Carl Zamloch
| Carl Zamloch | |||
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Carl Zamloch | |||
| Pitcher | |||
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Born: October 6, 1889 Oakland, California | |||
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Died: August 19, 1963 (aged 73) Santa Barbara, California | |||
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MLB debut | |||
| May 7, 1913 for the Detroit Tigers | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
| July 9, 1913 for the Detroit Tigers | |||
Career statistics | |||
| Earned run average | 2.45 | ||
| Win–loss record | 1-6 | ||
| Strikeouts | 28 | ||
Teams | |||
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Carl Eugene Zamloch (October 6, 1889 – August 19, 1963) was a Major League Baseball pitcher, professional magician, and head coach of the University of California baseball and soccer teams.
Major league pitcher (1913)
Born in Oakland, California, Zamloch played for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League, pitching five years in the PCL. His one season in the major leagues was in 1913 with the Detroit Tigers. A right-handed pitcher, Zamloch played in 17 games for the Tigers, with a 1–6 record in 69-2/3 innings pitched. Though his win–loss record was unimpressive, Zamloch had a solid ERA of 2.45, and an Adjusted ERA+ of 119. He was also among the league leaders in 1913 with 11 games finished.
Career statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | GF | SV | IP | BB | SO | ERA | ERA+ |
| 1 | 6 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 69-2/3 | 23 | 28 | 2.46 | 119 |
Coach at the University of California (1916–1931)
From 1916 to 1928, Zamloch was the head baseball coach at the University of California.[1] The Bears had a record of 146–91–7 during Zamloch's 13 seasons as head coach.[2]
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California (1916–1929) | |||||||||
| 1916 | California | 11-11-2 | no | ||||||
| 1917 | California | 12-8-1 | no | ||||||
| 1919 | California | 7-5-0 | no | ||||||
| 1920 | California | 22-10-1 | no | ||||||
| 1921 | California | 10-8-1 | no | ||||||
| 1922 | California | 12-6-1 | no | ||||||
| 1923 | California | 12-7-1 | no | ||||||
| 1924 | California | 13-11-0 | no | ||||||
| 1925 | California | 11-2-0 | no | ||||||
| 1926 | California | 8-6-0 | no | ||||||
| 1927 | California | 4-9-0 | 5th | no | |||||
| 1928 | California | 8-4-0 | 2nd | no | |||||
| 1929 | California | 16-7-0 | 1st | no | |||||
| California: | 146-91-7 | ||||||||
| Total: | 146-91-7 | ||||||||
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National champion
Postseason invitational champion
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He was also the coach of the California Golden Bears' soccer tearm from 1925 to 1931, and during Zamloch's time as head coach, the soccer team had a record of 34–17–7.
The Oakland Oaks
In 1929, Zamloch acquired a minority interest in the Oakland Oaks baseball team in the Pacific Coast League. He also served as the Oaks' manager from 1930 to 1932.
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 91–103 | 5th | Carl Zamloch | none |
| 1931 | 86–101 | 5th (t) | Carl Zamloch | |
| 1932 | 80–107 | 7th | Carl Zamloch | none |
According to a history of the Oakland Oaks, the team abolished the salaries of all team officers in 1932 due to financial hardship. Zamloch won a lawsuit against the club when it stopped payments on his $10,000 salary.[3]
There is some indication that Zamloch may have also managed the Twin Falls Bruins in the Utah Idaho League in 1926.
Baseball scout
Zamloch also scouted for the Washington Senators and Cleveland Indians, signing Bob Loane and Mike McCormick.
Professional magician
Zamloch also worked as a magician for many years. In the off-season, he toured the country performing a magic act. His father was Anton Zamloch, who was one of the most famous magicians (performing under the name "Zamloch the Great" and "Professor Zamloch") in the late 19th Century and early 20th Century.[4][5][6]
In 1937, Carl Zamloch published a book, "17 Simple but Mystifying Tricks to Entertain Your Friends," under the pseudonym "The Great Zam." The book was a pamphlet published by Signal Oil Co. as a premium.[7] Carl Zamloch is credited by magicians today with inventing tricks, including the "Card on the Ceiling" trick, that are still in use today.[8][9]
Zamloch reportedly was adept at using "a bit of magic" to attract prospects like McCormick. Zamloch was "a master of the sleight of hand, an actual magician who could eat glass, swallow fire, and perform a host of magic tricks." (The 1940 Cincinnati Reds, by Brian Mulligan, p. 102)[10] He performed these tricks for young players, which served as an ice-breaker to a conversation about the player's future.
A biography of baseball player (and amateur magician) Joe Abreu reports that he first became interested in magic when Carl Zamloch put on a magic show at McClymond’s High School in 1932. "Abreu was hooked and a few years later went to see Zamloch to learn more skills as a magician."[11]
In 1946, The Sporting News reported: "Carl Zamloch, former pitcher, and a son of the famed magician, Herman the Great, afforded delegates to the convention occasional entertainment with his card tricks and sleight-of-hand stuff."[12]
In his later years, he worked as a sales executive and legislative consultant for the Signal Oil and Gas Company. He died of a stroke at the age of 73 in Santa Barbara, California, in 1963. He is buried at Sunset View Cemetery, El Cerrito, California.
Notes
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Zamloch Biography on Oakland Oaks Page
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