Bill Zuber

American baseball player (1913 1982)

William Henry Zuber (March 26, 1913 – November 2, 1982) was a professional baseball pitcher. He had an 11 year Major League Baseball career between 1936 and 1947. He pitched his entire career in the American League with the Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Bill was born and raised in Middle Amana, Iowa, a community of German pietists who until 1932 practiced a form of communitarian living.

Zuber made his professional debut in 1932, and joined the Zanesville Greys of the Middle Atlantic League, a minor league team in the Indians' organization, in 1933. After several more seasons in the minor leagues, Zuber spent most of the 1936 season playing for the Greys, finishing with a 17–8 record and over 200 strikeouts. He made his Major League debut on September 16, 1936, with the Cleveland Indians. In his first game against the Boston Red Sox, he pitched five innings and earned a win in the six inning affair which was shortened due to rain. After starting a second game and finishing the season with one win and one loss, he spent the 1937 season playing for the Milwaukee Brewers of the American Association. He rejoined the Indians during the 1938 and 1939 seasons and was used as a relief pitcher. In the two seasons, he posted a 2–3 record and finished 16 games. In 1942, he won a career high nine games.

At the start of the 1946 season, Zuber pitched three games and had an ERA of over 12 before he was purchased by the Boston Red Sox on June 18. After pitching 20 games during the 1947 season, Zuber returned to the minor leagues for a season, pitching for the Louisville Colonels in 1948, before retiring.

After retirement, Zuber started a restaurant in Homestead, Iowa of the Amana Colonies in 1949. Zuber died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on November 2, 1982.