Larry Jaster – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Larry Jaster isn’t a name you hear every day in baseball circles, but he pulled off something so wild against one of the sport’s most iconic teams that you can’t help but remember him. This lefty carved out a seven-season run in Major League Baseball from 1965 to 1972, pitching for the St. Louis Cardinals, Montreal Expos, and Atlanta Braves. Plenty of players drift in and out of the league without much fuss, but Jaster left behind one of baseball’s more bizarre and impressive stories.

Back in 1966, Jaster did the unthinkable—he shut out the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers five straight times in a single season. That streak, against a lineup stacked with talent, briefly made this unassuming Michigan kid a legend. He reminded everyone that sometimes, even a guy with modest skills can pull off greatness if the stars line up.

Jaster’s story is really one of grit and surprise. He started out as an undrafted free agent out of Midland High School and kept at it until his last pitch in 1972. His path mirrors so many others who gave everything to the game. Later, he moved into coaching, showing how a baseball life can keep going even after the playing days end.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Larry Edward Jaster was born January 13, 1944, in Midland, Michigan, to Edward Joseph and Bernice (Wendt) Jaster. He showed his athletic chops early, playing a bunch of sports before zoning in on baseball and eventually signing with the St. Louis Cardinals for a $50,000 bonus.

Childhood and Hometown

Jaster grew up in Midland, Michigan, which is best known for being the home of Dow Chemical Company. His dad, Edward Joseph, worked for Dow before passing away when Larry was just nine.

After his father died, Larry’s mom, Bernice, remarried. His stepdad also worked for Dow Chemical, so the family’s ties to the company just kept going. The town’s industrial vibe shaped Larry’s early years and gave his family some stability when things got tough.

Larry was the older of two brothers, and both of them ended up as pro baseball pitchers. His younger brother Danny, almost three years younger, eventually joined the Cardinals organization too.

The Jasters kept their Dow Chemical connection strong throughout Larry’s youth. Danny even left baseball later on for a solid job with Dow back in Midland. That hometown employer, for better or worse, always loomed large in their lives.

High School and College Achievements

Larry went to Midland High School and quickly stood out as a multi-sport athlete. He was a force in both baseball and football, which got college recruiters and pro scouts to take notice.

On the baseball field, he played American Legion ball against guys who’d go on to the majors. One of them, Alex Johnson, later became his teammate with the Cardinals.

He was just as impressive in football. His play on the gridiron brought in a bunch of college scholarship offers. He seemed pretty interested in Michigan State University and nearly went that route.

When Larry made his major league debut on September 17, 1965, he became the first Midland High grad to reach the big leagues. That was a big deal for both his school and his hometown.

Path to Professional Baseball

Larry’s jump from amateur to pro ball really came down to money. Even though he had college football scholarships lined up, the pull of professional baseball was just too strong.

Several big league teams wanted him. He got bonus offers between $25,000 and $40,000 from different clubs.

The Cardinals won him over when scout Mo Mozzali put $50,000 on the table. Larry later admitted that “until the money talked,” he was set on Michigan State.

That signing bonus changed everything for the Jaster family. Larry didn’t hesitate to join the Cardinals, kicking off his pro career before the 1962 season as an amateur free agent.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Larry Jaster pitched seven seasons in the majors from 1965 to 1972, finishing with a 35-33 record and a 3.65 ERA over 139 games. He started with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he made headlines for shutting out the Dodgers five times in 1966. After that, he moved to the Montreal Expos and tossed the first pitch in Canadian MLB history, then wrapped things up with the Atlanta Braves.

MLB Debut with St. Louis Cardinals

Jaster debuted in the majors on September 17, 1965, facing the Los Angeles Dodgers at just 21 years old. The Cardinals had picked him up as an undrafted free agent back in January 1962 after he attended Northwood University.

He made a splash right away. In 1965, Jaster went 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA, and all three of his starts were complete game wins. He showed he could go deep into games.

The next season, 1966, really put him on the map. He posted an 11-5 record with a 3.26 ERA and tied for fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.

Career Highlights with St. Louis:

• Five shutouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966
• World Series appearances in 1967 and 1968
• Won the World Series in 1967
• Nearly threw a no-hitter on May 31, 1968, against the New York Mets

People started calling him “The Dodger Killer” for those five shutouts against the NL champs. That run really set him apart.

Transition to Montreal Expos

The Montreal Expos picked Jaster 47th overall in the 1968 MLB expansion draft after the World Series. That move changed everything for him and put him in the record books.

On April 14, 1969, he threw the first pitch in a Major League regular season game in Canada. The Expos beat his old Cardinals team 8-7 at Jarry Park in Montreal.

Jaster didn’t have much luck in his only season with Montreal. In that historic first game, he gave up seven runs in just 3.2 innings, though only two were earned. He really struggled with his fielding, too.

1969 Season Stats:

• Made six of his eight career errors
• Ended up with a .684 fielding percentage
• Didn’t get a decision in the first game

That year in Montreal was rough on him. His numbers dropped off compared to his days in St. Louis.

Final Years with Atlanta Braves

After 1969, the Expos traded Jaster to the Atlanta Braves for pitcher Jim Britton and minor league catcher Don Johnson. This gave him a shot at a fresh start with his third team.

Jaster pitched for Atlanta in 1970 and 1972, but didn’t appear in any games in 1971. The Braves used him mostly out of the bullpen at that point.

He became more of a relief arm in those final years. His experience and left-handed pitching still gave the Braves some extra options.

His time in Atlanta closed out a career that started with so much promise but faded as his performance dipped. The Braves still gave him a chance to pitch, even as things slowed down.

Retirement in 1972

Jaster played his last MLB game on October 4, 1972, against the Dodgers—the same team he once dominated. He was just 28 when he stepped away from the majors.

After leaving MLB, he played two more years with the Richmond Braves, Atlanta’s Triple-A club. He officially retired from baseball at 30 in 1974.

Final Career Stats:

• Win-Loss Record: 35-33
• ERA: 3.65
• Strikeouts: 313
• Games: 139

Pitchers back then often retired early if their arms gave out or their stuff faded. Even though his run was short, those five shutouts against the Dodgers in 1966 became his claim to fame.

Historic 1966 Season and Dodgers Dominance

Jaster’s 1966 season is the stuff of legend, thanks to his wild run of five straight shutouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers. That tied a major league record and overshadowed a pennant-winning Dodgers squad with Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale.

Shutout Streak Against Los Angeles Dodgers

During 1966, Jaster did something nobody else had pulled off—he threw five consecutive shutouts against the Dodgers. That equaled a record set by Grover Cleveland Alexander way back in 1916.

The 22-year-old southpaw gave up just 24 singles in those five complete games. His last shutout came on September 28, 1966, with a 2-0 win for the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Jaster didn’t use any fancy tricks. He just stuck with high fastballs and got inside the Dodgers’ heads. His teammates called him “The Creeper” for his quiet style, but after that run, everyone started calling him the “Dodger Killer.”

The timing made it even crazier. The Dodgers were right in the middle of a tight pennant race when Jaster shut them down again and again.

Comparison with Other Great Pitchers

Sandy Koufax, watching from the other dugout, couldn’t help but be impressed. “Jaster makes it look so easy,” Koufax said. “Was he impressive? He’s better than impressive. What’s the next adjective?”

Only two other pitchers in the modern era had managed five shutouts against one team in a season. Neither did it consecutively or against a team that would win the league.

Grover Cleveland Alexander last did it in 1916. Alexander’s widow even sent Jaster a letter when he matched the record.

Some reporters started comparing Larry and his brother Danny to the legendary Cardinals duo Paul and Dizzy Dean. Maybe that’s a stretch, but it’s fun to think about.

National League Pennant Context

The 1966 NL pennant race made Jaster’s feat even more jaw-dropping. The Dodgers won the pennant that year, but they went 0-5 against Jaster.

If you take out Jaster’s games, the Dodgers actually went 10-3 against St. Louis. That really shows how thoroughly he had their number.

The Cardinals finished 1966 at 83-79, landing in fifth place in the 10-team National League. The Dodgers took the pennant, even though Jaster blanked them five times.

Jaster’s big games came at key moments in the race. That September 28 shutout happened when the Dodgers were trying to pull away from their rivals.

The Dodgers’ rotation had Hall of Famers like Koufax and Drysdale, plus Claude Osteen and Don Sutton. Still, none of them could do what Jaster did to a single opponent.

Role and Impact on Team Dynamics

Jaster’s spot in the Cardinals’ organization stirred up plenty of waves in the pitching staff during the mid-1960s. His rise as a steady starter forced the team to make some tough roster calls, and his knack for shutting down the Dodgers gave the Cardinals a real edge in big games.

Position in Cardinals Pitching Rotation

Jaster had to battle for his place in the Cardinals rotation. He competed with veterans and other young arms, and the team had to make choices about keeping older guys like Curt Simmons and Bob Purkey or letting new talent like Jaster and Nelson Briles step in.

His demotion to Triple-A Tulsa in 1966 stirred up some drama. Pitching coach Joe Becker, who’d spent a decade working with the Dodgers’ staff, saw Jaster as a key building block for the future.

Becker was so against the demotion that he ended up resigning at the end of the season. That’s how much he believed in Jaster.

When Jaster came back from the minors, he started out in relief but soon earned a permanent rotation spot. His 11-5 record in 1966, with those five Dodgers shutouts, proved Becker had a point.

Collaboration with Bob Gibson and Ray Washburn

Jaster worked with future Hall of Famer Bob Gibson during the Cardinals’ championship years. In 1967, Gibson missed two months with an injury, and Jaster stepped up, making 23 starts that season.

He and Gibson respected each other. When Gibson came back in September 1967, the team moved Jaster to the bullpen. “I hated to get out of the rotation,” Jaster admitted, “but I was glad to see Gibson back. He’ll beat you some way, or die trying.”

Ray Washburn was both a competitor and a teammate for Jaster. Both left-handers battled for the fifth rotation spot entering 1968, along with Mike Torrez.

That competition really pushed them. Washburn and Jaster both got regular starts, though Jaster’s 9-13 record in 1968 hinted his career was slipping.

Teammates and Coaching Staff Influence

Jaster grew a lot with help from experienced coaches in the minors. Under manager Vernon Rapp and coach Jim Konstanty at Tulsa, he worked on his curveball and changeup during the key 1965 season.

His teammates called him “The Creeper” because he kept to himself. He wasn’t loud like some of the other Cardinals, but that didn’t make him any less effective.

When Al Jackson struggled in 1967, Jaster got his shot. The team put Jaster back in the starting rotation in June, and he stayed there through September.

The Cardinals had a deep pitching staff, including prospects like Steve Carlton and Nelson Briles. That depth made competition fierce, which raised everyone’s game, but it also meant Jaster didn’t always get a long look.

Pitching Style and Key Stats

Larry Jaster made his name with a heavy fastball that went against the usual advice about high strikes. His stats show both some impressive highs and the tough times after a shoulder injury in 1968.

Signature Pitches and Approach

Jaster’s approach was simple but worked well during his best years. He leaned almost entirely on his fastball, throwing it high in the strike zone.

“He did it almost entirely with one pitch, the fastball,” Cardinals catcher Tim McCarver said. Most high fastballs are light, but Jaster’s felt heavy.

Batters couldn’t hit it hard. Instead, they popped up lazy fly balls. That made his high-strike approach effective, even against strong hitters.

“Most high fastballs are light, that’s why they say keep the ball down,” McCarver explained. “His high fastball tended to be heavy.”

Jaster barely walked anyone and kept quick runners off base. His style really worked against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who relied on speed and small-ball tactics.

The shoulder injury in 1968 took away his fastball edge. “When I lost my fastball, basically I had a problem,” Jaster said. Without a good slider or changeup like Steve Carlton, he couldn’t adjust.

Analysis of Career ERA and Shutouts

Jaster’s career ERA of 3.65 only tells so much. He peaked in 1966, going 11-5 with five shutouts.

All five shutouts came against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He tied for the National League lead in shutouts that year. No one else has ever thrown five straight shutouts against one team.

Against the Dodgers, he was almost untouchable. Over 45 innings, he gave up just 24 hits, all singles. He struck out 31 and walked only eight.

The Dodgers hit just .157 off him. Maury Wills and Willie Davis, who stole 59 bases combined in 1966, managed just 5-for-31 against Jaster.

After the shoulder injury, everything changed for him. Through July 1968, Jaster went 7-4. After that, he went 2-9 the rest of the year and 5-17 in his final seasons.

Complete Game Performances

Jaster threw six complete games in his standout 1966 season. Five were shutouts, all against the Dodgers.

His complete games showed off his stamina and command. Those five Dodger shutouts averaged just 2 hours and 14 minutes each.

Game details from his streak:

• April 25: Beat Claude Osteen 2-0 at Los Angeles
• July 3: Defeated Don Drysdale 2-0 at Los Angeles
• July 29: Beat Drysdale again 4-0 in St. Louis
• August 19: Topped Osteen 4-0 at Los Angeles
• September 28: Beat Don Sutton 2-0 in St. Louis

His shutout run against the Dodgers actually stretched beyond 1966. It lasted 52⅔ innings over three seasons, ending on April 14, 1967.

Jim Lefebvre finally broke the streak with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. Jaster still won that game 8-4, keeping his reputation as a Dodger killer even after allowing a run.

Life After Baseball and Legacy

Larry Jaster moved from playing to coaching and teaching roles in baseball. His incredible 1966 run against the Dodgers pretty much secured his spot in baseball lore.

His work after retiring focused on helping young pitchers and staying close to the game he loved.

Personal Life and Family

Jaster married his high school sweetheart, Peggy, while he played in the minors. Peggy stood by him through all the ups and downs of his career.

His family had deep ties to Midland, Michigan. Both his father and stepfather worked at Dow Chemical Company. After Jaster lost his father at age nine, his stepfather stepped in to help raise him.

Larry’s younger brother, Danny, also chased a baseball dream. The Cardinals signed Danny in 1964, and people started comparing the brothers to the famous Deans.

But Danny’s baseball path got interrupted by military service and college. Eventually, he left the game for a good job at Dow Chemical in Midland. He never made it past Triple-A, unlike Larry, who reached the majors.

Post-Retirement Activities

Jaster didn’t leave baseball after 1972. He stayed involved as a coach and instructor, sharing what he knew with active players.

His biggest post-playing job came as a pitching coordinator for the Atlanta Braves. There, he worked with young pitchers throughout the Braves’ minor league system.

As of 2006, Jaster was still coaching in the minors. His 13 years in pro baseball, including seven in the majors, gave him plenty to teach the next generation.

He passed on lessons from mentors like Jim Konstanty and Vernon Rapp, the same coaches who helped him back in Tulsa.

Legacy in Baseball History

Jaster built his legacy around that wild 1966 run—five consecutive shutouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Only two pitchers had ever pulled that off in the post-1900 era, and Grover Cleveland Alexander was the last guy to throw five shutouts against a single team, way back in 1916.

Historical Significance:

• First player to throw five consecutive shutouts against one team
• Did this against the league champions
• Allowed just 24 hits across those five games

Sandy Koufax sat in the other dugout during those games and watched it unfold. He later said, “Jaster makes it look so easy,” and honestly, that’s high praise coming from Koufax. “Was he impressive? He’s better than impressive.”

Cardinals Magazine ran a piece about Jaster’s 1966 season not too long ago. That alone shows just how much people still talk about what he did.

Even though his career record ended up at 35-33 with a 3.64 ERA, those five shutouts against the Dodgers pretty much guarantee his spot in baseball history.

When he tied the single-season record, Grover Cleveland Alexander’s widow sent him a letter to congratulate him. That moment connected Jaster to one of the game’s true legends, and it really shows how rare his accomplishment was.