Ernie Oravetz
Little Ernie Oravetz received his first professional baseball league contract and his draft notice on the same day in 1951. After two years serving in the U.S. Army. the 5'4, 145 pound Oravetz played with Orlando and Chattanooga before earning a big league trial with the Senators in 1955 and 1956. A switch-hitting outfielder, Oravetz batted .262 in 188 games for Washington, but was shipped back to the minors, where he continued to pursue his baseball career until the mid-1960s. After retiring from baseball, Ernie worled for the U.S. Post Office for three decades.
Played For
Washington Senators (1955-1956)
Born
Ernest Eugene Oravetz was born on January 24, 1932, in Johnstown, PA.
Died
December 3, 2006, Tampa, FL
Batted: Both
Threw: Left
Primary Position: OF
Primary Team: WS1
Major League Debut
April 11, 1955
Nine Other Players Who Debuted in 1955
Brooks Robinson
Roberto Clemente
Ken Boyer
Rocky Colavito
Clete Boyer
Elston Howard
Sandy Koufax
Jim Bunning
Bill Virdon
Related Players
With the Senators, Oravetz was a roommate of slugger Harmon Killebrew.
Transactions
Before 1951 Season: Signed by the Washington Senators as an amateur free agent.
May 10, 1961: Traded by the Minnesota Twins with cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Ed Palmquist and Joe Altobelli.
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Sources used for the Ernie Oravetz Player Page:
"Ernie Oravetz Was Baseball's Little Big Man," by JIM TUNSTALL, The Tampa Tribune (Dec 6, 2006)
