ken vanderyacht obituary

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• Beyond News
• Sports News & Schedules
• Milwaukee Brewers
• High School Sports
• Weather Forecast
• AM Fox Valley
• Outside the Box
• Focus Fox Valley
• Dave Ramsey Show
• Your News Now on WHBY
• Smart Speaker
• Email the Studio
• Join the WHBY Insider Email Club
• Join the WHBY Insider Text Club
• Advertise With Us
• Community Resources
• WHBY Events
• Entertainment Calendar
• Community Calendar
• Submit An Event
• Contest Rules

Owner of the Grand Meridian passes away

The owner of a popular Appleton banquet hall has died. Ken Vandeyacht passed away suddenly on Tuesday. Vandeyacht was the owner of the Grand Meridian on North Oneida Street.

A post on the Grand Meridian’s Facebook page says they will continue day to day operations.

Send local news tips, traffic reports, or weather information to [email protected] or call 920-831-5647 .

Vera E. Thistle

July 10, 1920 - december 28, 2013.

• Event & Services
• Charities & Donations
• Send Flowers

Vera Thistle, 93, of Bellingham passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 28 in the presence of her loving family.

She was born to Wesley and Laura Bliven in Little Woody, Saskatchewan. Moving to Whatcom County as a young child, she was able to enjoy living near cousins and making new friends. Vera married Kenneth VanderYacht in 1936 and together they raised 6 children. As a homemaker, she took pride in gardening, canning, raising chickens and sewing. She was involved in home demonstration, square dancing, orthopedic, and quilting clubs. She also enjoyed ceramics with her sister Violet.

Several years after the passing of Kenneth, she married Clifford Thistle. They began a new chapter together; traveling, camping, dancing, and attending Deming Presbyterian church as well as both Bellingham and Welcome Senior Centers.

Vera is survived by daughter Diane (Gary) Bellingar, son Dennis (Claire) VanderYacht, daughter Debbie (Jim) Martinson, daughter Delinda (Bob) Tjoelker, daughter Dori (Dave) Wilson, step-son Jeff (June) Thistle, step-daughter Lori (Scot) Chapman, brother Victor Bliven, brother and sister-in-law Bill and Carol VanderYacht, sisters-in-law Cleo Parker and Betty Bliven, 30 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by first husband, Kenneth VanderYacht, second husband Clifford Thistle, son Duane VanderYacht, brother Virgil Bliven, and sisters Violet, Virginia and Velaura. During Veras life, children were one of her biggest joys.

She was able to make each child in her life feel special. Family was so important to her, that as her family grew, she and Cliff created Wild Fern Park as a place for family and friends to gather. A gift to carry on for generations to come.

Farewell Tribute Information

There will be a funeral service on Friday, January 3, 2014 at 1:30 PM at Moles Farewell Tributes – Greenacres Memorial Park in Ferndale. Donations Information

Memorials may be made to Whatcom Hospice or a charity of your choice.

No Events & Services

No charities & donations, no gallery photos, 2 responses to vera e. thistle.

The Goldsberrys says:

December 28, 2013

We are very sorry for your family’s loss and we are sorry Vera and Cliff are no longer our neighbors. They were so nice and caring towards us, our “next door grandparents” they would say. Even though they had so many children and grandchildren and even great-grandchildren to care about, they never forgot our two children’s birthdays or giving us special treats at the holidays. A true testament to us how much they loved their friends and family. We will greatly miss them and we, again, are very sorry for your loss. It gives us peace to know that both our now resting in peace with each other. God bless.

• is for the ol.children is inside the parent comment-->

Linda Jacoby says:

So sorry to hear of Vera’s passing. I am thinking of all of you at this difficult time. I know you have many wonderful memories of your mother. May they confort you now and in the future.

Leave A Condolence Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Daniel C. Vandeyacht

View memory board

Share a memory, offer a condolence

Share obituary

Let your community know

Listen to this story

Hear your loved one's obituary

Send flowers

Let the family know you are thinking of them

Plant a tree

Give to a forest in need in their memory

Kaukauna - Dan Vandeyacht, a Kaukauna resident, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, January 31, 2020, following a fearless battle with cancer at the age of 68. Dan was born in Appleton on October 17, 1951, son of the late Mark and Patricia (Peterson) Vandeyacht. He spent most of his life in the family warehousing businesses, including Warehouse Specialists, Distribution Specialists, and Dependable Storage. He ended his career in the gas station business, DJ Convenience, with his brother Jim.

Dan led his life and businesses with calm, steadfast emotions, undeniable integrity, and an incredible commonsense approach. He will always be remembered for his generosity, wisdom and creativity. Dan was also a patient and talented creator. Whether it be turning a fine bowl on a lathe, carving an old man out of a chunk of wood, or making an intricate piece of furniture or some other creative treasure, Dan was in perpetual motion, constantly busy and working. And if he wasn't in his workshop, he was in the garden, where he spent a great deal of his summers. He didn't keep his skills to himself and was always happy to share his love for creating. He was patient, even with a beginner. He also loved four-wheeling on the trails behind his house, nature, fishing, hunting, and western movies. Not to be overlooked was his devotion to his family and the special bond he had with his grandkids.

Dan met his wife, Kathy, at an A & W Drive-In. They were high school sweethearts and married in 1972, having recently celebrated forty-seven years of marriage. Dan is survived by his wife: Kathy; three children: Jon (Mary) Vandeyacht of Omro, Allan (Audrey) Vandeyacht of Kaukauna, and Christine "China" Vandeyacht of Appleton; five grandchildren: Paige, Meghan, Ian, Nadia, and Kara. His brothers and sisters are Ken Vandeyacht of Combined Locks, Kathy (Glen) Vander Velden of Sturgeon Bay, Bill (Barb) Vandeyacht of Darboy, Jean (Bob) Kieffer of Royalton, Tom (Mary) Vandeyacht of Menasha, and Patty (Brian) Joosten of Little Chute. He is further survived by a sister-in-law: Bette Vandeyacht of Suamico, and by Kathy's siblings: Bill Weber of California, Judy Weber of Colorado, and Mike (Ada) Weber of DePere.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Jim Vandeyacht, and sisters-in-law Barb Vandeyacht, Collette Weber, and Mary Ann Weber Moringello.

The funeral liturgy for Dan will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, located at 309 Desnoyer Street in Kaukauna. Family and friends are invited to gather at the Fargo Funeral Home, 400 W. Wisconsin Avenue in Kaukauna, on Monday from 4:00 PM until the time of a parish prayer service at 7:00 PM. Visitation will continue on Tuesday morning at the church from 9:00 AM until the time of the mass at 11:00 AM.

For more information or to share a memory of Dan, please visit www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com .

The family would like to thank Dr. Chen, Theda Care Regional Cancer Center, and Theda Care Hospice.

Dan has gone to set up his greenhouse in Heaven. He will be greatly missed.

Posted online on January 31, 2020

Published in Green Bay Press Gazette, The Post Crescent

Scott Vander Yacht

September 28, 2008, zeeland, mi.

• Life Story / Obituary
• Poetry & Eulogies
• Share Facebook Twitter Email  

Scott Vander Yacht, 45, of Zeeland, died Sunday, September 28, 2008. Scott was born September 27, 1963 in Holland, Michigan, to Glen and Karen Vander Yacht. He graduated from West Ottawa High School in 1981. Scott went on to work 20 plus years for Thermotron and was currently working for Metal Flow. Scott was the consummate family man and loved to camp and spend time with his wife and children. He loved to drag race his motorcycle at Martin Dragway with his many friends there. Scott was preceded in death by his father, Glen, in 2003. Scott is survived by his wife of 20 years, Victoria; his children, Maxwell and Hayli; mother, Karen Vander Yacht; sister, Denise and Frank Bookie of Holland; parents-in-law, Terry Sr. and Esther Kruithoff of Florida; in-laws, Terry Jr. and Denise Kruithoff of Grand Rapids, Rocky Kruithoff of Florida, Gene and Michelle Kruithoff of Florida, Ken and Penny Kruithoff of Florida, Tadd and Krista Kruithoff of Zeeland; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 2, 2008 at Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State Street, Zeeland. The Pastor Bill Russell will officiate. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Olive Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Education Fund for Maxwell and Hayli Vander Yacht C/O Wyandotte Federal Credit Union, 114 Waverly Rd., Holland, MI 49423.

• Privacy Policy & Terms
• ©2024 LifeStoryNet, LLC

JavaScript is disabled. In order to use all of the features on www.lifestorynet.com, enable JavaScript . Close

Kevin Van De Yacht

View memory board.

Share a memory, offer a condolence

Share obituary

Let your community know

Listen to this story

Hear your loved one's obituary

Send flowers

Let the family know you are thinking of them

Plant a tree

Give to a forest in need in their memory

Kevin Van De Yacht, 66, Hobart, passed away Friday, September 30, 2022, at his home. The son of Bernard and Violetta (Marks) Van De Yacht was born July 4, 1956, in Green Bay. He was very proud to celebrate his birthday on the 4th of July and it often turned into a month long celebration. Kevin was a 1974 graduate of Pulaski High School. On September 27, 1975, he married his high school sweetheart, Carol Karcz, at St. John the Baptist Church in Howard. Kevin was a member of St. Joseph Parish, Oneida and served as an usher there for many years. Kevin was employed at Better Built, Gold Bond Ice Cream and Fairmont/Kemps Dairy. For over 30 years Kevin was a Water Well Driller, a passion and skill he shared with his brothers and nephews and talent he proudly handed down to his son, Chad. He was proud of his work as he would often point out: "I Drilled That One.” He enjoyed spending time outside and had a meticulous yard. Prior to his accident, Kevin often was found tinkering in his garage and washing his truck. In his spare time he was known as "a professional TV watcher.” You could find him on weekends at local supper clubs, where he enjoyed a good cocktail and conversation. He was proud to be a Van De Yacht, where he was eighth of twelve siblings. Most of all, his pride was his family with whom he was known as "their Protector.” Kevin will be sadly missed by his wife, Carol of 47 years; his son, Chad (Annette) Van De Yacht and their children: Brennon, Brooke, and Bristol; a daughter, Kristi Kuchta and her children: Jaxon, Violet, Daisy, and Abel; his siblings: Bill (Bernadine) Van De Yacht, Robert (Sue) Van De Yacht, Diane (Chuck) Tappa, Ken (Lyn) Van De Yacht, Nick (Amy) Van De Yacht, Gery (Carol) Van De Yacht, Dawn (Rick) Niemi, Donna (John) Thormann, and Bernie (Valerie) Van De Yacht; a brother-in-law, Dennis Kabara; and many nieces, nephews, and other family. In addition to his parents, Bernard (Dutch) and Violetta, he was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Florian and Florence Karcz; his siblings: infant sister, Mary Ann, Debbie Kabara, Leo (Mary) Van De Yacht and Cindee Van De Yacht; a sister-in-law, Barbara Rusch and a brother-in-law, Kenneth Karcz. Friends are invited to gather with family at St. Joseph Church, 145 St. Joseph Dr., Oneida, on Friday, October 7, from 9-11 a.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. with Fr. Paul Paider presiding. Burial will take place in Assumption B.V.M. Cemetery, Pulaski. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the CP Center to honor Kevin’s name, where he attended swim therapy and he felt "free.” The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the family and friends who helped over the past six years. They would also like to thank Christian Servants Care Team and the Unity Hospice Team for their care and compassion. To leave a condolence for the Van De Yacht family, please visit www.marnochafuneralhome.com or the Marnocha Funeral Home Facebook page.

Posted online on October 03, 2022

Published in Green Bay Press Gazette

A unique and lasting tribute for a loved one

Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved..

Marlene DeGroot

December 2, 1943 - September 21, 2023 (79 years old)

Lynden , Washington

Funeral arrangement under the care of Gillies Funeral Home

Give a memorial tree

Plant a tree

Light a candle

Illuminate their memory

Are you a family member?

Echovita offers a solidarity program that gives back the funds generated to families.

Marlene DeGroot Obituary

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Marlene DeGroot (Lynden, Washington), born in Everett, Washington, who passed away on September 21, 2023, at the age of 79, leaving to mourn family and friends. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family.

She was predeceased by : her parents, Ted Bajema and Alice Bajema; and her siblings, Jeannine Kleindel, Bill Bajema, Elaine Pasma and Marcia Broersma.

She is survived by : her husband Jay DeGroot; her daughters, Carla Otter (Ken), Sheila Tremaine (Ladd) and Vonda VanderYacht (David); and her grandchildren, Dirk Otter (Meg), Dylan Otter (Ashley), Morgan Lagerwey (Michael), Abigail Nelson (Jacob), Tyler Tremaine (Natalie), Cody Tremaine (Lily), Bryce VanderYacht (Katie), TJ VanderYacht and Brenna VanderYacht. She is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to Whatcom Hospice at whatcomhospice.org or Northwest Parkinson's Foundation at nwpf.org.

Add a photo or a video

There is no photo or video of Marlene DeGroot. Be the first to share a memory to pay tribute.

Edit picture

Family tree

Brought to you by

Sympathy messages

Would you like to offer Marlene DeGroot’s loved ones a condolence message? Write your message of sympathy today.

500 CHARACTERS

Funeral service

Sonlight Community Christian Reformed Church 8800 Bender Rd, Lynden, WA 98264

Authorize the original obituary

Authorize the publication of the original written obituary with the accompanying photo.

• Allow Marlene DeGroot to be recognized more easily
• Increase the accessibility of loved ones to show you their sympathy
• No advertising will be displayed on this page.

Receive obituaries from the city or cities of your choice.

Find answers to your questions

The importance of saying "I love you" during COVID-19

Effective ways of dealing with the grieving process

Solutions to show your sympathy safely during the Covid-19 pandemic

Share guestbook to family

Send obituary by email.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Ken Holtzman, Who Pitched Two No-Hitters for the Cubs, Is Dead at 78

He was part of the Oakland A’s dynasty in the ’70s. He was also the winningest Jewish pitcher in Major League Baseball, surpassing Sandy Koufax.

By Richard Sandomir

Ken Holtzman, a left-hander who pitched two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and won three World Series with the Oakland A’s in a 15-season career, died on Monday in St. Louis. He was 78.

He had been hospitalized for the last three weeks with heart and respiratory illnesses, his brother, Bob, said in confirming the death.

Holtzman won 174 games, the most for a Jewish pitcher in Major League Baseball — nine more than the Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, who is considered one of the best pitchers ever and who had a shorter career.

In addition to his win total, Holtzman, who at 6 feet 2 inches and 175 pounds cut a lanky figure, had a career earned run average of 3.49 and was chosen for the 1972 and 1973 All-Star teams.

Holtzman, at 23, threw his first no-hitter on Aug. 19, 1969, a 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves — a performance distinguished by the fact that he didn’t strike out any Braves. It was the first time since 1923 that a no-hitter had been pitched without a strikeout.

“I didn’t have my good curve, and I must have thrown 90 percent fastballs,” Holtzman told The Atlanta Constitution afterward. “When I saw my curve wasn’t breaking early in the game, I thought it might be a long day.”

His second no-hitter came on June 3, 1971, against the Cincinnati Reds at their ballpark, Riverfront Stadium, where he struck out six and walked four.

“The fans in the first row behind our dugout wouldn’t let me forget I had a no-hitter going tonight,” he told The Chicago Tribune. “I guess from the fourth inning on, they would yell at me that I was going to lose my no-hitter.”

But it was a high point in a difficult season, in which his record was 9-15 and his E.R.A. jumped to 4.48 from 3.38 the year before. He also had a fractious relationship with Manager Leo Durocher.

In the off season, the Cubs traded Holtzman to Oakland for the outfielder Rick Monday.

“The air is cleared now,” Holtzman told The Tribune. “I wouldn’t have cared if the Cubs had traded me for two dozen eggs.”

The trade revived his career.

Kenneth Dale Holtzman was born on Nov. 3, 1945, in St. Louis. His father, Henry, was a machinery dealer. His mother, Jacqueline (Lapp) Holtzman, managed the home.

Holtzman had a 31-3 record at University City High School, outside St. Louis, and played for the University of Illinois. As a sophomore, he won six games and struck out 72 batters in 57 innings. He was selected by the Cubs in the fourth round of the 1965 amateur draft.

He spent most of the 1965 season in the minor leagues, where he compiled an 8-3 record, before being called up by the Cubs.

Holtzman left the Cubs in 1971 with a 74-69 record. He fared substantially better with the A’s, a 1970s dynasty whose players included Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando , Catfish Hunter and Rollie Fingers. In Oakland’s World Series championship years, from 1972 to 1974, Holtzman had a 59-41 regular season record. In World Series games, he was 4-1.

In early 1976, Holtzman was one of nine A’s players whose unsigned contracts were renewed with 20 percent salary cuts by Charles O. Finley , the team’s capricious owner.

“The man doesn’t care if I leave or not,” Holtzman, a union activist who was the team’s player representative, told The New York Times during spring training that year.

Soon after, he and Jackson were traded to the Baltimore Orioles. But in late June, Holtzman was sent to the Yankees in a 10-player trade. With New York, though, his pitching was not as efficient as it been in Oakland, and Manager Billy Martin declined to use him in the postseason rotation in 1976, when the Yankees were swept by the Reds, and again in 1977, when the Yankees defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.

After the fifth game of the Series, Holtzman was asked if he expected to pitch in the remaining games.

“No, not really, not when I haven’t been used all year,” he told The Times, referring to a regular season in which he had appeared in only 18 games, some of them in relief.

His appearances grew even less frequent in 1978. He pitched only 17⅔ innings in five games before he was traded back to the Cubs. At the time of the trade, Holtzman had challenged the Yankees’ decision to put him on the 21-day disabled list for an ailing back.

“I guess they’re just glad to get rid of me,” he told The Times.

He was 6-12 with the Cubs until they released him after the 1979 season.

Holtzman, who was an insurance broker after his playing days, ran the athletic department for several years at the Jewish Community Center in St. Louis after his retirement.

He returned to baseball in 2007 as the manager of a team in the Israel Baseball League. Dan Kurtzer, the commissioner, recalled in a phone interview that Holtzman’s experience in the Major League Baseball Players Association made being a manager difficult for him.

“From the beginning, I impressed upon him that he was part of management, but it never sunk in,” he said. “We had some labor issues, and I needed the managers to be supportive, and Ken had trouble with that because he was labor oriented.”

Holtzman left the team — the Petach Tikva Pioneers, based near Tel Aviv, who finished in last place — with two weeks to go in the season. Two months before his departure, he told an Israeli website that the league’s organizers had rushed into its first, and only, season, without the proper preparation, like adequate fields.

In addition to his brother, Bob, a former minor league pitcher, Holtzman is survived by his daughters, Robyn Schuster, Stacey Steffens and Lauren Fyle; four grandchildren; and a sister, Janice Koertel. His marriage to Michelle Collins ended in divorce.

Holtzman, as a Cub, and Koufax, with the Dodgers, faced each other once, at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Sept. 25, 1966.

It was Holtzman’s first full season and Koufax’s last. In the fifth inning, at which point Holtzman had not given up a hit, Bob Holtzman told their father that he was going to the men’s room. “He said, ‘You’re not going anywhere, he’s pitching a no-hitter,’” the brother recalled in a phone interview. “He wouldn’t let me leave my seat.”

Holtzman carried the no-hitter into the ninth inning, but it was broken up by the first hitter, Dick Schofield, who singled to center field. Holtzman then surrendered the shutout, but won, 2-1, on a two-hitter, with eight strikeouts. Koufax gave up four hits.

“I was satisfied with my performance,” Koufax told The Los Angeles Times, “but Ken was too good for us today.”

An earlier version of this obituary misstated when Holtzman was an insurance broker. It was after, not during, his playing days.

How we handle corrections

Richard Sandomir is an obituaries writer. He previously wrote about sports media and sports business. He is also the author of several books, including “The Pride of the Yankees: Lou Gehrig, Gary Cooper and the Making of a Classic.” More about Richard Sandomir

Ken Holtzman, MLB’s winningest Jewish pitcher and a four-time World Series champion, dies at 78

CHICAGO — Ken Holtzman, MLB’s winningest Jewish pitcher who threw two no-hitters for the Cubs and helped the Athletics win three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, has died, the Cubs announced Monday on social media. He was 78.

Holtzman’s brother, Bob, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he died Sunday night after being hospitalized for three weeks. He had been battling heart issues.

Holtzman grew up in the St. Louis area and starred at the University of Illinois before becoming a two-time All-Star. The lefthander posted a 174-150 record and 3.49 ERA from 1965 to 1979 with the Athletics, Cubs, Yankees, and Orioles.

Advertisement

Holtzman won nine more games than the Dodgers' great Sandy Koufax, who was 165-87 over 12 seasons.

We are deeply saddened by the passing of former Cubs pitcher Ken Holtzman. Ken was a Cub from 1965-1971 and 1978-1979. He posted a 3.76 ERA in 237 games with the club, including two no-hitters, cementing himself as one of the best left-handed pitchers in Cubs history. We send… pic.twitter.com/T13qpWy48a — Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 15, 2024

Holtzman played his first seven years with the Cubs, a stretch that included back-to-back 17-win seasons and no-hitters against Atlanta at Wrigley Field on Aug. 19, 1969, and at Cincinnati on June 3, 1971. His no-hitter against Atlanta remains the most recent in the majors thrown without a strikeout.

Holtzman got traded to Oakland for Rick Monday following the 1971 season and joined Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter in a rotation that helped the Athletics win three straight World Series starting in 1972. He made All-Star teams in 1972 and 1973, when he won a career-high 21 games.

Holtzman was dealt to Baltimore, along with Reggie Jackson, on April 2, 1976, and traded again that season to the New York Yankees. He got another championship ring with the Yankees in 1977, though he did not appear in the playoffs, and was traded back to Chicago during the 1978 season.

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• March Madness
• AP Top 25 Poll
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Ken Holtzman, MLB’s winningest Jewish pitcher who won 3 World Series with Oakland, has died at 78

FILE - Oakland A’s pitcher Ken Holtzman poses for a photo in March 1975. Holtzman, who pitched two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and helped the Oakland Athletics win three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, has died, the Cubs announced Monday April 15, 2024, on social media. (AP Photo/Robert H. Houston, File)

FILE - Oakland Athletics Pitcher Ken Holtzman gets the ball off in sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, June 1, 1973, New York. Holtzman, who pitched two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and helped the Oakland Athletics win three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, has died, the Cubs announced Monday April 15, 2024, on social media. (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff, File)

FILE - New York Yankee hurlers Jim Catfish Hunter, left, and Ken Holtzman are all smiles prior to the start of second American League playoff game between the Yankees and the Kansas City Royals at Yankee Stadium, Oct. 6, 1977, New York. Holtzman, who pitched two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and helped the Oakland Athletics win three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, has died, the Cubs announced Monday April 15, 2024, on social media. (AP Photo/Harry Harris, File)

• Copy Link copied

CHICAGO (AP) — Ken Holtzman, MLB’s winningest Jewish pitcher who threw two no-hitters for the Chicago Cubs and helped the Oakland Athletics win three straight World Series championships in the 1970s, has died, the Cubs announced Monday on social media. He was 78.

Holtzman’s brother Bob Holtzman told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he died Sunday night after being hospitalized for three weeks. He had been battling heart issues.

Holtzman grew up in the St. Louis area and starred at the University of Illinois before becoming a two-time All-Star. The left-hander posted a 174-150 record and 3.49 ERA from 1965 to 1979 with the Athletics, Cubs, New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles.

Holtzman won nine more games than the Dodgers’ great Sandy Koufax, who was 165-87 over 12 seasons.

Holtzman played his first seven years with the Cubs, a stretch that included back-to-back 17-win seasons and no-hitters against Atlanta at Wrigley Field on Aug. 19, 1969, and at Cincinnati on June 3, 1971. His no-hitter against Atlanta remains the most recent in the majors thrown without a strikeout.

Holtzman got traded to Oakland for Rick Monday following the 1971 season and joined Vida Blue and Catfish Hunter in a rotation that helped the Athletics win three straight World Series starting in 1972. He made All-Star teams in 1972 and 1973, when he won a career-high 21 games.

Holtzman was dealt to Baltimore along with Reggie Jackson on April 2, 1976, and traded again that season to the New York Yankees. He got another championship ring with the Yankees in 1977, though he did not appear in the playoffs, and was traded back to Chicago during the 1978 season.

The Cubs’ social media post said they are “deeply saddened” and “send our condolences to Ken’s family and friends during this time.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb