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Larry Colton’s career as a Phillies pitcher was short-lived, but his life narrative is full of unexpected twists.
Here’s how a California native who married a movie star’s daughter to avoid the draft ended up playing baseball in Philadelphia, getting injured on one of history’s most memorable dates, and making a pivot that would eventually get him nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.
Whatever happened to the Phillies prospect who married into a famous family while he was playing A-Ball in Oregon?
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
Glad you asked.
For this week’s “Headline of Yore” we go to today’s Bulletin in 1965, where the headline read:
“Fast Ball Looks Good; Mother-in-Law, Too” pic.twitter.com/s6gwqX5CUv
Larry Colton is among the most fascinating players in Phillies history. And you’ve probably never heard of him.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
And before I begin, let me credit the good folks at @SABR who published this excellent Colton bio that I relied on heavily…https://t.co/TfRCk1LEh5 pic.twitter.com/oHToZr2m4t
An L.A. native, Colton landed at Cal for college. Toward the end of his career he became a pitcher and quickly realized he had a knack for it.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
In 1963, he struck out 19 batters in a game…a school record that still stands. pic.twitter.com/OqPRSAP7XQ
Colton signed with the Phillies in 1964, but returned to school that fall to finish some coursework.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
While there he was set up on a blind date with a classmate named Denise Hedwig Loder (identified by the Bulletin as Denise Hedy Lee)
Denise Loder was the daughter of British actor John Loder and Hollywood star Hedy Lamarr.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
If you didn’t already know, Lamarr was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, once billed by MGM as “the world’s most beautiful woman.” pic.twitter.com/81IyhbMo4y
Anyway, Colton met Lamarr’s daughter, Denise, a month before he left to play the 1965 season for the Eugene Emeralds, the Phillies’ Class-A affiliate.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
Shortly after Colton’s pro career…and only four months after the couple met…Denise and Larry wed in L.A.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
Though it’s not mentioned by the Bulletin, SABR says they rushed into the marriage because married men could avoid service and Colton had just been drafted.
Colton’s marriage to Denise Loder lasted about five years…but it is…arguably/remarkably…NOT the most fascinating thing about his Phillies career.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
Colton quickly worked his way through the Phillies farm system and made the big club shortly after the 1968 season began.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
On May 6, he entered a blowout loss against the Reds in Cincinnati.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
He pitched 2 innings, allowing 3 hits and one run.
He struck out two and recorded outs against future Hall-of-Famers Johnny Bench and Tony Perez
Colton didn’t pitch for the next month. Then his life took a dramatic turn.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
In the early morning hours of June 5, Colton was out with a friend after a game in San Fran.
His friend got in an argument and Colton got hit trying to break it up. The fall dislocated his shoulder. pic.twitter.com/MAPb5nFT5J
Colton’s career never recovered.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
He was the Phillies version of Moonlight Graham. He appeared in one major league game.
And never again…
Sad story, right?
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
But wait…there’s more…
Colton retired in the early 70s and became a teacher.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
But in ‘75 he unretired after Kurt Russell’s dad, Bing, founded a Class A team in Portland called the Mavericks.
Colton told the Portland Business Journal he “needed a summer job.”https://t.co/58vAshmeRb pic.twitter.com/RIomC6sjRy
It turned out to be his big break…just not in the way you’d expect…
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
Colton didn’t stick with the Mavericks…but he did write a first-person account of his time with the team. It caught eyes.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
Soon he had a burgeoning career writing for major outlets like Sports Illustrated…
Colton went on to publish several books, including one, Counting Coup, that was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize!
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
He also co-founded a major book festival in Portland called Wordstock. pic.twitter.com/mdpc5vEN3e
Colton’s marriage to Hedy Lamarr’s daughter didn’t last long. His Phillies career was even shorter.
— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021
But I’d put his post-baseball journey up against any player in team history.
End thread!
