Jack Saltzgaver

SALTZGAVER, WOODS, LAWSON

Posted By: Volunteer - Paul French
Date: 5/11/2005 at 12:44:50

[handwritten annotation: Feb 1978]

JACK SALTSGAVER [sic]

DIES AT 73

Otto H. "Jack" Saltzgaver, 73, of Keokuk, a former major league baseball player and minor league manager, died Thursday, February 2, 1978 at a Keokuk hospital.

Mr. Saltgzaver [sic] was a native of Croton, Iowa and spent most of his life in the Keokuk area. Mr. Saltgzaver [sic] is survived by his wife Mary, formerly Mary Woods of Farmington, Iowa, a son, a daughter and six grandchildren.

Mr. Saltgzaver [sic] was an infielder for the New York Yankees for five seasons beginning in 1932 and played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1945. He played at the same time as Alfred "Roxie" Lawson, former major league pitcher, from Stockport, Iowa.

Jack's best year with the Yankees was 1934 when he played in 94 games and batted .271. After his Yankee stint, he returned to the majors in 1945 and appeared in 52 games, batting .325 for the Pirates.

He managed Kansas City in the American Association and spent the 1949 and '50 seasons at Little Rock before retiring from baseball.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, February 4, 1978 at the DeJong Funeral Home in Keokuk, Iowa.

---------------

With the death of Jack Saltzgaver in Keokuk last week, another veteran of southeast Iowa baseball is gone. The older baseball fans will remember that back in the 30's after the major leagues had their World Series, Stockport and Bonaparte had what was called the "Little World Series." At that time Jack was with the Yankees and was the Bonaparte star attraction. The late Roxie Lawson was with Detroit and was the Stockport drawing card. Huge crowds attended whether the game was played at Stockport or at old Christie Park on the creek at Bonaparte.