The Phillies pitcher who married a movie star’s daughter and was nominated for a Pulitzer

Whatever happened to the Phillies prospect who married into a famous family while he was playing A-Ball in Oregon?

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

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

Larry Colton is among the most fascinating players in Phillies history. And you’ve probably never heard of him.

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

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

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.

In 1963, he struck out 19 batters in a game…a school record that still stands. pic.twitter.com/OqPRSAP7XQ

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

Colton signed with the Phillies in 1964, but returned to school that fall to finish some coursework.

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)

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

Denise Loder was the daughter of British actor John Loder and Hollywood star Hedy Lamarr.

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

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

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.

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.

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

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.

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

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

Colton didn’t pitch for the next month. Then his life took a dramatic turn.

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

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

Colton’s career never recovered.

He was the Phillies version of Moonlight Graham. He appeared in one major league game.

And never again…

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

Sad story, right?

But wait…there’s more…

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

Colton retired in the early 70s and became a teacher.

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

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

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.

Soon he had a burgeoning career writing for major outlets like Sports Illustrated…

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

Colton went on to publish several books, including one, Counting Coup, that was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize!

He also co-founded a major book festival in Portland called Wordstock. pic.twitter.com/mdpc5vEN3e

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021

Colton’s marriage to Hedy Lamarr’s daughter didn’t last long. His Phillies career was even shorter.

But I’d put his post-baseball journey up against any player in team history.

End thread!

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) July 29, 2021