"The most effective Yankee hurler in 1959 was Art Ditmar, who won 13 games and led the club in earned runs (2.90). Art, who has superb control, fine speed, a good curve and an excellent change of pace, was obtained from the Athletics in a 1957 trade.
The 31-year-old Ditmar was born in Winthrop, Mass., and began pitching for Kewanee in 1948. After spending time at Savannah and Ottawa, Art hurled briefly for the A's in 1953 before returning to Ottawa. He then came to Kansas City in 1955 where he won 24 games in two seasons. Art has pitched 10 World Series innings without a score."
-Don Schiffer, 1960 Mutual Baseball Annual
1959
May 30: Downs Senators, 11-2, on 8-hitter.
June 5: Turns back Indians, 11-2, on 7-hitter.
June 16: Holds White Sox to four hits in 5-1 victory.
July 26: Blanks Tigers for nine but Yankees lose, 1-0.
August 23: Holds White Sox to three hits in 7-1 win.
August 28: Shuts out Senators, 4-0, on three hits and has three RBIs.
September 3: Hurls 4-hitter to beat Senators, 9-2.
September 22: Defeats Senators, 8-4, on 6-hitter.
Comment: "The Yankees turned to him when others failed and he gave them good work."
-Joe Sheehan, Dell Sports Magazine Baseball, April 1960
"Big Art Ditmar is in his fourth season as a Yankee. His victory total has been gradually been going up. This, hopes Art, is his first big year.
Manager Casey Stengel has been bringing along the Springfield resident gradually. He had never pitched for a contender until he arrived at the Stadium. So Casey used Art as a middle relief pitcher as well as a spot starter. Now, he's a full-fledged member of the Big Four. 'My relief experience with the Yankees has helped me as a starter, because I got used to working with men on base,' explained Art.
Toward the close of last season, Ditmar 'came' fast. He won six of his last eight decisions. His ERA of 2.90 was best on the club among regulars and fourth in the league.
In the off-season he attends American International College in Springfield, one semester a year, with two to go for his degree. Persistence, on and off the field."
-The New York Yankees Official 1960 Yearbook
Arthur John Ditmar (P) #28
Born April 3, 1929 in Winthrop, Mass., resides in Springfield, Mass. Height: 6-2, weight: 197. Bats right, throws right. Married and the father of one girl Debra Lynne (2 1/2), and one boy Jon Scott (9 months).
-The New York Yankees Official 1960 Yearbook
"If Art Ditmar pitches the way he did last season, and the breaks go with instead of against him, he should be one of the big winners in the American League this season.
The 31-year-old hurler, now in his fourth year with the Yankees, had a 13-9 mark last year and a fine 2.90 earned run average, his best ERA since reaching the majors in 1954.
But Lady Luck wasn't always in Art's corner last season. For instance, there was the night in Cleveland where he allowed only one hit in seven innings of otherwise perfect ball. But that one hit was a homer by Rocky Colavito and the Yanks had to lift Art for a pinch hitter when his teammates were unable to get him any runs to work with.
Ditmar, a 6'2" native of Winthrop, Mass., is married and has two children and now makes his home in Springfield, Mass., where attends American International College.
He started in Organized Ball in 1948 with Kewanee and played two seasons with Savannah before going into military service. Following his discharge in 1953, he joined Ottawa of the International League. Art had a 2-13 record in the I.L. and completed the season back in Savannah where his slate read 7-0 with a 2.43 ERA.
The A's brought him up in '54 and after gaining only one win in five decisions, Ditmar was back in Ottawa. In 1955 he joined the relocated Athletics in Kansas City and has been a big leaguer ever since.
In 1956 he led the A.L. in losses with 22, and runs and earned runs with 141 and 125, respectively. But the Yanks gambled on Ditmar and took him along with Bobby Shantz in the winter of 1956-57.
Since coming to New York, Ditmar has won 30 and lost 20 and has yet to allow a run in 10 innings of World Series competition. Art and his Yankee teammates hope he'll get a chance to continue his fine showings in the post-season classic this fall."
-New York Yankees 1960 Yearbook (Jay Publishing Co.)
"Through the Yankees won a pennant without a 20 game winner once again, Art Ditmar moved up to the No. 1 spot on the staff as the team 'stopper' and right-handed ace. Though Art yielded more homers than any previous Yankee hurler, he had his best season in Yankee Pinstripes.
In two previous World Series, the Springfield, Mass. hurler is unscored on in 10 innings though he has yet to gain his first Series decision."
-1960 World Series Official Souvenir Program
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