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

Larry Stahl isn’t exactly a household name in baseball history, but his ten-year stint in Major League Baseball shows the story of a dedicated pro who managed to carve out a unique spot in the game. Born in Belleville, Illinois, Stahl played outfield and pinch hitter from 1964 to 1973, suiting up for four different teams during a pretty transformative era for baseball.

Stahl became one of the most frequently used pinch hitters of his time, appearing in that role 287 times throughout his career while playing for the Kansas City Athletics, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and Cincinnati Reds. He never really established himself as a regular starter, with his highest single-season at-bat total reaching just 312. Still, Stahl found his niche as a reliable bench player and situational hitter that managers trusted in the big moments.

He peaked during the 1973 season with the Cincinnati Reds, playing his final games in the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets. Stahl’s journey through pro baseball gives us a look at the role of utility players and just how important depth can be for teams in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Early Life and Background

Larry Floyd Stahl was born on June 29, 1941, in Belleville, Illinois. He would go on to spend ten years in Major League Baseball.

His journey from small-town Illinois to the majors started when the Kansas City Athletics signed him as an amateur free agent in 1960.

Birthplace and Family Roots

Larry Floyd Stahl entered the world in Belleville, Illinois, a city tucked in the southwestern part of the state near St. Louis, Missouri. Born on June 29, 1941, Stahl grew up in the thick of World War II and the post-war boom.

As a kid, he developed into a left-handed batter and thrower while growing up in Illinois. Belleville gave him a solid foundation for his baseball journey.

Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 175 pounds, Stahl had the physical tools that would serve him as a professional outfielder. That left-handed swing would become one of his trademarks throughout his career.

Path to Professional Baseball

The Kansas City Athletics saw something in Stahl and signed him as an amateur free agent in 1960. That move kicked off his professional baseball journey at just 19.

Stahl spent four years working his way through the Athletics’ minor league system, sharpening his skills. He earned his major league debut with a steady, patient approach and consistent play.

On September 11, 1964, Stahl debuted with the Kansas City Athletics at age 23. He appeared as a pinch-hitter in his first game, going 0-for-1 against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Wally Bunker in a 5-2 loss at Memorial Stadium.

Eight days later, on September 19, 1964, Stahl notched his first big league hit at Yankee Stadium. He hit a ground-rule double off Ralph Terry, pinch-hitting for pitcher Orlando Peña in the sixth inning.

Major League Baseball Career: 1964–1973

Larry Stahl played ten seasons in the majors as a versatile outfielder, moving between four different teams and establishing himself as a reliable pinch-hitter. His career spanned from his debut with the Kansas City Athletics to his final appearance with the Cincinnati Reds in the 1973 playoffs.

Debut and Initial Years

Stahl made his MLB debut on September 11, 1964, with the Kansas City Athletics at 23. The left-handed batter from Belleville, Illinois, entered pro baseball as an outfielder with solid defense.

He didn’t get a ton of playing time early on. Stahl never became a regular starter, with his highest single-season at-bat total topping out at 312.

The Athletics gave Stahl his first taste of the big leagues. During those years, he developed the skills that would make him a go-to role player.

He finished his career with a .232 batting average, which kind of shows his role as a situational player instead of an everyday starter. Even with modest offensive numbers, managers valued his left-handed bat in certain game situations.

Team Transitions and Roles

Stahl bounced around to four different teams during his decade in the majors: the Kansas City Athletics, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, and Cincinnati Reds. That kind of movement was pretty common for role players back then.

He really leaned into the pinch-hitter role, appearing 287 times in that spot during his career. Managers relied on him as a reliable bench option for big moments.

In 1972 with the San Diego Padres, Stahl played a part in baseball history. His single in the ninth inning of a doubleheader gave Nate Colbert another at-bat, letting Colbert tie Stan Musial’s record with five home runs in a single day.

That same year, Stahl drew a controversial walk from Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas on September 2. The walk broke up Pappas’s perfect game bid, but Pappas still finished the no-hitter by retiring the next batter.

Offensive and Defensive Contributions

Over his 730-game career, Stahl hit 36 home runs and drove in 163 runs. Most of his offense came from situational hitting, not from consistent power.

At 6 feet, 175 pounds, Stahl had the tools for outfield play. He played multiple outfield positions and held his own defensively.

He made his final major league appearance during the 1973 National League Championship Series with the Cincinnati Reds. Stahl went 2-for-4 in the series against the New York Mets, coming off the bench as a pinch-hitter in all four games.

Those playoff appearances capped off his playing career on September 30, 1973. Even in the postseason, he showed the clutch hitting that had made him valuable for so many years.

Teams Played For

Larry Stahl played for four Major League Baseball teams during his decade-long career from 1964 to 1973. He started with the Kansas City Athletics, spent two seasons with the New York Mets, had his longest stretch with the San Diego Padres, and finished up with the Cincinnati Reds.

Kansas City Athletics Tenure

Stahl broke into the majors with the Kansas City Athletics on September 11, 1964, as a pinch hitter. The lefty outfielder spent three seasons with the Athletics from 1964 to 1966.

During his time in Kansas City, Stahl mainly served as a backup outfielder and pinch hitter. He was still figuring things out as a pro during those early years.

The Athletics gave Stahl his first big league experience. That helped him become a utility player who could contribute in multiple outfield spots.

New York Mets Years

Stahl joined the New York Mets for the 1967 and 1968 seasons. He played 124 games over two years with the team and logged 338 at-bats.

With the Mets, he showed some consistency at the plate. Stahl kept a .237 batting average during his New York run, picking up 80 hits, 12 doubles, and 4 home runs.

He mostly played center field for the Mets, appearing there in 62 games across both years. He also filled in at right and left field, showing his flexibility.

In 1967, Stahl played 71 games with 155 at-bats. The next year, he played 53 games but had 183 at-bats, with more plate appearances despite fewer games.

San Diego Padres Career

Stahl’s longest run with any team came with the San Diego Padres from 1969 to 1972. Those four seasons were probably the most stable chapter of his career.

The Padres used Stahl as a regular backup outfielder and pinch hitter. He played all three outfield spots, giving the team some reliable depth.

During his San Diego years, Stahl stuck to his utility role, helping out as a starter or off the bench when needed. He filled in when regular outfielders were hurt or needed a break.

His Padres tenure lined up with the team’s early years, since they joined the National League in 1969. Stahl was there during those first seasons as the franchise found its footing.

Cincinnati Reds and Final Season

Stahl wrapped up his Major League career with the Cincinnati Reds in 1973. That final season marked the end of his decade in pro baseball.

The Reds used him in the familiar backup outfielder and pinch hitter role. He brought some veteran presence to a team that was pushing toward championship contention.

Stahl played his last game on September 30, 1973, against the San Francisco Giants. He had one at-bat in that final appearance, closing out his career at age 32.

Cincinnati was the fourth and last stop for Stahl in the majors. The Reds gave him a final shot to contribute to a contender before he stepped away from the game.

Notable Moments and Legacy

Larry Stahl’s career had its share of memorable moments, especially the controversial walk that broke up a perfect game in 1972. He made his mark as a pinch-hitter and in the postseason, and those moments really defined his contribution to the sport.

Breaking Up Milt Pappas’ Perfect Game

On September 2, 1972, at Wrigley Field, Stahl found himself in the middle of one of baseball’s most debated moments. Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas had retired the first 26 batters, just one out away from a perfect game.

Stahl stepped in as the final obstacle. With the count at two balls and two strikes, home plate umpire Bruce Froemming called the next two pitches balls. Stahl walked, and the perfect game was gone.

The controversy? It was all about the strike zone:

• Both pitches were ridiculously close to the plate
• Pappas argued the calls, and who could blame him?
• Baseball historians still argue if those pitches were strikes

The walk became one of the most talked-about in baseball history. Pappas got the next batter for the no-hitter, but that perfect game slipped away.

This moment kind of defined Stahl’s legacy. While he had a solid ten-year career, breaking up the perfect game is what most people remember.

Role as a Pinch-Hitter

Stahl really found his groove as a pinch-hitter, especially in his later seasons. His left-handed swing made him a good option against right-handed pitchers in big spots.

During the 1973 season with Cincinnati, Stahl came off the bench a lot as a pinch-hitter. He had a knack for delivering in pressure situations, which made him a nice asset for manager Sparky Anderson.

Why was he good at it?

• Lefty bat against righties
• Plenty of experience in tight spots
• Solid plate discipline and contact skills

The role just fit him. He understood the game and could adjust to different pitchers, even without regular at-bats.

Postseason Appearances

Stahl got his postseason shot in the 1973 National League Championship Series with Cincinnati. The Reds faced the New York Mets, his old team, in a wild five-game series.

In Game 3 at Shea Stadium, Stahl singled as a pinch-hitter off Jerry Koosman. That hit came just before the famous Bud Harrelson–Pete Rose brawl that took over the headlines.

Game 5 brought another clutch moment. Stahl singled off a tiring Tom Seaver in the ninth, made it to third base, but got stranded as the Mets won 7-2 and took the pennant.

Those playoff moments showed Stahl’s value as a veteran. His experience and clutch hitting made him a key contributor during Cincinnati’s playoff run, even though the Reds didn’t make the World Series.

Career Achievements and Statistics

Larry Stahl finished with a .232 career batting average, 36 home runs, and 163 RBIs across 730 games in his decade-long MLB career from 1964 to 1973. He drew a fair number of walks, and his defensive versatility across the outfield showed his worth as a reliable role player.

Batting Averages and Home Runs

Stahl hit for a career batting average of .232, which put him below the league average for his era. Still, he had stretches where he looked pretty solid at the plate.

His best offensive run happened in 1966 with Kansas City. That year, he posted a .250 average and knocked 5 home runs in 119 games.

The outfielder struggled to stay consistent at the plate. In 1970 with San Diego, he hit just .182 over 52 games.

Stahl scattered 36 career home runs across ten seasons. His top power year came in 1965, when he hit 4 home runs for Kansas City.

He also managed 8 home runs in 1971 with the Padres, which was his second-highest single-season total.

With 163 career RBIs, Stahl mostly filled a utility role instead of being a main run producer. His best RBI season was 1971, when he drove in 36 runs.

Bases on Balls and On-Base Skills

Stahl showed decent plate discipline over his career, drawing 142 walks in 1,889 plate appearances. His walk rate picked up with the Padres, where he drew 76 walks in 923 plate appearances during four seasons.

His career on-base percentage of .292 wasn’t flashy, but it did show he could get on base beyond just hits. In 1973 with Cincinnati, he posted his best on-base season, reaching a .315 OBP in limited chances.

The lefty struck out 357 times in his career. He kept his strikeout-to-walk ratio reasonable, which isn’t something every hitter manages. In 1971, he walked 26 times and struck out 59 times, showing off his plate discipline.

Defensive Highlights

Stahl brought most of his value through defensive versatility in the outfield. He played all three outfield spots, but spent most of his time in left and center field.

San Diego appreciated his defensive skills, keeping him around for four seasons from 1969 to 1972. He also took some turns at first base, proving he could adapt as a utility player.

The Illinois native’s fielding ability helped keep his career going, even when his bat cooled off. Teams valued his defensive reliability, using him as a bench player or spot starter when they needed someone steady.

Retirement and Life After Baseball

Larry Stahl wrapped up his professional baseball career in 1973 with the Cincinnati Reds after nine seasons in the majors. After that, he switched gears completely, going to work for the Peabody Coal Company until he retired from that job too.

Transition Out of Professional Sports

Stahl walked away from baseball for good when his playing days ended in 1973. Instead of sticking around the sport as a coach or front office guy like a lot of former players do, he took a totally different route.

He landed a job with the Peabody Coal Company, one of the biggest coal mining outfits in the country. That’s a pretty big career shift from pro sports to industrial work, right?

From the looks of it, Stahl made the transition work. He stayed with Peabody Coal for years, building a whole second career in a brand new field.

Eventually, Stahl retired from his position at Peabody Coal Company. Honestly, his ability to carve out a new path after baseball really shows the kind of work ethic and determination he brought to the game.

Influence on Baseball Community

Stahl made his biggest mark on baseball history while he was still playing. He broke up a perfect game attempt, and honestly, that moment still sparks debate among fans.

He once said his proudest moment was hitting the longest home run at Kansas City in 1965. That memory seemed to stick with him for years.

Stahl built real friendships with his teammates during his career. When someone asked him later on, he named Cito Gaston as his favorite Padres teammate.

Funny enough, Gaston later became a successful manager. Stahl clearly had an eye for talent.

He played through the expansion era, moving between four different teams. That kind of journeyman path was pretty common back then, especially for players like him.