Today's New York-Penn League Birthday: Howie Koplitz (Jamestown Falcons, 1956)

Credits: Topps Co. via The Trading Card Database

Former PONY (New York-Penn League since 1957) prospect Howie Koplitz was born on this date in 1938, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Koplitz was signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1956, out of Oshkosh High School. He pitched in 10 games for the 1956 Jamestown Falcons (1-7, 5.82 ERA, 65 IP, 1.523 WHIP). Koplitz was the Minor League Player of the Year and Southern Association Most Valuable Player with the Birmingham Barons in 1961.

He made his major league debut in 1961 with Detroit and pitched in 54 games (9-7, 4.21 ERA) over 5 seasons with the Tigers (1961-62) and the Washington Senators (1964-66).

Koplitz died on January 2, 2012 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at the age of 73.

Source: Baseball Reference 

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