Turk Lown – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Omar Joseph “Turk” Lown made his mark in baseball history during his 11 seasons in the majors, but his journey to the top was anything but typical. Born in Brooklyn in 1924, he got the nickname “Turk” because he loved turkey as a kid, and he eventually became one of the most effective relief pitchers of the late 1950s.

Lown walked away from professional baseball in 1962 at 38, right after helping the Chicago White Sox win their first pennant in 40 years thanks to his stellar bullpen work in 1959. He started out as a struggling pitcher and ended up as an All-Star closer, battling through early control issues and bouncing between teams until he found his place in the bullpen.

He served in the military during World War II and earned a Purple Heart at the Battle of the Bulge. Lown played for three different teams and went from wild starter to trusted closer. After baseball, he settled in Pueblo, Colorado, and worked as a postal carrier for more than 20 years, showing the same determination off the field as he did on it.

Early Life and Military Service

Growing up in Brooklyn, Turk Lown built his athletic foundation early, but his time in the military during World War II really tested his resilience. He earned recognition for his courage in combat.

Childhood in Brooklyn and Education

Omar Joseph Lown was born on May 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, to Omar Sr. and Mae Lown. His dad worked as a cook during World War I and held a bunch of different jobs around New York.

The family had German roots. Turk picked up his nickname thanks to his childhood love of turkey.

He had two older brothers, Carl and Bill. Turk always said Bill was the better athlete and ballplayer. Carl passed away from a heart attack at 50.

Turk went to Franklin K. Lane High School in Brooklyn. He stood out in both baseball and basketball, and local scouts noticed his talent in the amateur leagues.

In the summer of 1940, he played for the Ridgewood Bears in the Queens Alliance League. That league had over 125 teams at its height, and scouts loved to watch games there.

World War II and Battle of the Bulge

After his first pro season in 1942, Lown joined the U.S. Army. World War II cut short what looked like a promising baseball career.

He spent three years in the infantry. The Army sent him to Europe during some of the fiercest fighting of the war.

Lown fought in the Battle of the Bulge, Germany’s last big push on the Western Front. That battle lasted from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945.

He got seriously wounded there. German shrapnel hit his right thigh, which needed medical attention and affected his baseball game when he got back.

The war set his baseball progress back by three years, which are pretty important for a young athlete.

Purple Heart and Military Honors

Lown received the Purple Heart for his injury at the Battle of the Bulge. The award goes to service members wounded or killed in action.

The shrapnel wound to his right thigh lingered. When he came back to baseball in 1946, he dealt with arm trouble that limited what he could do.

His war injury led to arm surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Doctors needed to fix complications from his military service.

Because of the three-year gap, Lown didn’t get back to pro baseball until 1946. He was already 22 when he started again with Newport News in the Class-B Piedmont League.

Despite the lingering effects from the war, Lown’s time in the military showed the grit that stuck with him throughout his baseball career.

Professional Baseball Career Overview

Turk Lown’s baseball journey stretched over two decades. He started in the minors in 1942 and finally retired from the majors in 1962. He played for several teams, moving from the Dodgers’ farm system to becoming a top relief pitcher in Chicago.

Minor League Experiences

The Brooklyn Dodgers signed Lown as an amateur free agent in 1942, right after he finished at Brooklyn Technical High School. He jumped into their farm system right away.

World War II interrupted his baseball career, sending him to the Army as an infantryman. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and came home with a Purple Heart.

When he returned, Lown picked up where he left off in the Dodgers’ minor league system from 1946 to 1950. He sharpened his pitching skills and worked his way up.

He spent time in Pueblo, Colorado, playing in 1947 and 1948. That turned out to be a big deal later, since he met his future wife Violet Krizman there in 1947.

MLB Debut and Transition

The Chicago Cubs picked Lown in the Rule 5 draft in November 1950. That move took him out of the minors and into the majors—a huge step in his career.

He made his big-league debut on April 24, 1951, pitching for the Cubs. He was 26, finally making it after nearly a decade in pro baseball.

Lown adjusted well from the minors to the majors. His right-handed pitching and growing skills as a reliever made him a valuable addition to the Cubs.

That first season in 1951 kicked off his 11-year major league career, which ran from 1951 to 1962, except for a short break in 1955.

Roles and Teams Played For

Lown spent most of his big league career as a relief pitcher, showing up in 504 games across 11 seasons. Over time, he became one of the more reliable relievers of his era.

Teams and Tenure:

• Chicago Cubs (1951-1954, 1956-1958)
• Cincinnati Redlegs (1958)
• Chicago White Sox (1958-1962)

His best years came with the Chicago White Sox, where he helped the team win the 1959 pennant. That year, he led the American League with 15 saves and made the MLB All-Star Game.

He pitched in three games during the 1959 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and didn’t give up a single run, though the White Sox lost the series.

Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds, Lown was known for his high leg-kick delivery. He actually got better as he got older, with his best seasons coming after he turned 35.

Career Highlights and Achievements

Turk Lown’s biggest moments came with the Chicago White Sox, especially when he led the league in saves and helped them win the 1959 pennant. He seemed to get better with age, stepping up in big games.

Notable Seasons and Statistics

Lown’s stats show his shift from starter to reliever over 11 seasons. He finished with a 55-61 record, 73 saves, and appeared in 504 games, but started only 49.

His best year was 1959, when he led the American League with 15 saves. That put him among the top closers back when the role was just starting to get recognized.

After he turned 35, Lown’s numbers improved. He started out with the Cubs, and in his rookie year of 1951, he even threw his only career shutout.

In 1957, he pitched in more games than anyone else in the National League while with the Cubs. His ERA and strikeouts improved as he switched to relief work, and he found his stride as a closer with the White Sox.

1959 American League Pennant Run

The 1959 season was the high point of Lown’s career. He helped the White Sox win their first pennant since 1919, leading the league with 15 saves.

His steady relief pitching was crucial in the pennant race. Manager Al Lopez trusted him to close out tight games.

The White Sox leaned on Lown’s veteran presence during the season’s most stressful moments. Fans in Chicago got used to seeing his high leg kick when the game was on the line.

World Series Performances

The White Sox faced the Dodgers in the 1959 World Series, giving Lown the chance to show off his skills on baseball’s biggest stage. Even though the team lost in six games, it was still the peak of his career.

Lown got to pitch against National League hitters he’d seen before. His relief appearances proved his value as a closer, even when the pressure was at its highest.

That World Series was the biggest moment for both Lown and the White Sox during his time with them.

All-Star and League Leaderships

Lown made the 1959 MLB All-Star Game, thanks to his league-leading saves and overall performance. That was his only All-Star appearance.

He led the American League in saves in 1959, and earlier, he led the National League in games pitched in 1957 with the Cubs.

Those numbers show how durable and effective he was as a reliever. Both Chicago teams counted on him to pitch often and pitch well.

Retirement and Post-Baseball Life

Turk Lown wrapped up his major league career in 1962 at 38 and headed right back to Pueblo, Colorado, where he’d played ball back in 1947. He spent more than 20 years working as a mail carrier, raising his family, and staying close to the game he loved.

Life in Pueblo, Colorado

After retiring, Lown made Pueblo his permanent home. He’d met his wife Violet Krizman there in 1947, and they stayed married for 67 years until his death in 2016.

Pueblo meant more to Lown than just baseball. He played for the Pueblo Dodgers in the Western League in 1947 and 1948, winning 30 games over two seasons. The city became his refuge after the grind of the big leagues.

He and Violet raised four kids in Pueblo: sons Craig, Gary, and Terry, and daughter Tracy. Gary said that having a former major leaguer as a dad felt “very normal” to them, except for the occasional trip to Chicago during the season.

All three sons ended up pitching, but Gary chalked that up to coincidence. “When you’re young, everybody wants to be a pitcher,” Gary said. “We just got my dad’s genes, we threw the ball really good.”

Career as a Mail Carrier

Once he left baseball, Lown joined the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier. He stuck with the job for about 22 or 23 years, providing a steady income for his family.

Switching from pro athlete to postal worker was a big change, but Lown embraced the routine and stability.

Delivering mail helped Lown stay connected to the Pueblo community. People saw him every day on his route, and he became a familiar face.

The job gave him the financial security to raise four kids. While some ex-athletes struggle after their playing days, Lown found purpose in his postal work.

His career with the post office actually lasted longer than his baseball career, showing how committed he was to his family. The steady job let him stay in Pueblo for good.

Community Involvement and Coaching

Lown stayed close to baseball through his family. His son Gary became the head baseball coach at South High School in Pueblo, keeping the family’s baseball ties alive.

He helped his sons with their pitching. When Gary needed to pick up a changeup in college, Turk taught him the pitch. Still, he wanted his kids to have fun with the game, not feel pressured.

Craig, the oldest, was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the first round in 1971. He played minor league ball and got closer to the majors than his brothers, who played in high school and college.

Even in his 90s, Lown stayed active in Pueblo. He played golf into his late 80s and kept driving at 91. That kind of longevity made him a respected figure in the community.

Turk Lown’s presence helped make him Pueblo’s most famous Major League Baseball player, even though he wasn’t born there.

Personal Life and Family

Turk Lown really built his family life after meeting his future wife in Pueblo, Colorado, where he played minor league baseball. He and his wife stayed married for 67 years, raising four kids, and he stayed active in the community right up until he passed away in 2016.

Marriage to Violet Krizman

Lown met Violet Krizman back in 1947, while he played for the Pueblo Dodgers in Colorado. Violet was a local, and honestly, she ended up being the heart of his personal life.

They got married and stuck together for 67 years. Lown often called Violet “my best friend for life,” which says a lot about how he felt.

Their marriage lasted through his entire baseball career and well after. Violet stood by him through his time with three different teams and the big change to civilian life once he retired.

After Lown’s baseball career ended in 1962, the couple settled in Pueblo for good. They raised their family there, and Lown worked as a mail carrier for 23 years.

Children and Legacy

Turk and Violet Lown had four kids: sons Craig, Gary, and Terry, plus daughter Tracy. All three boys picked up their dad’s pitching talent and went after baseball themselves.

Craig made it the furthest, getting drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the first round in 1971. He spent a few years in the minor leagues.

Gary ended up as the head baseball coach at South High School. He always remembered how his dad just wanted them to have fun with baseball.

“He just wanted it to be fun for us,” Gary said. “He wanted us to enjoy it. He was our biggest supporter as a father.”

The family legacy kept going with five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Gary said growing up with a big-league dad felt “very normal” to them.

Life Celebrations and Personal Interests

Lown kept up an active lifestyle well into his 90s. He played golf regularly into his late 80s and kept driving until he turned 91.

His nickname “Turk” actually came from his childhood love of eating turkey, not from any Turkish roots. In reality, he was of German descent.

Lown died on July 8, 2016, at age 92 from leukemia. His funeral Mass took place at St. Mary Church at 217 E. Mesa Ave.

The memorial service really showed how deep his ties ran in Pueblo. He had lived there for almost 70 years, ever since arriving as a young ballplayer.

His son Gary described him as living “an active life and a good one, too,” and pointed out how his dad balanced family, career, and personal interests over the years.

Passing, Memorials, and Legacy

Turk Lown died on July 8, 2016, in Pueblo, Colorado, at age 92. His family buried him at Roselawn Cemetery in Pueblo, where he had spent his post-baseball years working as a postal carrier for more than two decades.

Battle With Leukemia

We don’t really know a lot about Turk Lown’s final illness from public records. The former White Sox pitcher lived a long life, reaching 92 before he died in 2016.

He stayed in Pueblo, Colorado, where he first played minor league ball back in 1947-48. He spent his last years in the same community where he built strong friendships during his playing days and his time with the U.S. Postal Service.

His death closed a chapter for people who remembered what he brought to the 1959 Chicago White Sox pennant-winning team. Lown was one of the last living members of that legendary squad.

Commemoration and Memorials

Turk Lown rests at Roselawn Cemetery in Pueblo, Colorado. His grave stands as a reminder of his baseball career and his military service during World War II.

Baseball databases and historical records keep his legacy alive. His military service with the 76th Infantry Division shows up in “Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice,” a site that honors ballplayers who served in combat.

Find a Grave has a memorial page for Lown, listing basic facts about his baseball career. The memorial mentions his 11-season major league career from 1951 to 1962.

Local baseball historians in Pueblo still talk about what he did for the community. His story really connects professional baseball with small-town America in the 1940s and 1950s.

Lasting Influence on Baseball

Lown left his biggest mark on baseball with the Chicago White Sox’s 1959 American League championship. He actually led the AL with 15 saves that year and even made it to the All-Star Game.

Fans and teammates remember him for his unusual pitching style, especially that exaggerated high leg kick. That move pretty much became his signature as a relief pitcher.

He belonged to the group of players who fought in World War II and then came back to baseball. Lown served with the 76th Infantry Division and got wounded by shrapnel in Germany, which really shows the kind of sacrifice pro athletes made back then.

After he left baseball, he worked as a postal worker. That 23-year career with the U.S. Postal Service says a lot about his dedication to his adopted community in Pueblo, and honestly, it reflects the humble attitude a lot of players from his era had.