Dick Conger

Richard Conger (April 3, 1921 – February 16, 1970) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Philadelphia Phillies. His key pitch was the fastball.

Early life Conger was born in Los Angeles, California, and was Jewish. He attended Fremont High School in Los Angeles, for whom he played baseball, and as a sophomore won 17 consecutive games on the way to a City title. He also led the team to the City Championship in his senior year in 1938. He lost only one game as a freshman for the UCLA Bruins, before signing with the Detroit Tigers in 1940. In 1944 with the Los Angeles Angels he was 13–7 with a 2.88 ERA, and 5 shutouts (tied for 7th in the Pacific Coast League).

Conger pitched in the major leagues from 1940 (when at 19 years of age he was the second-youngest player in the American League, behind Hal Newhouser) to 1943. In his major league career he was 3–7 with a 5.14 ERA, and four complete games.

After his major league career, Conger continued to play in the minor leagues, his last season being with the Sacramento Solons (PCL) and Oklahoma City Indians (Texas League) in 1950. He died at 48 years of age.