New Ulm HALL OF FAME Member

William (Bill) Dittrich

Pitcher

Selected 1999

Lifetime Baseball Batting Stats Page

          Bill Dittrich is considered to be one of the best pitchers ever to play baseball in New Ulm. He amassed a 10-2 record for the New Ulm VFW baseball team, a 28-6 record at New Ulm High School, an 18-4 record in Legion ball, and a 20-9 record in three summers of amateur baseball.

          As a New Ulm Brewer in 1971, Dittrich saw limited action because of his participation in Legion baseball, but he still posted a 5-0 record with a 1.50 ERA at the amateur level. The next year he was the staff workhorse, as he pitched 112 innings with a 9-6 record and a 1.50 ERA. He struck out 135 batters in those 112 innings. 

          A hard-throwing right-hander, Dittrich pitched for the Kaiserhoff in 1973 and ended that season with a 6-3 record and a 1.56 ERA.

          Perhaps one of the best-known characteristics of Dittrich's pitching was his savvy pick-off move to third base, where he picked off 20 runners in his career.  He was also known as a strikeout pitcher and once fanned 20 hitters in a game against Hanska.

          A stint in the Army from 1973 to 1976 cut short Dittrich's amateur baseball career, but he continued to help out with the grounds crew during various baseball tournaments.