Today's Birthday: Howie Koplitz, Jametown Falcons (1956)

Credits: Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Howie Koplitz was born on this date in 1938. 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, at the age of 73.

Source: Baseball Reference 

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, or any of its teams.