The fact that I'm asking this question gives away the answer, but based on their pictures alone, who do you think looks older: Howie Koplitz or Art Fowler?
Fowler looks young and strong. Koplitz looks like he should be sitting in a rocking-chair on the porch, spitting tobacco out of his bird-thin lips.
Art Fowler was 41 in 1964. Howie Koplitz was 24 in 1962. Not only was Koplitz younger, he was seventeen years younger. Koplitz's premature elderliness is honestly frightening.
Their careers were likewise dissimilar.
Art Fowler was a late-bloomer. He was 31 years old when he debuted for the Cincinnati Reds in 1954, after an unspectacular minor league career in which he had won only 4 games above AA, but over the next three years he was a solid starter for the Reds. He was eerily consistent, winning 12, 11, and 11 games with ERAs of 3.83, 3.90, 4.05, though he did lead the NL in Fielding Independent Pitching in that third year with a mark of 3.09. But he had a 6.47 ERA in 1957, a 1958 spent in the PCL, and a 5.31 ERA in 1959. His career seemed to be over.
But after two solid years in the American Association in the Dodgers' system in 1960 and 1961, he made it back to the majors with the Angels in 1961 at the tender age of 38. He was excellent from 1961 to 1963, with ERAs of 3.64, 2.81, and 2.42, but after a 10.29 ERA in 4 games in 1964 he returned to the minors, this time for good. He continued to pitch well in the Pacific Coast League and in his last season, 1970, at 47, he had a 1.59 ERA and saved 15 games for the Denver Bears. For his career, he won 259 games and appeared in 1037.
Howie Koplitz's career was out of pro ball when he was 28, three years younger than when Fowler reached the major leagues. His star season for the Birmingham Barons in the Southern Association in 1961 (23-3, 166 K's, 2.11 ERA) catapulted him to the majors, but once there he didn't do much. He did have a 2-0 record for the Tigers in 1961, which gave him a record for the year of 25-3, but for his major league career he only had a record of 9-7 with a 4.21 ERA. In 1964, he had a shocking record of 2-12 for Toronto and Tacoma in AAA, though his ERA was 2.92.
Art Fowler was 41 in 1964. Howie Koplitz was 24 in 1962. Not only was Koplitz younger, he was seventeen years younger. Koplitz's premature elderliness is honestly frightening.
Their careers were likewise dissimilar.
Art Fowler was a late-bloomer. He was 31 years old when he debuted for the Cincinnati Reds in 1954, after an unspectacular minor league career in which he had won only 4 games above AA, but over the next three years he was a solid starter for the Reds. He was eerily consistent, winning 12, 11, and 11 games with ERAs of 3.83, 3.90, 4.05, though he did lead the NL in Fielding Independent Pitching in that third year with a mark of 3.09. But he had a 6.47 ERA in 1957, a 1958 spent in the PCL, and a 5.31 ERA in 1959. His career seemed to be over.
But after two solid years in the American Association in the Dodgers' system in 1960 and 1961, he made it back to the majors with the Angels in 1961 at the tender age of 38. He was excellent from 1961 to 1963, with ERAs of 3.64, 2.81, and 2.42, but after a 10.29 ERA in 4 games in 1964 he returned to the minors, this time for good. He continued to pitch well in the Pacific Coast League and in his last season, 1970, at 47, he had a 1.59 ERA and saved 15 games for the Denver Bears. For his career, he won 259 games and appeared in 1037.
Howie Koplitz's career was out of pro ball when he was 28, three years younger than when Fowler reached the major leagues. His star season for the Birmingham Barons in the Southern Association in 1961 (23-3, 166 K's, 2.11 ERA) catapulted him to the majors, but once there he didn't do much. He did have a 2-0 record for the Tigers in 1961, which gave him a record for the year of 25-3, but for his major league career he only had a record of 9-7 with a 4.21 ERA. In 1964, he had a shocking record of 2-12 for Toronto and Tacoma in AAA, though his ERA was 2.92.
You aren't kidding! And looking at other pictures of Koplitz, this picture was no anomaly; that's just how he looked.
ReplyDeleteOn the plus side, he doesn't seem to have aged badly thereafter, if his memorial page is any indication. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/thenorthwestern/name/howard-koplitz-obituary?id=24353295
It's not an unimpressive feat, to look the same for 50 years.
DeleteI had never seen a picture of Koplitz before today - that is really something. He looks like he's 60.
ReplyDeleteI would have pegged Koplitz in his 30's - to be only 24 was surprising!
ReplyDeleteI love that Fowler card.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't uncommon for certain guys to be born looking 40, and then stay that way for pretty much their entire lives.
ReplyDeleteCool post. At first I mixed up Art Fowler with Art Howe... and I was thinking dang Fowler looked really good into the 2000's.
ReplyDelete