Chris Hartje Explained

Chris Hartje
Position:Catcher
Birth Place:San Francisco, California, U.S.
Death Place:Seattle, Washington, U.S.
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 9
Debutyear:1939
Debutteam:Brooklyn Dodgers
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:September 23
Finalyear:1939
Finalteam:Brooklyn Dodgers
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.313
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:0
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:5
Teams:

Christian Henry Hartje (March 25, 1915 – June 26, 1946) was an American professional baseball player, primarily in the minor leagues. Born in San Francisco, he was a catcher and played in nine games for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the major leagues in September during the 1939 baseball season.

After signing with the Spokane Indians of the Western International League in June 1946,[1] Hartje died less than a week later when the team's bus crashed en route to a game. With nine team members killed and six injured, it was the worst accident in U.S. sports history at the time.[2] Seriously injured and badly burned,[3] Hartje was taken to Harborview Hospital in Seattle and died the following day, the ninth fatality.[4] [5]

Hartje served with the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, and was buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.

External links

or Baseball Almanac

Notes and References

  1. News: Former big leaguer signed to catch for Spokane club . Spokane Daily Chronicle . June 19, 1946 . 13.
  2. Web site: Spokane Indians baseball team bus crash kills nine on Snoqualmie Pass on June 24, 1946 . HistoryLink.org . Colford . Ann M. . September 23, 2006 . February 28, 2013.
  3. News: Seriously injured . Seattle Daily Chronicle . Associated Press . June 26, 1946 . 2.
  4. News: Hartje, driver still in danger . Spokane Daily Chronicle . June 26, 1946 . 1.
  5. News: WIL resumes play, Tigers move up . Eugene Register-Guard . June 27, 1946 . 12.