National League pennant after their famous playoff win over the Dodgers, but Kramer wasn’t on the World Series roster.

He joined the Yankees, who won the American League, but again, he didn’t make the World Series squad.

His best postseason shot was with the 1944 Browns. The team reached the World Series but lost to the Cardinals in six games.

Trades, Teams, and Influential Figures

Key trades and managers played a big role in Kramer’s 12-year career. The biggest shift came in 1947, when the Browns traded him to the Red Sox in a blockbuster deal that really changed things for him.

Major Trades and Transactions

The biggest trade of Kramer’s career happened on November 17, 1947. The Red Sox got him and shortstop Vern Stephens from the Browns.

Boston sent seven players the other way, including catchers Roy Partee and Don Palmer, infielder Eddie Pellagrini, pitchers Al Widmar, Jim Wilson, Joe Ostrowski, and outfielder Pete Layden.

They also paid $310,000 in cash, which was a massive amount back then.

The trade paid off fast for Boston. Kramer went 18-5 in 1948, leading all American League pitchers with a .783 winning percentage.

After arm problems in 1949, Boston let Kramer go. He signed with the New York Giants in 1950, and the Yankees picked him up in 1951 for his last season in the majors.

Managers and Teammates

Luke Sewell managed Kramer during his best years with the Browns. Sewell picked him to pitch the 1944 opener, even though Kramer’s record wasn’t great at the time.

Fred Haney was his first big league manager in 1939, leading the Browns to a rough 43-111 record.

Scout Ray Cahill worked closely with Kramer early on, helping him move from a three-quarters delivery to an overhand motion. That tweak improved his control.

Kramer roomed with utility infielder Ellis Clary at the Melbourne Hotel in St. Louis. Clary remembered Kramer calling his mom in New Orleans every night during the 1941 season.

He had a reputation for being super competitive and really didn’t want to leave games. In the dugout, he’d do a pretty good Bugs Bunny impression to keep teammates entertained.

Military Service and Impact on Playing Career

World War II interrupted Jack Kramer’s baseball career when he joined the U.S. Navy Seabees in 1943. This short but important military service came at a key point in his development as a pitcher.

World War II and the U.S. Navy Seabees

Kramer enlisted in the U.S. Navy Seabees in January 1943, right in the middle of World War II. The Seabees built airfields, roads, and military bases in combat zones.

He served just over four months and was discharged on May 14, 1943. That was pretty brief compared to many players of his era.

Before his service, Kramer struggled to stick with the Browns, failing in four previous chances to establish himself. Control problems kept him from becoming a regular part of the pitching staff.

Return to Baseball after the War

Kramer rejoined the Browns on June 22, 1943, just a little over a month after his military discharge. The timing worked out for him, since World War II had left teams scrambling for players and gave him another shot.

The war years really changed where Kramer’s career was headed. In 1944, he went 17-13 with a 2.49 ERA for the pennant-winning Browns. That season, he even threw a complete game to win Game 3 of the World Series against the Cardinals.

His time in the military lined up with his growth as a ballplayer. That brief service and the wartime player shortage opened the door for him to finally stick in the majors.

Early Life, Minor Leagues, and Personal Background

Jack Kramer’s path from New Orleans sandlots to the big leagues started back in 1918. He grew up in a family that loved baseball, and he made the switch from amateur catcher to professional pitcher during his years in the minors.

He spent those early years bouncing around different teams and leagues, sharpening his skills the hard way.

Youth and Amateur Baseball

John Henry Kramer was born January 5, 1918, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He grew up there and went to Warren Easton High School, where he started to stand out on the diamond.

As a teenager in 1934, Kramer caught for the Skelly Shamrocks, his American Legion team. His pitching career accidentally began in the second game of a doubleheader when he just hopped on the mound.

He didn’t really have a windup and only threw fastballs, but somehow he tossed a three-hit shutout. That game changed everything for him, and after that, pitching became his main focus.

In his last year at Warren Easton, Kramer caught the season opener. After that, he pitched the rest of the way and lost just one game. His success on the mound caught the eye of pro scouts, which set him up for the next step.

Minor League Development and Affiliations

Lenny Mock, a fellow New Orleanian who managed the Lafayette White Sox in the Class D Evangeline League, lined up a tryout for Kramer. The Lafayette club was a Browns affiliate, and Mock signed him for the 1936 season.

Kramer’s first pro season was tough. He struggled with control and almost got cut by Mock. Ray Cahill, a Browns scout, thought Kramer had something, so he told everyone to be patient.

Cahill put in a lot of work with Kramer, changing his delivery from a herky-jerky three-quarters motion to a more traditional overhand style. Even though he finished 7-11 with a 5.59 ERA in 1936, the Browns kept him around for another year.

That extra coaching made a difference. In his second season, Kramer improved to 12-9 with a 3.03 ERA and helped Lafayette tie for the pennant with the Rayne Rice Birds. He struck out 147 in 175 innings and earned a late promotion to the Des Moines Demons in the Class A Western League.

In 1938, he broke through with the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League. At just 20, Kramer won 20 games and lost 11, throwing 242 innings with only 201 hits allowed and a 2.49 ERA. That performance earned him a call to the majors.

Personality and Life off the Field

People noticed Kramer for his Hollywood-good looks and his love of sharp clothes. Teammates joked he couldn’t walk by a mirror without stopping to check himself out. He definitely stood out in a crowd.

In 1941, he roomed with utility infielder Ellis Clary at the Melbourne Hotel in St. Louis. Clary remembered how Jack called his mom in New Orleans every single night, which says a lot about his family ties.

Kramer kept things lively in the dugout with his comedy routines. He nailed a Bugs Bunny imitation. During the 1945 season, when Pete Gray, the one-armed outfielder, played for the Browns, Kramer would joke in his Bugs Bunny voice, “Eh, don’t look now, Doc, but there’s a one-armed man out there in center field.”

His competitive streak was well known. Kramer hated getting pulled from games he started and didn’t take heckling from the other dugout lightly. He’d even go after players or managers who tried to get under his skin.

Legacy, Later Years, and Recognition

Jack Kramer played through baseball’s World War II era and became a big part of the St. Louis Browns’ only pennant-winning season. After he retired in 1951, he went back to his roots in New Orleans and lived there until he passed away in 1995.

Reputation and Impact on Baseball History

People called him “Handsome Jack” because of his looks and his reputation as the best-dressed guy in baseball. He really did look like he belonged in Hollywood, especially in the 1940s.

His biggest moment came in the 1944 season. Kramer helped lead the Browns to their only American League pennant, going 17-13 with a 2.49 ERA. He pitched well in the World Series against the Cardinals, putting up a 0.00 ERA in 11 innings.

Kramer’s career stats show a 95-103 record, 613 strikeouts, and a 4.24 ERA in 322 appearances. He never grabbed an MVP or racked up many saves as a starter, but he did make the All-Star team in 1946.

Modern sites like Baseball Reference and Retrosheet keep detailed stats on Kramer’s career. You can see his consistency—he worked over 190 innings in six different seasons during his 12 years in the majors.

Post-Career Life and Death

After leaving pro baseball in 1951, Kramer headed back to New Orleans. He lived in Metairie and spent his later years out of the spotlight.

He stayed close to his hometown and family, just like he had during his playing days when he called his mom every night from the Melbourne Hotel in St. Louis.

Jack Kramer died on May 18, 1995, in Metairie at age 77. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans, the city where he first played ball as a teenager with the Skelly Shamrocks American Legion team.

Sources and Further Reading

Baseball Reference has loads of stats and game logs from Kramer’s 12-season career. You can check out detailed breakdowns of how he played for each team, from 1939 to 1951.

Retrosheet gives you play-by-play data for a bunch of Kramer’s games, especially his big 1944 season with the Browns. These records really help preserve the details from his World Series appearances and regular season highlights.

The Society for American Baseball Research put together a pretty thorough biographical piece about Kramer’s career. They dig into his minor league days and talk about how the war interrupted his time in baseball.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame Library in Cooperstown keeps a Jack Kramer file filled with newspaper clippings and old documents. If you’re curious, Find a Grave Memorial has more biographical info and burial details for fans and researchers.