(WWLP) – Art Ditmar, a Pittsfield native who pitched in the Major Leagues most notably with the Yankees, passed away this week at his home in South Carolina.
Ditmar pitched for those great Yankee teams of the late fifties and early 1960’s and was also one of the last surviving members of the old Philadelphia Athletics. In fact, Ditmar’s first major league victory on September 26, 1954 against the Yankees was the last game ever played by the Philadelphia A’s who moved to Kansas City in 1955.
After retiring as a player, he coached at American International College in Springfield for eight years. Ditmar was inducted into the Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.
Western Massachusetts Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2015
- Joseph Castiglione – Broadcaster – Boston Red Sox
- Richard Bedard – Former Athletic Director, Baseball Coach – American International College
- Stan Ziomek – Former Director/Founder – Amherst Youth Baseball
- Art Ditmar – Pitcher – New York Yankees
- Vic Raschie – Pitcher – New York Yankees
- Joseph McCarthy – Former Head Coach – Holyoke High School
- 1934 American Legion Post 21 Baseball Team – Springfield, MA
He leaves wife Dianne. and three adult children and seven grandchildren. Art Ditmar was 92 years old.
